IN THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1254, 13 July 1880, Page 2

IN THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [F ROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Last Night, 11.35 p.m. LATE SITTINGS. After several divisions, the House came to a conclusion to sit after half-past 12 at night, thus rescinding the sessional order causing the House to rise at that hour. Dr Wallia made a pathetic appeal on behalf of the old men of the House, but the Premier was firm and carried his point.

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. In the House this evening, M r Saunders commenced his explanar on of the report of the Civil Service Commission. After proceeding for about ten minutes the hon. gentleman, in a Cromwellian tone of voice, ordered a messenger to "bring in those specimens," whereupon two staggered in under a load which apparently represented a great part of a whole railway waggon, and proceeded to lay the pieces upon the table of the House. On this, dry old Scotchman Thomson, of Clutha, got on his hind legs and raided a point of order. He wanted to know if it was not a breach of privilege to lay on the table anything that had not boen ordered to be treated. Mr Seymour, Acting- Speaker, ruled they could not, whereupon a rush was made at specimens by half-a-dozen messengers, who, amidst much, laughter and a cry from Mr Shrimski thit he moved that they be printed, made a rush at Mr Saunders, and tried to ram them into his lap, his pockets, or his dcsk — anywhere, in fact, which might be construed into a return of them to that hon. gentleman. Ultimately they were removed from the House. Mr Saunders spoke very fearlessly. He declared that he would speak quite independently of either party, and he religiously carried it out. He made a point against Mr Oliver, and then he fairly scarified Mr Macandrew, declaring that if that gentlemen told all he knew, it would be a far more damaging story than ever the Commissioner could do. Ho added that it would bo only on his (Mr MaoandreV s) death-bed that he would ever confess to all that had gone on in the public works under his regime. (Great sensation.) Saunders then took up Conyers reply, and completely demolished it, showing it to be a piece of speoial pleading.