COMING HERE.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1811, 31 December 1912, Page 7

COMING HERE.

SPEAKER WILLIS. You in New Zealand (writes a Sydney correspondent on December 21,) have heard a good deal about Mr Henry Willis, ; Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. Well, you will shortly have an opportunity of seeing him. He intends to leave Sydyney for Auckland on December 31st,and will tour New Zealand, visiting Christchurch in due course. ?If he is not making history, Mr Willis is at any rate contributing freely to the gaiety of the community. He has established a record in the number of ejections of members from the House, and during his reign of one session has given sudden and severe shocks to the President and members of the Legislative Council, the Government, the Press, the Opposition, and the Parliamentary staffs. Through it all he has displayed a superb confidence,in himself. From time to time he gives evidence of the possession of a humour which is also characteristic. During the present recess he has been enjoying a vigorous controversy through the Press with the deputy-Leader of the Opposition, Mr Wood. He has found occasion to say something about a "screw loose," and to describe Mr Wood as "strutting about with his hat cocked on three hairs." He has advised Mr Wood that he "should not quid tobacco with the other chap's halo under his arm." Concerning the Opposition as a whole, he has spoken of "cowardly and perfidious political opportunists,'' and has declared that he is not afiaid to "stand up to these cockerels, who, on their own dunghill, have crowed to the satisfaction of old hens.''

Truly Mr Willis is a most interesting gentleman. Some iomember him as having pushed Henry Willis forward by absolute faith in Henry Willis as a man destined to greatness by a discriminating Providence. They speak of the time when he held but a humble place in the community as a teacher and Church catechist. Marriage with a squatter's daughter is said to have brought lam worldly wealth as well as other blessings. He now lives in n stately turreted house on a picturesque promontory in Middle Harbour, known as "Willis's Castle."

You will notice that Mr Willis's walk is a little stiff. In connection with the accident that made it necessary for him to be equipped witli an artificial foot, the story is told that in the days when his merits had not yet reached their due eminence he was acting as his own carrier in taking home a chest of drawers which he had picked up at a country sale. On a road as" rocky as that, of an honest politician the whole turnout was upset. Mr Willis had one foot badly smashed, but the doctor who hurried out to attend to him found Mr Willis reading a newspaper, with a countenance of lofty composure.