BELLAMY'S.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1180, 12 October 1894, Page 38

BELLAMY'S.

Another nice afternoon was pleasantly wasted on Thursday in the House. This sort of thing will, of course, appreciably hasten the close of the session. Bellamy’s was the subject this time. The discussion began with a kind of sparring match between the Premier and Mr George Hutchison, concerning a report which the member for Patea brought down from the House Committee, that a resolution had been carried on the motion of the Premier that the usual order be sent for. supplies for Bellamy’s next session. If this order were sent, deplored Mr Hutchison, supplies to the value of nearly <£3oo would be ordered during the recess, and would be in stock at the beginning of next session. He understood that Bellamy’s was not to be opened next session except by order of both Houses. The Premier, who saw in all this an attack upon himself, rose to his feet with considerable alertness to remark that he did not think the member for Patea had done himself much credit in the character of Paul Pry. “ Oh! oh ! ” from Sir R. Stout. If the remark was objected to, continued the Premier apologetically, he would withdraw it. " I don’t object to it, coming from you,” was the impassive Hutchison’s retort, to the amusement of the House. The Premier, taking up the thread of the story, pointed out that if the order were not sent Home during- the recess, and then Parliament determined next year that Bellamy’s should go on, there would be no stock to go on with. The committee had unanimously resolved to send the order. It was the usual order, and was not entirely for liquor, and the amount was about <£2oo, not =£3oo. If the House decided next year that Bellamy’s must be closed, they could realise the stock, and there would be no loss whatever. The Premier went on to give an interesting sketch of an emergency meeting of the House Committee to show how wily is the member for Patea, and by inference how much more wily he himself is. Mr Hutchison and he were walking down the passage when Mr Hutchison said “ Come in here!” It was like the spider and the fly ! suggested the Premier. Four of them went in, and Mr Hutchison, closing the door, remarked that they would make this a

meeting of the House Committee. " No, you don’t!” was what the Premier replied in effect, and he and Mr McGowan walked out, leaving the other discomfited two—Mr Hutchison and the member who first proposed to close Bellamy’s, Major Harris—without a quorum. At another meeting it was decided to report the resolution of the committee to the House, and he looked upon that as a hole and corner meeting. Sir Robert Stout didn’t see it in that way. He thought the committee did right in seeking to let the House know what was going on. After a couple of hours’ talk, the report was, on the motion of the Premier, referred back to the committee, with an instruction that they report again in a w T eek, and that no order for alcoholic liquor be given in the meantime.