Sir Geo. Grey on the Representation Bill. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1432, 6 September 1881, Page 2

Sir Geo. Grey on the Representation Bill. [BY ELEC TRIC TELEGRAPH, OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wi,uj\<;ton. La^t Night At half-past seven tlio Hou.se was crowded. The Jadies gallery was sunplv crushed out The strangers and speaker's gallones were aho crowded to excels; most of the members were in their places, and a buz/ of expectancy pervaded the Chamber. The occasion was a rumour that Sir George Grey intended to have himself ruled out of order and carried as a martyr by the Sergcant-at-Arms into durance vile. Mr Tairoa had the floor, and narrated a dream. When he had finished there was a hush ot expectancy which was rudely dispersed by Dick Reeves, who went over the same ground as he had travelled over during the 11 stonewalling" again and again. Mr Gisborne, who seemed "tabulated" at the loss of his 20 sovereigns, visited the Knight of the Kawau several times while Mr Reeves was speaking, and Ballance, who appeared to forget that Grey had two short yeors ago called in a policeman to expel him from the Cabinet, sat cheek by iowl with his former "colleague," and seemed to forget the great insult he had received. At eight o'clock Reeves safe down, and Grey rose amidst somewhat feeble cheers from the " stonewallers. " The gist of his speech you will, no doubt, get through the Press Associaciation. I shall confine myself, therefore, to a mere record of facts. It was generally expected that the lion, gentleman would say some foolish things, and the audience was not disappointed. By ten minntes past eight he had accused the whole Press of the colony of being Tinder "certain influences and coutrol," and had, therefore, combined to "destroy" him. This remark was understood to be called forth by the fact that the Lyttvlton Tunes, which hitherto has been Grey's mainstay, lias within the last clay or two given up in utter disgust at the stonewalling the idea of supporting him and his> action in a strong article to that effect. It was understood that, this abuse was entirely calculated to assist the lion, gentleman, in his next election campaign. Before a quarter-past 8 he had announced that he had been abandoned by nearty all his friends ana he cared nothing for his loss of their support. At a quarter to 10 , ,steam was blown off to such an extent that ii became apparent to the audience that there wai a- iprospecfc of a "sell," and that no excitement was to be forthcoming. About this time he was pitching into the country districts, ( and urging that the , towns should have equal representation with the country, no allowance being made to the settled parts and the bbha Jide " bone and sinew. This being contrary to the pro*

|iprons of his own previous bill and to all a murmur of "oh, oh," went round the House. At nine the "gridirons" and the "serfs" had been got through, and a "long vista, " of suffering humanity, as he styled it, occupied his eloquence, and prosy hard-headed old Dick bolted from the Chamber grumbling " I can't atand that." Immediately after this the " forty-five vote" business was brought on the tapis, and it was felt that he was nearing the end of hii orations. , Another rap at ,th,e, Pjress, ,ju»d back again to the " forty-five vote, " and still no; direcbpnsult to the, Speaker or the House. Tha' gallery . looked blue, and the Speaker and the Piemier very calm and" ""collected, the "House generally amused, and the ladiis rather wearied. At a quarter-past nine" he arrived at the Piako Swamp, and glanced at Patetere, immediately thereafter rushing headlong into Pollen's pension., i Kveryone thought that after an hour and 20 minutes he was now coming to a conclusion, but the hon. gentleman dashed back at the ball, and slapped, by a transition,that was hard to understand, at the cloture. At twenty minutes past 9, he announced his "intention 1 of summing up his " arguments " and making a "peroration." After perorating for live minutes he went into his usual method of attracting attention, when things flag, and accused the member for Avon (Mr Rolleston) of smiling. " The hon. member for Avon may smile," said he; "I warn him," etc. You know the ' old style. Is it not written in the " Book of Reporters" of Hamard. Finding this did not e.icite enthusiasm, he diverged into materialism iv the way of Wellington and the Otago central railways, contending they should be made. No applause, absolutely not a single '• hear, hear." At last at half -past 9 o'clock the hon. gentleman* gave one final flicker, and went out in the midst of a faint demonstration from the " stonewallers." Saunders then took the floor, and Grey hurried on' his coat aud simply bolted from the House. Saunders, who is one of the most consistent and advanced radicals, gave him the greatest dressing down that has been yet given him in the House of Representatives (see- Hamard). The bill will pass its third reading tonight, and the session will be 'Over in a fortnight.