Various Effects of the News of the Dissolution on several Members.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3310, 31 July 1879, Page 2

Various Effects of the News of the Dissolution on several Members.

Pea and Ink Sketches by "Our

Ministerialists Jubilant.

The Opposition Crestfallen.

[Bt Telegraph.]

(feom oub own cobbebpondent.) '

Wellington, Last night

It was one of the strangest sights conceivable to witness .the, aspect of the Opposition when the news that a dissolution had been granted was announced by the Premier to the House* The. Minis-, terial party seemed as though they,,would never leave off cheering, while tthefapplausel every now and then broka almost) into a suppressed hurrah. The news had' got whispered through the'lobby Before !irhe fiye aaiflutes' bell rang*, and wlien^tHe reporters thronged into the press gallerjy there were very few,, members in the House, which, however^ was' speedily thronged. -* i

The central iigures attracting attention were the leader of the- Opposition; the' member who' represents the Returning Officer for Geraldine (Mr Wakefield) who, with solemn countenance was discussing the rumor carrying dismay to their plot, and their chance of portfolios. Fox was sitting down and Wakefield beside him. They were , speedily joined^ by Atkinson, who sits next pa Fox, '' ■," ■'! The Peers' gallery next, attracted} my attention, and the lugubrious, length b^ countenance of the Hon. Mr.Waterhquse was a thing not to be for gotten., Wakefield -then went over to the Canterbury members, among whom he sits, he occupy* ing a dignified position. Their literary jackall, Saunders, sat counting up his chances of reduction of his accounts generally, inattentive to other members' conversation, so engrossed was he with his own personal affairs ' ' Williams sat with folded arms gazing into vacancy,; trying to see what the future would dissolve. John Lundonfs image was reflected ;in the re'titia of' his eye, and Carrington was beaming like the mid-day sun; "while Russell, of Napier, after the manner ,of the constituents of that land-sharking clime, appeared to be counting the cost and the chances of his re-election.' -The look on Siitton's face .wag that of a beaten hound, while the' whole" rotund carcase of J. C. Brown was impregnated with ecintilating delight and; amusement. 1 Eovre looked as solemn as though at a funeral before the refreshments had been passed round, while DeLautour looked as though he had. uttered the histrionic words when he had jsp.oken in debate— " Eejoice not over me, 0 mine enemy, for though I fall, yet. shall I rise again!" Macfarlane sat silent and brooding, feeling that his problematic chance of the Customs had gone from his gaze.like a dream from a man in the morning. Jiolleston sat with his hand to his head, and his forefinger uplifted like a driving rod, seeking to evolve from his inner/consciousness (after his manner) what the dissolution meantf and how it would affect the Canterbury runholders. i

Douglas stood restless and nefvous in the gangway, whispering sage counsel into Reynolds' ear what he thought of the matter, while Morris looked, like a ruined man dreaming and fearing that the .titled to ■ Ohaiuti would now: never v ibe' complete. j

This was what was seen before the Premier, began to speak, when the House! hung breathlessly on every utterance, every tone and modulation of his voice. It was interesting to note how the Premier rose to the occasion, how studied was every word that he used, how calm' and deliberative was every sentence^as though he knew that under exceptional circumstances, he was laying down •

precedent which a future generation would follow and cite.

It was one of the most impressive scenes yet witnessed in the House of Representatives, and the results of which are hard to realise or anticipate. The announcement suspended speech. It i 3 considered now that the Premier's status as a statesman has been acknowledged by the Crown.

The scene of triumph in the House on the announcement of the Governor s granting a dissolution was unparallolled on the part of the Ministerialists, while the Opposition were utterly crestfallen. *