A SCENE IN PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume VI, Issue 345, 2 December 1871, Page 8

A SCENE IN PARLIAMENT.

There was a nice scone in the House on luesday evening, during the consideration, in committee, of the Payment of Provinces Bill. Mr Mervyn, one of the Otago members (who evidently bad been dining), took offence at some expressions which were made use of by Mr Reynolds. another Otago member, and he let out with a torrent of abuse which the Chairman of Committees vainly endeavored to check. Cries of “order, order,” “chair,” and call the Ser-geant-at-Arms,” resounded throughout the Hall, and a scone of the utmost confusion took place. One Maori member said Mr Mervyn should be ashamed of himself, and had better go home and go to lied, while another offered, if tho House wished it, to take him on his shoulders and carry him away. The Chairman being unable to restrain Mr Mervyn’s noisy, objectionable, language, left the chair, and the Speaker took his seat? He roundly rated Mr Mervyn, who declined to apologise, and could scarcely e\ on then be made to sit down. On Wednesday, as soon as the House met, M r Speaker ordered that all strangers should withdraw. When the House was cleared, he administered to Mr Mervyn a ivell-merited castigation, and drew from that “gentleman an apology. ANOTHER. The first fruits of the ballot in the House arc not encouraging. Mr Mervyn is not the only member who has disgraced himself. Mr E. J. Wakefield, who boasted that but for the ballot be would never have had a seat in tho House, lias turned out a pretty specimen. At the beginning of the session, be made a great parade of having a select committee appointed by which Maori petitions might be specially considered. Of course, being the mover, he was on the committcec, and he was further made chairman. One, or perhaps two meetings were held all light; but an evil time for “ Teddy” came, and report says that, at a meeting not very long ago, he was in such a state that a Maori moved the adjournment of the committc, it being impossible to transact any business. —Correspondent to the Hawke’s Bon Herald.