POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

Bush Advocate, Volume XII, Issue 1754, 30 September 1899, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

-* , ._\ ;t . (From our Parliamentary Special;) . ■Wellington, Thursday. * Many years ago when, the laU'Sfr Thomas Bracken was a member, of tbe House, he mentioned a popular song, and tbe members called upon him to sing it. To their surprise ha 1 ,ra»spondedto the request, and gave a capital rendering of it. This waa the first and, until to-day, the only occasion upon whioh the ordinary routine of business in tbe House was enlivened with song. To-day, however,' this solitary instance was entirely eclipsed by the spontaneous outburst of patrior tic enthusiasm displayed by tbe. whole of tbe members of the House at the conclusion of the debute on tbe question of sending a contingent of New - " Zealand volunteers to <^he, Transvaal. ■There had been, one 'or 1 iW- members during the debate who were inclined to throw cold water on the scheme, but when the victorious result of the division was announced, and the Premier rising jubilantly to his feet led offj with hearty vigor the familiar melody of the National Anthem, members rose en masse to give him their support. Then the o'osupants of the. galleries, seized with the infection of the moment, caiight iip the anthem and swelled the volume of soag till its stirriDg strains set all hearts thumping. The warm blooded 'became enthusiastic, and the colder naturedand less demonstrative forgot themselves so far as to jnin heartily in the singing. Even veteran pressmen, seasoned with the experience of years and special opportunity, could not restrain themselves, and one younger, who, recently passed through the Sanioan war trouble, shook off the depressing iav fluencos of influenza, and unwinding from his neck a formidable soarf, waved it frantically. It was an extraordinary scene to those who- afe accustomed to see tbe Chamber in ita sober every day discussion. The ou*^ break ended in three vigorous cheers and members then stalked off jauntily, with heads erect, shoulders squared, and hu-uiing snatches of our national song. After the petty, party, and. personal wrangling of the past :• fortnight it made one feel that even Members of Parliament can rise to the occasion wheu circumstances demand it.