POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 41, 1 September 1880, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

(from our own correspondent.) Wellington, August 28.

The principal topio of conversation today in political circles — indeed, in all circles — has been the extraordinary Bcene which occurred in the House of Representatives last night, or rather early this morning, in which Mr. Vincent Pyke was the chief actor. There was an unusually long sitting, and some of the members, as is not infrequently the case, betook themselves to their cushioned seats, and spread out thereon at full length. The lion, and burly member, for Hokitika, Mr. Seddon, was amongst the number, and the hon. member for Dunstan, who had moved several amendments during the sitting, drew attention to the fact that Mr. Seddon had not recorded his vote in one division that took place. Mr. Kelly, the acting Chairman of Committees, took no notice, and Went on with the next item on the Estimates. This did not give satisfaction to the learned author of "Wild Will Enderby," for he drew -attention once more to the West Coast diggers' favorite member. Then, with a yawn, and a shuffle, and a stretch, Mr. Seddon rose up, and said, " I vote ag-ain-st Py-ke," and accordingly his vote was recorded by Mr. Kelly with the noes. Once more up rose the versatile Vincent, but he was met with a perfect storm of " Order I order!" ."Chair! chair 1" Mr. Kelly requested him to Bit down, and he obeyed, but immediately afterwards he was on his legs again, strongly insisting that the hon. member for Hokitika should .give a personal explanation as to which side he | voted with. Confusion then reigned' Bupreme. Time after time did the acting ' chairman request Mr. Pyke to be seated, but although he obeyed, he immediately rose again to argue the point. Then the hon. the Premier called upon the mem- : bers to assert the dignity of their Chamber, and support the ruling of the Chairman. Th> n Mr. Pyke followed by moving that the Chairmbn should report the matter to the Speaker, but Mr. Kelly left without putting it to the voices, and acquainted the acting Speaker, Mr. Seymour, as to what had taken place. Then the Premier moved that Mr. Pyke should ba deemed guilty of contempt; and, although Mr. Seymour gave him an opportunity of apologising, still he asserted that he was altogether right, and, no matter what punishment might be ininflicted by the House, he would not express one iota of regret. Mr. Pyke was then requested to leave the House ; but whilst a vote of censure, moved by the hon. the Premier, was being discussed, Vincent was observed in the Press gallery taking notes. He was at once ordered to withdraw, but as he took no notice, the Sergeant-at-Arms was requested to take him into custody.. The representative of the authority of the House was, however, set at defiance, and he came back and reported the matter to Sir Maurice .O'Borke, who had entered a few minutes previously. The Sergeant-at-Arms was ordered to do his duty once more, and -Vincent was taken into custody. He was again allowed to give a further explanation; and the House debated this disgraceful affair up to eight o'clock this morning, and are going to farther consider it this; evening. The matter has added to the contempt already felt by all sensible people as to the mode of conducting business in the House. The time that is utterly wasted in childish and unseemly squabbles would be disgraceful to a Provincial or County Council. The Beer Duty Bill has been reduced from 6d. to Bd., on the motion of Mr. Ballance, 41 voting for the motion, and 86 against. The second, reading of the Property Assessment Act Amendment Act was carried by 81 to 9, although vehemently opposed by Beader Wood, Saunders, and the 1 two leaders of the Opposition — Sir G. Grey and Macandrew. It provided for the exemption of household furniture, pictures, &c, in addition to the articles exempted last year, and one or two of themore inquisitorial portions were struck out. In consequence of the reduction in the beer duty, however, the Premier afterwards moved that the House should go into Committee to consider the Bill, as the Government would not be able to sanction the proposed exemptions. But Sir G; Grey moved for further exemptions still, and at length the Premier moved that progress be reported, with a view to leaving the Act of 1879 as it stood. After a long debate, it was decided, by 48 to 29, to jreport progress.