THE SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1072, 19 July 1880, Page 2

THE SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

-.Another scene of a most- unusual:' nature, occurred in the House, on Friday night. Sir George Grey commenced to speak on the 'Maori -Prisoners Bill about 20 minutes to . 8 o'clock. About ten minutes afterwards . he . observed that] the Premier, Who 'was 'correcting a Hansard proof of a speech,, was.treating him with contempt by r not listening to his remarks, and he said he should not, proceed until Mr. Hall gave . him his attention. Mr. Hall rose and, merely saying he was not bound to attend to what was said by any hon. member* ■ went on with bis proof-reading. Sir j George again said he should not 'go on until Mr. Hall listened to him,, when there ensued a perfect storm /of cries of , "•''.Order!" "Question'" and much confusion. Several members rose \to points of order as to whether Sir George could detain the House without speaking tortKS' questiori>u£de J ]£\ jfie^eT^ Mr.: [McLean endeavored to speak tp "the bill, but he was howled dow.n by .the Opposition; and: Mr. Andrews met, with similar treatment, from the. Government supporters. Sir George stili persisted in 4pu^ng|tb?go oii^: and Mr. Hall con unu%a his readingr Mr." Walter Johnston here . rose and asked the ActingSpeaker's, ruling as to whether Sir George Grey was not,wilf ully obstructing the business of the Houbb, but Mr. Seymour did not consider he was wilfully obstructing. Sir George had; then been standing for half an hour. -At last some of his friends brought up a chair, on the back of which; he. leaned', looking round defiantly at the Ministers. Mr. Macaudrew then rose and said ; 'a. few words about the discourtesy, which brought Mr. Atkinson to his feet. He said, Mr. Hall had. not only been paying attention' to what was said, but also had taken full- notes as well as other Ministers. Major Harris . caused' roars- of laughter by asking " whether : ! all .the" silence would be recorded in Hdnsard. Points of order we're raised by Messrs. Wiiitaker,;.; Suttonj^/M'Jjean, Trimble and ..others. Sir George istili refused to go on, - and said he should remain in the same position tiE unless the. Premier gaye his . attention; Members thencommencea walking about, the. House, and conversed in loud tones;' Mr. Hall at this time had finished' read*-. ing|his proof, and was apparently looking over an Act.. .Mr. M'Lean again rose to a point of order, and had to encounter a -good deal of hooting. .He said he wished to know how he could put a motion for clearing the ; House of strangers, of whom there were a* great many present in all , the galleries. The speaker then said he should like to lea^e the chair for half an hour, at which the. Opposition cheered loudly, and the Houie adjourned at 20 minutes to. 9 o'clock, "Sir. George Grey rose and asked the^Premier if he would, n offli- f &y» iim. J mV^t enfc idn,io which ffi m HaU replied that i he had been- attending all along. Sir George then resumea his; speech, and continued speaking for only fura— minutes longer. Sueh-^rseerie. would probably never have occarred had Sir G. M. O'Rorke been in the chair.