THE PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2568, 7 September 1867, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.

To pERSONp who have hot tho supreme felicity of j residing in the Capital of New Zealand, which, in .the opinion of tho Auckland Settlers, >is suspended between a perpetually waving sea of earth and a aky of whirlwinds, a short, sketch.of what uaay be called the personnel of the Colonial Parliament may be interesting. \ Beginning at the bottom of the ladder, we will first notice tho " Lower House," or in-common parlance, " The House." Its. members, 70, in number, meet in an exceedingly inconvenient, plainly furnished chamber, on three sides of which are arranged double rows of cushioned seats for their accommodation. Desks in front of the benches are provided with writing materials. The Speaker sits in a sort of pulpit, at one end of the hall. The Ministers have a comfortable corner to themselves, adjoining a fireplace, and close to the Speaker's chair j and are further honored by being furnished with tables instead of desks to write upon. Here, at all times, one or more members of the happy family are to be seen, awaiting their turn to be baited by some mischievous • occupant of the Opposition benches, the exact position of which, however, it would bo somewhat difficult to discover, as centralists and provincialista sit in mingled, but pleasing, confusion. Mr James C. Richmond usually occupies the corner of 'the Treasury benches next to the firepluce, generally reclining with his head resting on hiu right hand, ! and always wears a melancholy look, as though he were ruminating on tho vanity of ministerial hopes. Ho, however, becomes more lively when Mr George Graham gets upon his legs, as that gentleman's peculiar views of the native question furnish him with a constant source of delight. Mr Stafford, the Premier, sits next to him. Except Dr Featherstou, he is the most finished speaker in the House, although not so forcible as his colleague, Mr Fitzherbert. He affects a cynical smile, which might adore the features of a Richelieu, but scarcely produces the same effeot when wore by the Premier of the Government of 200,000 people. The Postmaster-Genoral occupies seat No. 3. Mr Hall is the maid of all work of the Ministry, does all the hard committee scrubbing, reprimands the naughty boys of the Opposition who ask impertinent questions, or behave in an unbecoming manner ; and to use a common expression, makes himself generally useful. His style of oratory is often more forcible than polite, but he is nevertheless a thorough business man, and his merits in this respect ate appreciated by all parties. It is said that he intends to resign office at the end of the session. Next comes ■ Mr .Fitzherbert, the interminable. He gets up ■ just to reply to one remark that .has fallen from the last speaker, and talks for an hour. His raillery is very good, but its essence is in the delivery ; printing spoils it. Some of his hits at the provincialists are worth preserving. For example : — While making his financial statement last Thursday, in alluding to the charges often preferred against the General Government of attempting to undermine the rights of the provinces, he said, " I am reminded of a domestic complaint of ill-usage once brought before a | police court, which, after cross-examination, was reduced to this, " Well, then, your honor, he gave me such a look ! We have looked at their honors ! 1 1 need hardly inform the Committee that the Court dismissed the case." To pass from " lively ! to severe," that Budget speech will, I make bold to say, form an enduring monument of Mr Fitzhorbert's financial ability. Colonel Haultain, the Minister for Defence, sits next to the Colonial Treasurer, but he is often absent from his place, perhaps through ill-health. He seldom ' speaks, but when he doua, generally contrives to be malicious. The House meets ot 2 o'clock on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, adjourns at half-past five for dinner, assembles again at 7, and usaally sits till midnight, often later. On Wednesdays, . in order to give committees time to get through their work, it does not meet till five, and no adjournment takes place. It is the practice, howover, on Wednesdays and on nights when a heavy dobate is in progress, for the Speaker to vacate tho chair for a quarter of an hour, in order to. give members time to "liquor." Five minutes before the hour of assembling, notice is given by the beiiting of a gong and the ringing of a bell. At the appointed hour, usually with exuct punctuality, the Speaker enters tho hull clad in his robes of office and proceeded by the Sergeant-at-Ancs bearing the mace, a handsome emblem of office, made of ebony, and decorated with gold ornaments. . When not in use, it rests upon a blue velvet .cushion, plaoed across the bottom of the tuble in front oi the Speaker's chuir. The members rise from their eeattt at the entrance of the Speaker, and remain standing until %he has read prayers— which is Bimply the prayor for the General Assembly used in the Episcopalian Church, modified to suit the occasion. Prayers being concluded, the Clerk reads the minutes of the ]aab sitting, which aro confirmed, and the Speaker then oalls for petitions, and afterwards for notices of motion. This being done, the regular business of tho day proceeds. The