POLITICAL SKETCHES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6119, 20 September 1881, Page 3

POLITICAL SKETCHES.

By Vekax. No. V. Geokge M'Lean, the member for Waikouaiti, ia a man with » character aad a powor of his own nut easily described 01 accounted for, He apeaka often and by no means well; and yet ho hardly ever, spoaka without doing hla party some good or with out acoomplUhing what be aims at. lie is perfec'ly conscious that his oratory will never draw down on him "the applauae of listening senates," and that he murders the Queen's English, and therefore he never speaks to show himself off, but will, without a momont'u preparation or notice, throw himself into any breach that may want filling up for a time. Sometimes he 1 Isea to talk out a question that he thlnka had bettor not go to the vote. Sometimes be osllu tho attention of his party to the necessity of contradicting something that has been said. At another time he points out the injußtioo of some careless mistaken accusation. And not uufrequently he will rlae for the express pnrpoao of calling down oensure on himself that he sees will harm him leso than some more prominent men of his party. Ha can play the mother duck to perfection, and by faia apparent blunders draw off hia enemies from the duckling they might secure to the tough old parent that will ba none the worse for their pursuit. Ht Is a party man, not excessively fastidious about the means he adopts to secure a vote, and oau himself follow a lead, drive or draw, speak or be silent, as his almost infallible peroeption Bhows him to bo most likely to accomplish his objoet William SEFroN Moorhouse, the member for Ashluy, has only been once In the Houbo for a few minuteu this setßlon, and i 8 never likely to bo there again. He Is (or was) a middle-sizrd man, something over 50 years of age, with a loud hußky voice, not often hoard ; but when heard, it proclaimed somehiog novel and daring. He was never a cloao attendaat on tho Houso, but was (Jolonlal in hia aims, and was uover in any souse a local man. He ia chiefly celebrated, like Vogel and Macandrew, for hio contempt for all prudential considerations, and his power and inclination to project undertakings without counting their cost. He was o jovial mm, who could associate with all classes as one of themselves. His style of sponking was vigorous and direct—never auuu out and never ambiguous, —though he often threw out very crude ideas that his hearers iniyht fill up as they pLssed. The Moorhouso Tunnel will long keep him in memory, and be a tribute to his ronlj oharaottr, which wao more daring than prudent—more ambitious than wise. William Montgomery, the member for Akaroa, ii one of the fiuest-looking men in the House ; tall, robust, with a fine chiselled head and faoo, and with considerably too much dignity—which io, however, more apparent than real. Ho is an earnest, well-bred man, with very dtcidid, clear political views. Ha is not original, and far less imaginative. Ho is nut a very fre • quest, and never a very 1 >ng speaker, but always spoaka directly to ths point, and on the snbjeot before the H use. Ho relates com mon place truths with too much solemnity and pomp ; is rarely wiity or amusing, and haß a rathor indistinct utterance, which makeß him difficult to hoar unless he speaks loudly, which he is too prone not to do," although he has plenty of lung power. It is not too much to say that his speeches are always heard attentively, and are alwsyß worth listening to, though never brilliant. Like the man himself, they are cautious, honest, businessliko, and reliable. Vredkuick Joseph Moss, the member for Parnoll, is a bald-headed, middle-sized man, with a pteasanS open faca, a clear ringing voice, an unlimited command oE good language, with ths most perfect self confidence and uolf-possession. With all these useful qualifications, he clears thu House, when he rises, more quickly than even Seddon himself, nnd has more often had tho bell rung to get a House for him than any other member. He Is a speaker without being a thinker ;he is fond ef making careless financial btatements ; he is too often on his logs ; and he is a partisan whose views are guided not by facts or figures, but who tries to guide facts aad figures to suit his views. William Archibald Murray, the member for Bruce, is a tall, active, restless man, with an original, daring mind, that in the days of the Caijars or the Stuarts would have certainly brought him to tho gallows. He haß no reverence for existing institutions, no veneration for the powers that be, no f«ar of the most daring novelties, and no want of confidence in himself His