STRAY LEAVES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 14 August 1890, Page 32

STRAY LEAVES.

FROM « PEARL PEN'S " NOTE BOOK. Sic Maurice O'Rorko as well <is a number of hon. members are suffering from sovere colds, and the sneezing to be heard of an evening going on in all parts of the House, galleries included, forms an unpleasant Rccoinpanirnuut to the speeches. Poor Mr Fish is one of the victims, and at present is so hoarse that when he tries to speak (and no cold could be severe enough to restrain his eloquence, for Mr Fish will do his duty or die iv the attempt) his voice soundssepulchral in the extreme. The following little episode will conclusively prove that Shakespearian quotations may notbe used indiscriminately, even in the heat of parliamentary debate. Mr Speaker so ruling, to the discomfiture of Mr Mouk, who, while refuting Mr Fisher's charges th- other evening re~ the Kaihu railway affair, said there was such a> quotation ia Shakespeare as " measureless liar."' Of coarse Mr Monk was instantly called to> order, and requested by the Speaker, to withdraw such an offeusive remark. "But I was only quoting Shakespeare, sir," expostulated the innocent-looking member. Whereupon the voice of Sir Maurice O'Rorke rang out in thunderous tone, for Mr Speaker brooks uo demur or opposition to his decisive ruling. " The hon. member must, resumo his seat.'/ " And the crestfallen Mr Mouk subsides, "if must inform him that he cannot by means of s quotation use such an offensive expression as that, and you must be as guarded in the use of quotations as in the use of ordinary language,"' Mr Monk apologised at once in the meekest manner possible, and there the matter ended. By the way, Mr Taiwhauga, who addresses the House pretty frequently, and whose speeches are delivered in jerky little sentences, emphasised by curious guttural grunts, expressed a decided opinion yesterday that more Maoris ought to be elevated to the " upper regions " (Legislative Council), instead of so many white men, but the House did not endorse his view of the case. The Wellington Poultry Show, held at the Garrison Hall at the end of last week, has been pronounced by competent judges as the bestexhibition of its kind ever held in this city. Toe show was opened by his Excellency the Governor, who made some very apt remarks auent poultry farming in his short speech — a lengthy oration being out of the question ; for, as Lord Ouslow said, "if he attempted to do so the solo would be drowned by the chorus from the birds." Mr Walrond accompauied the Governor, and a large attendance of the public testified to the growing interest in barnyard and ooher favourites, such as pigeons, parrots,, peacocks, and canaries. The birds, arranged in rows of wire pens across the hall, were bothnumerous and beautiful; indeed some of the prize takers were really magnificent specimens of the various breeds they represented. But, oh, the noise ! proceeding as it did in clarion, notes of defiance from every feathered denizen of the pens it was positively deafening, and the sweet music rendered by Herr Moseh's band was scarcely heard amid the uproar. Among the pet birds were some parrots of beautiful plumage, and a large white cockatoo, who sat oa his perch in dignified silence, but, with hea<? bent knowingly on one side, appeared to list/ ' with disdain to the discordant chorus raised l his noisy neighbours. A group of girla B LJ& near the birds as I passed by, one of wb/ 88 trying to coax the parrots to speak, w' "* j denly one of the birds, taught probaK ? . occasion, screeched out, l< Awful re ' „. ;f o awful row, ain't it ?" to the intent- **■ * m a „™ I and delight of the listeners. c am * zemeut The very latest parliament' „_ « nnnn A m rn in thefolbwiH g :. : Wh a Usth e &££*££ the local bodies and the I islative Council ?» Of course everyone gw /f 1 * wd , local House during th© r f db t Mr RZfrir a appointments to the Upper thJl the night after the "count »„ ' ft filvL ck«d-in members' little affair; SeW 2Sf * *&, legislators were still a trifle all apS ieir litfcle frolic ' aQd di ?P° 8 f *° Sftys? ° c they are not averse to at the 1 inf^^ a consecutive wet Sundays, and recently to fcw Jticient steady rain during the week days . l n the gardens into swamps and the street* !*7 canals of liquid mud. Needless to say such * dtate of affairs is not conducive to the comfort, j ' of visitors or others who want to get about toi concerts, balls, or evening parties, although, in spite of the inclement weather, all kinds of I social amusements are well attended by pleasure I; seekers, old and young, who never dream oi a stajing at home either for wiud or rain. 3 To-night (Friday) tbero are two concerts— one fc at the Opera House, under the patronage of his f Excellency the Governor; and the other, at the 3 Theatre Royal, is under the patronage of the t Mayor and Mayoress. Both are given by the j Friendly Societies, and are in aid of the Public 3 Library Fund. To-morrow Lidy Onslow will t hold the reception postponed from Wednesday, in order that members of the Legislature may a have an opportunity of attending it, Saturday b being au" off "day. j Lord Onslow's new aide-de-camp, Mr James 3 Guthrie, who is said to be on his way out, is [ quite a society man, as will be seen from the i following, which recently appeared in the Pall a Mall Budget, concerning him :— " The event of [ the night was due to the enterprise of two young men, Mr James Guthrie and Mr Murray [ Guthrie, brothers of Mrs Anstruther Thompson, c Mrs Henry Denison, and Mra Cecil Bingham, I who, having spiritedly appropriated their step- [ father's house in Park lane, proceeded with the > utmost sangfroid to give a small danof. Entert taining with thorn must be not an acquired but i a natural gift, for no entertainment this season r ha« proved so completely satisfactory, and none b has caused more interest. The flowers exceeded anything yet seen in London, and the - cotillion, wi.ich was the principal feature of the : dance, was led admirably." Mr Guthrie, judging f from the above, should provo au acquisition at l Government House, whpre we .«h»H probably i have the cotillion introduced at ooe of the balls I in the near future, as an agreeable change from ■ f the old, old dances that people are tired of.