THE "SCENES" IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 30, 7 February 1881, Page 2

THE "SCENES" IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The extraordinary proceedings, of which the English Housaof Commons has for some time past been the theatre, have culminated at hist, in the forcible expulsion of the Irish obstruotionjstst^§omeßurprise has been expressed that tbiKPSfliament <lid not earlier assert its authority and-raidioate its outraged authority, but it wiffTsa.sisyi occur to tiiose who give due reflection to the matter, tnat-aay interference on the part of the House involved grave peril to that freedom of debate which is the essence of Constitutional Government. Every reasonable man was doubtless shocked and grieved at the outrageous disregard of all decency and propriety exhibited by the Parnell-Biggar-Dillon faction. To those who have been accustomed to point with pride to our British Parliament as a model for the whole world, it must have been a cruel blow to find it brought into contempt and derision by the gross behaviour of some of its members, and, by ita apparent impotence or reluctance, to check their vagaries or punish them for their misconduct. It is indeed a melancholy spectacle to s°e the House of Commons fall from ita estate and descend to the level of an Australian Parliamentary bear-garden. Still, it cannot be forgotten that any interference with the freedom of debate involves some danger to liberty— danger whose extent is indefinite and whose limit cannot be absolutely foreseen. Scandalously a3 the Irish obstructionists have behaved, it is difficult to apply to them any measure of repression which might not contain the potentiality of being abused by misapplication in other cases as a means of checking freedom of speech. This unquestionably is a serious peril, but the time had come when the risk must be incurred lest all semblance of order should be lost and chaos reign, supreme. It can never be said that sever© repression was tried before all other means had utterly failed. Messrs. Parnell, Dillon and Co. had surpassed themselves in their unseemly behavior, two successive sittings of twenty-two and twenty-four hours respectively had been held during which every effort was made to secure by gentle means the due progress of the necessary public business, but without the slightest effect. Ultimately, we learn by latest telegrams, the Prime Minister moved for their immediate expulsion on the ground that no less stringent measures would suffice to restore order. We are told that the motion was carried, and the order for the expulsion of the disorderly members given by the Speaker, an unprecedented scene of confusion succeeding. Mr. Dillon forcibly resisted the Speaker's order until thrust out by main strength, on which his fellowobstructionists appear to have submitted to expulsion, the House subsequently passing Mr. Gladstone's motion, which gives the Speaker Bupreme control in cases of

" urgency," in which category the Irish. Coercion Bill was promptly included. Such i? the stage at which the matter has so far arrived. It is greatly to be deplored that the House of Commons should have been disgraced by shch scene 3, and that the Iri3h members should have resorted to such means for obtaining the redress of grievances whose existence is moßt frankly admitted. Everybody freely acknowledges the fact that the people of Ireland have been suffering from a long course of injustice and oppression. The necessity of taMag some steps to secure the reasonable protection of the tenant from the grasping tyranny of the landlord is by none more readily recognised than by the very Ministry who now have been compelled to adopt the Bternest measures of repression against those who have brought a cause-j-in itself to a large extent right and jnst —into such world-wide disrepute, both by their scandalous misconduct in Parliament and by the horrible atrocities for which they are indirectly responsible. They have gone altogether the wrong way to obtain redress of their grievances. That redre33 doubtless will in the end be accorded, but not until the dignity of Parliament and ef the law has been thoroughly vindicated, order restored, and outraged against life "and property on one hand, and against the honor of Parliament on the other, rigorously repressed. The wholesale expulsion of the obstructive members is, so far as we are aware, entirely without example in Parliamentary history, the only case of expulsion recorded in Hatsell's "Precedents" being one which occurred in the year 1580, during the reign of Elizabeth, when a member named Hall was expelled for contempt. His offence consisted in writing and publishing a book ca'led "An Admonition by the Father of F.A. to him, being a Burgess of the Parliament, for his better behaviour therein," which was complained of "not only as reproaching some particular good members of the House, but also very much slanderous and derogatory to the general authority, power, and state of this House, and prejudicial to the validity of it 3 proceeding in making and establishing of law." It was then resolved, without one negative voice, that Mr. Hall should be committed to the Tower for six months, and until he should make retractation of the book to the satisfaction of the House, that he should pay a fine to the Queen of 500 marks, and " that he should be presently severed and cut off from being a member of this House any more during tho continuance of this present PHrliament." This is given on the authority of Sir Simonds Dewea' records, tho original journals of the House of Commons during the last 20 years of Elizabeth's reign being missing, and appears to be the only instance in which the House of Commons has previously exercised the power of expulsion. !

