ABOVE THE SPEAKER'S CHAIR.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 73, 29 November 1887, Page 3

ABOVE THE SPEAKER'S CHAIR.

[raoM era wnxrsoroj coaararoxpxMT.j 1 Bbvkjt weeks and more hare parsed since the aewion began, and result, as far as regards work, is almost nil. Nothing but bickering and back-biting, acrimony "envy, hatred, and al! uncbaritableness.” These are hard words to UK of our legislat rs, but the picture is really aot at all overdrawn. Of course each aide of the House blames the other, but the most pre* 6 diced observer eannot but admit at the fault lies mainly with the Opposition, and more particularly with Vogel. Hi* warmest admirer* admit that he possesses no longer that tact, j that eourtesy of manner, and above all that hold over the House which he unquestionably had a year or so ago. Whether it oe his infirmity, which shows no sign of abatement in severity, or the numerous defeats and disappointments of the last few months, I ftnpw not, but the fact remain* and is palpable to all that he is failing fast >he " Vogel-Speaker ’* episode still continues to afford ample scope for

the fertile imaginations of the special Correspondents. Despite all that has been said to the contrary I think it is extremely improbable that he will withdraw them. 'J his was the course suggested by his quondam colleague Sir .Robert ’stout who has been engaged in a big Supreme C ourt case up here. Vogel, however, chooses to pose as a martyr and will not be comforted. Concerning the very warm, not to say, superlatively sultry article, which ap’peared in the Auckland Bell on the Speaker and the Hou»e generally, the Government have decided not to take any action in the matter. 'J here is no doubt whatever that although there has been so far no discreditable scenes of the nature alluded to by the Bell during present Parliament there were undoubtedly several such scenes during the duration of the last, and they do not wish to »tir up muddy water any further. The report that the Bell had apologised and that the editor, Mr G. M. Reed, had been sacked is, up to Thursday at least, unwarranted by facts. Mr Mitchelson is a partner in the Bell and he of course was very annoyed at the obnoxious attack, but he is not the only partner, and 1 hear the Others, who include a well known J Auckland brewer and the culprit , Reed himself, are staunch Vogelites I and are not likely to give in to Mit- ■ chelson’s ideas. It is stated here by 1 gome of the Auckland members that a ] meeting of the-directoTs will be held on , Saturday, and the course of action i then decided upon. I ’

SOME TEE BIBLE TALKEBS. For verbosity this Parliament can certainly claim to beat the record. Its standing inflictions in the persons of Seddon, Dick Reeves, Turnbull and others were surely bad enough, but when to these are added such unmitigated bores as W. P. Beeves, Fish, and D. Fitchett, the House indeed is sorely afflicted. A word or two about some of these shining light* of debate may not be out of place. Mr W. P. Reeves ta a yonng man who possesses a most remarkably good opinion of himself. Be is so' thin and miserable that, to quote a facetious member, “ he looks as if he bad been fed through a a keyhole with a squirt.” His nasal organ is so largely developed that it almost excuses the anxiety it* owner apparently pos>e»se*, to shove it into matters which do not in the least concern him, whilst his style of speech is a curious combination partaking alike of a sniffling drawl and the perky self satisfied cackle of a member of a Young Mens' Debating Society. Full of the glory of having defeated Mr Garrick at' St. Albans, and possessed of the idea that the Lyttelton Times is the supreme arbiter in New Zealand politics, Mr Reeves at the outset of the session actually attempted to wrest the deputy leadership of the Opposition from the wily member for humara, but the strength of the-,hints dropped by the astute Dies has caused him to draw in "hi* horn*. At present Reeve* poses as a sort of budding hando ph Churchill. He lolls back in his seat with hat tilted over his eye* and twiddles the hirsute sprouts he doubtless considers moustache in the most approved Bandolphian manner. He intermpts constantly, makes bumptious flippant little speeches, is ma»her 1 ke in appearance aud—and tbu and ft all important—is one of the most Unpopular members in the House.

A qnra visit. Al*for Fish he u far excellence the mosi oojecuouable member in the Houk. Of bis past career, now pretty well known, the less said the better—of his present nothing very favourable can be asserted by even hi* friends. The man is a rancous voiced blatant blather-kite — a genuine detnag >gue. <»n every conceivable question the member for booth Dunedin mu.t have bis say. It matters not to him that members clear out holus-bolus into the lobbies, it does not trouble him that even bis leader is openly and noticeably disgusted—the flood ot noisy eloquence flows on unabated, and Hansard reporters curse inwardly as they Ke the ordinary reporters, to whom the fiat “ Cut Fish out,” has gone forth, leaving their sanctum to enjoy a quiet whiff.

TVBSr EITCHETT. Compared with Reeves and Fish, little Dr Fitchett i* compariiively harmless. He prates and prattle* continuously it is true, and ya«n* ominously loud proceed from mouths of senators all over the House, but the dapper little L.L.D. from the Sonthren Athens continues unabashed and undeterred. He is one of Vogel’s latest victims, having been caught in the toils by that astute veteran on the Protection question. V’ogel has a knack of snapping up the young members invthis way. A little bu of judicious flattery from an exTreasurer goes a long wav, and Vogei was able baud at this kiud of work. atkixsox rx office. Very different is the appearance of the M’.nieiena! ben<-b«rs now to what it wa* when the burly form of Stout aloud nc’S’libonr to the yet more plethoric tiuuied Vogel. Atkinson, a of yore, busies himself exceedingly with papers galore, but is always oil

1 the look out for any attack to be met or any point to be made. The Premier in all his vast experience has never shewn himself in better form than during the present seisioti. He whip* his adversaries with the whip of his cutting sarcasm most unmercifully, he seems to literally revel in a fight, hi* manner is that of the man who is confidently certain that the big battallions are on hi* side.

THE MTXISTEa FOB UDVCAVtOJT.

Next io the Treasurer sit* George Fisher, ex-" comp," ex.Hanaard reporter, ex-Mayor, ex-member and present Minis'er of .Education—a black-bearded, bald-paled individual, full of fight, ready of renartee, a clever debater—a man who has risen from the lowest ranks to the honor of a seat in the Cabinet, and one of the most energetic and capable members of the Government. He hits bard, gives no quarter and expects none; has many friends in the House, and many bitter foes ;he is restless, active and combative in the extreme; will probably have some hard times when he brings in his Education Act Amendment Bill, but is a man who will go far and do well.

DEFENCE AND JUSTICE.

Fergus would serve well for a type of the beau grenadier. Tall, with handsome beard and moustaches, a good clear voice and a good clear head, jovial temperament, courteous of manner, yet on a pineh, and if neees. sary capable of making a slogging speech. He should have been Minister for Mines, for mining is his sfecialiti. baud io hear. Mitchelson is, I am told, earning golden opinions from those who are interested in Native affairs, but his almost inaudible voice is a source of grevious annoyance. THE NEW MINISTER OF LANDS. G. F. Richardson, the member for Mataura and Minister for Lands, is very popular, and whilst a capable administrator of the affairs of his department, is liked by everybody for bis unassuming genial manner, and a laudable absence of that “ side ” which is so frequently an objectionable idiosyncracy of New Zealand “ big bugs."