PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.
[By Telegraph,] (phom our own corbhspondeki?.) Wellington, This day
The House is enjoying a well earned rest to-day, preparatory to the ball to be held this evening in the big lobby. I say a well earned rest, because the past week was the stiffest of tbe session ; besides, on the extra sitting days the House continued till a late hour every night through the week, and Ministers, House officials, and reporters are glad enough of a couple of days' rest. Members don't count in this consideration, for they take their turn, and so long a3 they p-iir, they may woo Nature's sweet restorer at any hour they I choose, and yet there were many members who seemed to begrudge this much coveted rest to their hard working neighbors. Even the pallid, care-worn, haggard face j of Sir J. Vogel was not sufficient to move I som« members to grant the Colonial i Treasurer tho day or two's relaxa- j tion which his looks so pleaded for. When the result of the division was made known, Sir Julius clapped his hand 3in almost child like glee, even as the schoolboy exults at the near approach of a holiday, while the member for Christchurh South (Mr Holmes) actually hissed. There was great confusion during and after the division, indeed it was one of the most exciting of the session, and as your telegrams will have informed you, the motion for adjournment was won by a single vote; but anent the scene just referred to, thereby hangs a tale ; when Sir Maurice O'Rorke heard the hissing he was naturally very indignant, and at once call the attention of the House to the fact that he had not yet left the chair. Major Atkinson, who is a chivalrous gestleman, even if a little rugged, at once rose to apologise to Mr Speaker for the affront the House had offered the dignity of t)>r'chair; adding that he was sure honorable members were under a misapprehension, fancying that Sir Maurice had left the Chair, and further adding that he (Major Atkinson) himself was one of the offenders. At this there was a general roar, although not until Mr Speaker had explained that he was not chiding the House, but an individual member, who by this time, evidently disgusted with his own conduct, had reached the door.
There is a great stir in the corridors this morning; few members are about; they are probably laid up in lavender today, and preparing for the smiles of beauty to be lavished on them to-night, but workmen and decorators are busy, and the fronds of the stately nikau are being reared above the high walls of the corridor. It is expected that between six
and seven hundred guests will be present,
Efforts will be made to close the session by Saturday, but it seems almost impos» sible that the work can be got through before the middle of next week; Canterbury members, however, vow they will not wait longer than Friday next.
A meeting of Southern members was held this morning to discuss matters in connection with the annual Volunteer prize firing, when it was decided to memorialise Government with a view to compromising matters between the North and South Islands by having prize-firing at Christehurch next year.
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Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4935, 3 November 1884, Page 2
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550PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP. Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4935, 3 November 1884, Page 2
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