Ihe Hon. Major Atkinson goes to Taranaki on Thursday next, and the Hon. Mr. Kolleston will probably leave town for the Waimate Plains in the course of a day. Mr. Dick is expected back from Sydney, and Mr. Oliver from Dunedin, towards the end of the week. Enquiries are still being instituted regarding the death of the man Thomas Muir, recorded in our issue of Satnrday evening. As soon as all particulars are obtained, they will be forwarded to Dr. Johnston, City Coroner, who will then have to say whether 1 an inquest will be necessary. We may mention that Mr. Symes, who states that he had been for two years acquainted with deceased, called at our office to-day and denied that Mnir could have lain in the house for four days, because they had dined together on the Monday previous to the Tuesday on which he was found. At that time Mxiir was under the influence of liquor, and was quarrelsome. In consequence of the continued absence from "Wellington of Mr. Sbaw E.M., the hearing of the charges against the " striking " seamen, who now number seventeen, stands further adjourned. The Manawatu cases were fixed for to-day, but as Mr. Shaw is not expected back before Wednesday, and that vessel will not return to port before the evening of the same day, they were postponed till Thursday next. The Huia and Stormbird cases, appointed for to-morrow, will, it is expected, be formally called on and adjourned from day to day till Mr. Shaw again presides at the Court. A cable message has been received to the effect that a dividend of .£l lss and a bonus of 5s per share for the half-year, equal to 16 per cent, per annum, was declared at the meeting of proprietors of the Union Bank of Australia, held in London on Monday last, and it is notified in another column that this dividend is now payable to colonial shareholders. We understand that the reason why the police did not interfere with the proprietors of the totalisators on the racecourse' was that there was a doubt whether they could legally do so. The advicQof the Crown Law Officer was sought, but asnß did not give a decided opinion as to the legality of proceedings s gainst peri-ons using the totalisator,, the police did not think it desirable they should take the responsibility of so doing. In the last Home News appeared a notice of the death of Mr. J. S. Moore, " formerly a Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand." As, probably, many people will fail to recollect the existence of any New Zealand Judge of that name, we may explain that Mr. Joseph Schroder Moore was only temporarily appointed to the Bench. He was a barrister, practising in Victoria, and on the late Chief Justice, Sir George Arney, obtaining leave of absence on account of illhealth, Mr. Moore was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court to hold office " during the Governor's pleasure," instead of "during good behavior," as in the case of the permanent Judges. Mr. Justice Moore, who held office from 15th May, 1866, to 20th June, 1868. discharged his duties very satisfactorily. The whole of the volunteer foroes in Wellington assembled at the Drill Shed yesterday morning for the purpose of attending Divine service. Having been inspected by Lieutenant-Colonel Pearce, who was in command, the corps marched to St. Paul's, where an appropriate sermon was pr%ohed by the Bey. B. W. Harvey. After service, the corps were marched back to the Drill Shed, where Colonel Pearce announced that, in future, special services for volunteers would bo dispensed with, it being arranged that the volunteers should henceforth attend the ordinary morning service, commencing at 11 o'clock. Mr. Collet, purser of the Tui, drew Libeller in North's iMOOO sweep, so that his loss by the sporting barber's bolt is i>s4o. As previously announced, the Simonsen Company's operatic season will commence about the 16th inst., and will extend over three weeks. We unintentionally did the -United Press Association an injustice on Saturday, inasmuch as we find that the item, of JFijian news reherred to was supplied to the Wellington papers. . r „..-■ The receipt of a quantity of fruit ' from Mrs. Tarr, for the use of the Hospital patients, is gratefully acknowledged by the steward. .^Remaining in the Lunatic Asylum on Saturday were 140 patients— 79 males and 61 females. There were 58 patients at the. Hospital on Saturday — 45 males and 13" females. One male patient died during the week? and four received their discharge. Mr. Angelo Forrest will give (toother of his always enjoyable concerts at the Atbenceuin Hall to-morrow evening, when he will play a number of admirably-chosen solos on the pianofofte<ancf also on" the harmonium. Hjs extraordinary ability as an executant and musician is well known, and, in view of his early departure from Wellington, we have no doubt that tha-f|»m emaining opportunities of hearing his admirable performances will be largely taken . advantage of. He will be assisted by the members of St. Peter's choir, who include some of our best local