PARLIAMENTARY PUGILISTS. A GORY ENCOUNTER. MELHONE KNOCKED OUT IN THREE ROUNDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 243, 25 February 1888, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY PUGILISTS. A GORY ENCOUNTER. MELHONE KNOCKED OUT IN THREE ROUNDS.

Wellington, February 22. One of those scenes which have made Iho New South Wales Assembly so notable in its Parliamentary annals occurred the otrhor night, as advibed by cable. It was a standup ti<rht between two of the representatives of the people, and whilo it lasted, which was not ior long, iho battle was a warm one. Heads wore punched, Mood was shed, and it was not until one of the combatants Mas completely knocked " out of time " that the allair was brought to a close. The battle took place in the smoking-room of the Assembly between the meinbei tor the Upper Hunter, Mr M Elhono, and the member for Glen lnnes Mr Mathc-on. There wete only a limited number of members present when the fight, ior such it was. commenced ; but the news soon spread that M'Elhono and Mttthea-cm were punching ono another, and the smokiuir-iootn wiw soon well filled with an cxciicd crowd of members. The Casus Belli. To explain the affair it must be stated that a dispute nioso out of what transpired dining a poition of the proceedings ot tho House" eailiei in thecvening. Mr -M'Elhono spuLe o<» the motion which was submitted bv Giuhuid to eonsti v' t a Jine of rail- | way to Broken Jii'landSilvcrton, and during his .speech »n hi^ usual blunt and rough style he charged Mr Garland, Mr Lyne, and oiheis with -bringing 1 foiwaul the line in the interest of the mining in the neighbour ! hoou of Brokcnlhll. Hega\eitas his opinion j that thcic were swindles enough in the country, but the latest he alleged was the White R ick mine. Mr Mathc&on is uik'"i stood to hold a largo interest in this ronminy. At the time of Mr M'Elhone'b speaking, no notice was taken of the .statement, piobahly because Mr Mathcmhi was not in the llou.-e. Subsequently, however, Mr Matheson vi lived on tho scene, I and h.ning bet.n infouned that Mr JH'EI- , ho in. 1 had boon stating that the White Rock 'mine wu-. a ••v, mdlo, he hunted up ' the lion, member tor Upper Hunter, and found him in the smokincx room. Mr Mathi-on shook Imikls with all in the loom except Mr M'lLlhone, who also exti'tidcd h'.s hand to the member for Glen inuo, Luiu Mi Matheton refused to take Mr M Elhonc's hand, and said, *' lam in fo'.mcd that you stated in the Assembly to night that While Rock silver mine was a s\\ indie. 3f you did bay it you are a liar." Mr M'Elhoue lcplied that he did nut lemember what he said ; but he added that for what he did say he would not apologise. Mr Matheson was getting angiy, when he said : "lam man enough to apologi.-e to you for calling you a liar if you did not s-ay it; but if you did, you aie a liai." The Fight. This roused Mr M'Elhone, who got up quickly and struck out at Mi Matheson, hitting him in the mouth. It was then been that a tight was intended, and the chairs weie cleaicd out of the way and a ling formed. M'Elhone and Matheson stood in the ling, but the jaynial Dan did not like to see two brother members punching one another's heads, so he stepped between them. But Dan was not sufficient to separate the two hon. members, who seemed eager to get at one another, and Mr O'Connor, thinking discretion the better part of valour, got out of the way ju-'t in time, as Mr Matheson sent a well aimed blow into Mr M'Elhone's face. Blood spurted on to Mr O'Connor's coat, and tho light began in cat nest. The two men closed and separated ; they struck at one another, but seldom hit. It is said by the onlookers that Mr M'Elhone got the worst of it. At any rate his iaee now shows signs of tho fiorce* ness of the struggle, while Mr Matheson came out without a scratch. The combatants had thiee rounds when McElhone was completely " knocked out," and throw himself on the sofa, saying that he could not fight any more as he was out of breath. This ended the struggle, and the combatants were attended by their^ honourable friends, who found them brandy and soda to steady their shattered nerves. Mr Matheson, being interviewed by a representative of the " Evoning Newi»," enid : " M Elhone struck me in the mouth, and that was the only blow I received. I believe I had one hand in my pocket at the tirce. Everyone in the room was very good in moving 1 the chairs and standing back in a ring. I struck McElhone just over the eyo, which drew blood. We had three rounds altogether, and then McElhone lay down on the sofa, and refused to fight any moro, saying he was short of breath. He has yet to apologise to me for what he said in the House. 1 feel very much" hurt that it has been called a disgraceful affair. 1 will do the name thing to anyone who tells me I have been connected with anything shady. I don't feel proud of the aflair at all, because he is an older man than I am ; but I know this — that anybody could fight M'Elhone after this— even a child could punch him." Mr Matheson was opening a note »s he* finished his conversation, and when he hod opened it he said, with a smile, " I have just received this," and he read :—: — There was an old vendor of swine Who blackguarded Matheeoii's mine— 11 It's a swindlo," John said, So Gfeorgd punched his head And kuockod him right clean out of time. Mr D. O'Connor, after corroborating this version of the beginning of the disturbance, said :— Mr M'Elhone made a dart toward* the hon. member for Glen Innce, saying, "No man will call me a liar with impunity," and struck him a blow in the face. The two men then endeavoured to come to close quarters, but I prevented them for several minutes by getting between them at considerable personal risk. Ultimately Mr Mathieson succeeded iii "landing" one on Mr M'Elhone's face over my shoulder. I then got out of the way, as I saw that my efforts in the chamber of peacemaker would be of no avail, as tho men were apparently determined to have it out. A regular standup fight then ensued. Three rounds wore fought, in which tho hon. member for the Upper Hunter had throughout much the worse of it. Once when Mr M'Elhone fell his head struck tho mantelpiece. I then interfered with a, view of putting a stop to the fight. After some difficulty, and at the riskofreceivingoncortwo blows, Isucceeded in separating the combatants. Despite Mr M'Elhone's superior strength, Isucceeded in forcing him out Of the room on .to the balcony.' 'My coat sleeves we're literally saturated with tho blood 'which flowed from a ftecp .wounc] which Mr M'Elhono had sustained in tho encounter. ' I belicvo that had 1 not fcucicceded in lcmovihg Mr M'Elhbne, he would' have come up ngaitJ,' and the result would have boe.n much moro serious.

Queen Caroline n<-kcdSir Ivoborfc Walpolc \vht\fc it u;o'uld , oojt to enclose ( $L Jnipcs's Park, \yith a- view to exclude tho yublic from ,it,' „ '' M^idani , 7 the Pxem ici" is kiid , to have replied, " Qnly ( « Crown,'' >it ,.