THE SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVI, Issue 176, 30 July 1881, Page 2

THE SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

The Wellington correspondent of the " Timarn Herald," telegraphing to that journal, gives the following account of the recent scene m the House : — Last night there was a very low scene m the Houae on the Licensing Bill. Mr Beeves and Mr Pyke and one or two others were very noisy and obstructive, using anything but elegant language, and behaving badly. Sir William Fox rose m great anger, and proposed the adjournment of the Bill for a fortnight to allow of the passing of his resolution, for shutting up Bellamy's, which, he said, would put a stop to such disgraceful scenes. His meaning was perfectly plain, and the members who considered themselves to be alluded to, attacked Sir William Fox very violently, Mr Beeves outraging all the bounds of decency, eipi-ulally m one mo3t improper re rp,.p., nP tn Mr Saunders, who had not piovoked urn wrath m any way except by being a total abstainer. Mr Weston unfortunately misconceived Sir William Fox's rebuke to have been directed at Mm, because he sits near Mr Beeves and Mi Pyke, aud he bitterly resnu.'cl \t, but quite m the manner of a gentleman. Mr Reeves having threatened to keep the House sitting till six m the morning; the Premier who is utterly worn out with overwork, lost his temper, and sharply reproached Mr Eeeves, who then turned upon him, and gave him a taste of his quality, and precious rough stuff too. Mr Sheehan joined m the fray, siding with the noisy ones, and adding fuel to the file, and altogether it was a great hubbub. It was just one of those scenes Thick ought really to reflect no discredit on the House, because nine-tenths of the House had nothing to do with it, and are as much scandalised and disgusted by it as anybody, but for which, nevertheless, the House gets the blams. The Chairman of Committees (Mr Seymour) is considered to have shown an amount of weakness m uot insisting upon Mr Beeves

behaving himself m a reasonably decorouß manner. The committee as I a whole were m an excellent temper for business, and were getting on very well when thu> disturbance arose, entirely on the part of two or three memberß who do not pretend to consider the propriety.