amateur soloists. Ladies and gentlemen who lately assisted in the amateur performance of '" Pinafore " are requested to meet Mr. Wolf at St. George's Hall to-night, at 8 o'clock. A rehearsal of " The Pirates of Penzance" will also take place. . > Several hundred persons gathered on the Queen's Wharf yesterday afternoon,' attracted thither by the announced musical performance of the Naval Brigade Band. The event was characterised by a total absence of anything approaching disorderliness, and the band's playing seemed to be greatly appreciated. A similar performance will take place next Sunday afternoon. The services held yesterday at the Westeyan Churches in Molesworth and Taranaki street and the Adelaide road were well attended, and the sermons were preached by the Bevd. E. Best, B. S. Bunn, Mr. J. J. M&tther, and others. A meeting of the Cook Ward Salvage Corps will be held at the Newtown schoolroom at 8 o'clock to-morrow evening, to consider the question of fire protection for the district. AU persons willing to join the corps are invited to attend. The Bible-in-schools question is still ablaze in Dunedin. The newly-elected committee were rather puzzled the other day by an application from the Freethought Association. The association, it appears, are anxious to start a " Children's Lyceum," in which it may be presumed the works of Paine and Colonel Ingersoll are to be the text books ; and as, on the principle of lucus a non hicendo, they term this " moral and religious instruction," they claim the same privileges as the evangelical denominations. After a little discussion, the request was agreed with. Thus the committee now find .themselves committed to " affording facilities" for the propagation of infidel opinions.

Some boys on tho Terrace ignited the gorse this morning, and, during' the afternoon, it sent out large volumes of smoke and flame. About a quarter past 2 p.m. the £LreDell3 rang an alarm, and shortly afterwards two men were seen dragging a hose-reel slowly along the Quay. They would; at the pace they were_ going, probably reach the fire about midnight. A third man carried a hydrant under his arm, and leisurely walked along the pavement with it. Ihe flames were extinguished by some persons on the Terrace shortly after the alarm was given. It i 3 fortunate the wind was not strong at the time, or probably the houses in the neighborhood would have become ignited. Mr. Taylor, boat-builder, Old Custom House Quay, has just completed a four-oared inrigged racing gig for the Foxton Bowing Club. It iB 41ft long and 3ft sin overall, and is made of polished cedar braced with hiokory, rata, and iron. The seats are on slides and the rowlock 3 are on swivels. Both ends of the keel for Eeverol feet are cappered, and the whole exterior is smooth and polished as glass, and will offer but little resistance to the water. The workmanship is excellent, and does infinite credit to Mr. Taylor's skill as a boat-builder. The boat may be seen at his shed in HerbertBtreet until to-morrow, when it will be shipped to its destination. The discussion which arose a short time ago on the subject of capital punishment is apparently about to be renewed in a more formal manner. The Rev. C. De Castro proposes to deliver a lecture on the subject on Thursday evening, at the Athenaeum, in which he ¦will no doubt elaborate his arguments in favor of abolition ot the death penalty. . The advertisement sets out that there is to be no discussion, but it is to be presumed that Mr. De Castro's address will bring forth some reply on a future evening. The performance of " The Shaughran " on Saturday evening brought to a close Mr. Grattan Eiggs' season at the Academy of Music. There was again an excellent attendance. There was a good attendance at Professor Haselmayer's entertainment on Saturday evening, but the programme was not so good as those presented on previous evenings, many of the tricks being simply of the parlor magic order. To-night there is to be an entire change, and several startling novelties are promised, such as Edison's electric spark illuminations. The professor leaves for Wanganui on Thursday. A Press Association telegram a few days ago gave an account of renewed fencing operations by the natives at the Waimate Plains, and also of a clearing being made in the bush on land intended to be offered for sole by the Government. With reference to this, the Wanganni Chronicle says : —From enqniries we have made we are able to state positively that the fence referred to is an old one, and has been up for many months, if not years, protecting a small potato patch about an acre in extent, and the natives say they will remove it as soon as the potatoes are dug. Tho "clearing" obstruction has no more significance. It is a small patch claimed by some old widow, a relation of William King Matakatea (one of the most loyal friends of the pakeha), and has been visited by Mr. Parris, who found the few natives concerned quite in a friendly humor and not intending any obstruction. ' '