mind ia both inventive and imit&tiv. 1, so that he produces new constitutions, new laws, new financial statements, and now policies as freely as other members produce new walklng-tticks. But whilst he has something new to propose every week, he has all tho pertinacity of a man with only one idea, and perseveres yosr after year with any of his favourite projects, in deHance of, though not utterly regardless to, opposition, indiffarenoo, or ridicule. He is In no sense a successful speaker, His Unguag6 is neither Scotch nor English; his utterance 1b too rapid and indistinct, and hia command of language is not equal to the demand hit fertile brain and his rapid utterance make upon it, He falls, too, altogether In the art of keeping In sympathy with his audience, and la more prone to defy and despise them than to lead them with him. His industry and power of research are very remarkable, and notwithstanding the great attmtlon he devotes to his numerous hobbles, he (Jwayis keeps himself well informed on every ques lion that comes bofore the House. Richard Oliver, one of the members for Duntdin, and tho late Minister for Public Works, is a rather tall, slander jnaa, in tho prime of life. He is sincere, honest, »nd fussy, but not powerful. He ia very tonohy, and resents with great indignation any imputation against him, but ho lights in snatches that rather invite resistance, and has none of the " Oliver Cromwell" style of quietly holding on to the death. He Is a jerky speaker, with a very fair voice and a somewhat high flown manner, but he only apeaks when he haa something to say, nnd only on subjects about which he knows something. His personal likes and ditlikis are too strong and too transparent for a public man. Ho is prompt, punctual, and reliable, with all that la needed to make tinbest of the power he possesses, and to pass with credit in all ordinary commercial and personal relations of everyday life. Ho will fail in nothing from Indifference or apathy, but he has no largo reserve of power, and commands no heavy guns. John Davies Obmond, the member for Olive, 1b a man not often heard in the House, but when the House hears him the Colony generally hears of him too. He is a thoughtful, silent, retired, Independent member. He has a fair amount of oontidence In himself, and very little in anyone else. He seekß no co-operation from any ocher membar, is careless of public opinion or personal applause, but looks deeply into every Important subject with a oloar eye to its effect en tho future prosperity of the Colony, of Ills distriot, and of his own estates. He ia a man of no warm susceptibilities, no power to carry away an audience, and no desiro to be received as a champion of any class or as the deliverer of any sufferers. He can fay tho most Important things in the most qufofc, unassuming manner, and if he creates any excitement, in. no way responds to it himself. Ho commands no very extraordinary montal power, and Is not at all fertile in theoretical projects; but ho sees everything with a practical eye, has the aourage of hla own opinions, and tha indeuendcuce to think for himself, so that bin speeches are not the mere expression of views gathered from tho newspapers, picked up in tho lobbies, or echoed from his constituents Bit George Maurice O'EoitKK.themember for Onehunga, and tho Speaker of the House, Is a man of full average Eizs, with a line, open, pleasant face. Ha is in hid right place in the chair, and possesses all the powers he needs for bin present work. He has a fins, pleasant voice, a command of suitable language, no tendency to talk, and la a most patient, untiring listener. He is as Impartial as & machine, is usually as courteous as a Frenchman, but can ho as authoritative as an jtmpero'r aud ao dignified as % Duchess. Whoa In the chair ho knows'no party, and cares for no question; bat when out of it, and trying to get some Onebungs grant passed, he wants almost as much looking afisr us Shrlmski himself, and will take advantage of oaj accident or of aiiy oogjlgonop. Albert Put, one of the m^mbarß fpr the City of Nelson, is an averagod->Bized man, of daik complezloD, about 40 years of age. He has a very praotical mind, and jnaket! a useful member, brlng'ng bia legal knowlodga to bonr on most q; ontlouß before the House, He has a jiuod, ciuar voice, bud can talk when ht has anything to nay, but la not a fluent speaker, and has by no means-a fertilo imagination. He ia Wuli up in political creeds,,ifljipt a strong ot narrow partisan, but 1b very local ; '

in his partialities. He is evidently treated wfth great Confiderjco both by his constituents and by his Nelson colleagues!