forms and ceremonies of the House of Commons aro strictly followed, and should any difficulty arise which is not provided for in the Standing Orders, the practice of the House of Commons is taken as a guide. There is an earnest desire on the part of the members to make the Assembly a legislature worthy of a branch of tho English nation ; and those disorderly sceneß whioh, it is said, sometimes occur in other Colonial Legislatures, are unknown in the New Zealand Parliament. Sharp words are occasionally spoken, but the delinquents are speedily called to order. The most constant offenders in this way are Messrs Haughtoi) and Reynolds, who seem to entertain the same sort of feeling towards each other as existed between a Trojan and a Greek in tho days of Priam. The former gentleman, it must be confessed, often makes the most unprovoked assaults upon his antagonist, who has the happy knack of never knowing when to hold his tongue. Mr Yogel, the most active member of the Opposition, sits in about the centre of the House, and is always in his placo when anything of importance is going on. His style of oratory, though lacking polish, is very effective, and he is a formidable opponent to the Government, whom he attacks without mercy. Hie neighbor is MrCargill, whose m.orits are probably recognised by his friends, buß ; aro hardly distinguishable in the House. Mr Arthur S. Atkinson, and his brother Major Atkinson, sit close by. The former does not burst into full bloom until the House has gone into Committee, when he " riles" the Postmaster-Genoral dreadfully with hie objections, and caunes that estimable functionary to make remarks which are anything but complimentary. Mr Atkinson, however, ofton manages to raise a hearty laugh. Tho other night, at a very late hour, a discussion took place as to whether it would not be udvisnble to adjourn. As soon as it was decided that the sitting should bo continued, some members who had been the moßfc strenuous advocntes of that course, made preparations for taking their departure. Mr Atkinson then, addressing tho Chairman of Committees','said, " Sir, I hope that those hon. gentlemen who have so kindly shown us the thorpy I road to Heaven, will' not, having done so, go and repose themselves upon the idle bod of dalliance ; but will accompany us upon the right path." Major Atkinson, the ex-Defence Minister, has only spoken two or three times this session. Just at the back of Mr Yogel sits Mr M.uin, member forlPort Chalmers, who made his debut in the House for the first time this season. He is a very fluent speaker, but talks a, great deal too much. Ainktetixuiulumpeciis, sits Mr Crucroft Wilson, C.B, an 'old Indian N abob r whoae ( patriotißni is quite refreshing in this mercenary age. He is an ardent C^tralisb; and a male Casß»ndra (if Buch- : abeihg can be imagined) in his prophecies ot the impending ruin of provincial government*. The

seat next to him is occupied by Mr Cox, the. old horse who, tor wnntpta young colt, tho Ministry put in tlie : Bhafts of the Address, to'drag "that u«eless vehicle over the heavy road of parliamentary criticism.' Close at hand is 1 Mr Carletori, Chair* man of Committees', ; one of the oldest of New Zealand politicians. , In passing, let us, observeMr Murison— more " familiarly, "digger BUIV — whose harmless measure for trie protection of the Salmohes did not' escape 1 the Vigilance of "the hori. member for the Gold Fields." On the same side of the House sits Mr Jollie, whose Budget speech last year made him for ever famous ; Mr Reeves, and some other members, amongst whom may be noticed Mr Jimes O'Neill, of Auckland, is a thorough business* ' man and practical speaker. He, and his left-hand neighbour, Mr Ball, are perhaps more constantly in their places than any other members .of the House. At the end, opposite the Speaker's chair, sit a galaxy of Superintendents — the Superinbendente of Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Auckland. The first of these gentlemen—Mr Maoandrew, has be* come well-known from. his alleged misdeeds ;Mr Moorhouse, of Canterbury, is a sensible speaker, but has unfortunately a bad delivery ; Dr Featheraton is decidedly the orator ©f the House, and in the opinion of many, the most able statesman in New Zealand. . He has. spoken but once this session, and is seldom in his place except on important' occasions, ' owing to ill health. Mr McLean, of Hawke's Bay, is an oracle on native affairs, and always commands the attention of the House ; and Mr John Williamson is but little inferior to him in this, respect. The most prominent member on the ministerial side of the House is MrTravers, who, rumour whispers, will shortly be gazetted Solicitor* General. He is an immense talker, but his legal training enables him to speak logically, so that hie speeches are generally worth listening to. His metaphors are generally anything but elegant ; and those which he uses in speaking of Provincial institutions, are worthy of neither the place nor the theme. The " filth of provincialism is a common figure of speech. A fellow occupant of the bench qn which he sits is Major Heaphy, V.C., the successor of Mr Whittaker in the representation of Parnell. Behind repose in stately quietness two or three Auckland members, whose sweet voices are seldom heard, but whose rotes are none the less useful to. the party to which they belong.