THE NEXT NOVELTY!

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1381, 18 November 1859, Page 3

THE NEXT NOVELTY!

Mil. Wakefield will no doubt be thankful for any hints or suggestions, calculated to create an interest in th_e' nightly proceedings of Council. They have lately become so extremely " stale, flat, and unprofitable," that unless something novel is introduced, the gallery which has been getting " small by degrees and beautifully less" will be entirely deserted. The State Trial of last session cannot be repeated every year, nor will supporting a Petition at the Bar, do twice within the course of a month. Even a good smart debate of any length cannot now be very well got up, since Mr. Fox and many, other of the country members are gone to their homes. Under these circumstances we dra\r Mr. Wakefield's attention to a choice bit of theatrical display which was' intended to have come off in the New South Wales Parliament, had not the cause of it been previously removed. Mr. Wakefield's genius will be able to improve upon the original idea,, and if he does so, we hope he will, charitably remember the good service we have done him in bringing the subject to his notice. Dr. Lang recently gave notice that he should move in substitution of resolutions by .Mr. Parkes on the defences- of the colony, a series of resolutions affirming the probability of those colonies being made the theatre of war between the great powers of Europe, and the consequent desirability of their peaceful separation from the mother country. Some difficulty was experienced in getting this notice tabled, but it was eventually ruled to be in order and not antagonistic to the oath of allegiance to which honorable members in Australia are subject. . The motion gave great offence, and excited, it is said, considc--rable disgust. One gallant captain, bearing the loyal name of Russell, allowed his indignation to find vent by making a motion that Dr. Lang's notice was disgraceful and scandalous, "and that it be torn from the paper by the Clerk, and swept from the floor of the Rouse." A timely withdrawal of the offending notice saved it, however, from receiving the 'indignity proposed. Some proceeding of this kind would here draw a crowded gallery—half Wellington would come to an exhibition, not only " as good as a play " but infinitely better. Fancy, Mr. Wakefield, appropriately dressed of course, solemnly moving that Mr. Porter Welch indignantly tear up some proposition of Mr. Fitzherbert's for a general resignation, or other equally hateful paper, and that the same being cast upon the floor and trodden under /oot, Screamer be directed to avoid

touching any of the fragments with even a pair of-tongs, but sweep them out of the House, through the Speaker's room, to be thereupon scattered by all the four winds of heaven.

Such a proceeding would be no more ridiculous than others that have been acted out in the same chamber before, and would be in keeping with the aoup kitcheu farce—more harmless, certainly, because it would involve no wanton waste; but it wodld be in equally good taste. Writing about " crowded galleries," puts us in mind to observe that the Editor of the Spectator must have taken to wear glasses of a wonderfully multiplying power, of he would not have told us a few issues ago, of some " crushing reply" of Mr. Wakcfield's being so heartily responded to by the galleries, as to call forth the Speaker's interference. All we can say is, that we know that there were only four or five individuals in the Stranger's Gallery at that particular time, one of whom making a great noise with a stick was called to order by the Speaker. If Mr. Wake&eld takes the hint we have dropped, there will for that night at any rate, be a full house, and plenty'of opportunity for the"display of ■the Speaker's authority, but whether such proceedings are calculated to raise the Council in public estimation, we [leave the better judgment of the constituencies to determine.