PARLIAMENTARY AMENITIES IN SYDNEY.

Woodville Examiner, Volume 3, Issue 281, 7 September 1886, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY AMENITIES IN SYDNEY.

Sydney, Aug. 24. There was a stormy scene in the House on Thursday last. Members gave each other the lie about as straight as possible, and then, as is usual, withdrew the objectionable and offensive expressions ; but the strangest part of it was that on the following day one of the members said that what he had mentioned the previous evening was true and he could prove it. It was a charge against a member to the effect that when ho was Attorney-General he (the Attorney-General) had tried to bribe him. After all it was only a matter of opinion, forcibly expressed as to whether this or that man was the most open to conviction from each other’s point of view.

August 25. Another disgraceful scene took place in the House last evening, ending in a real set to between the Minister for Works (Hon. Mr Lynes) and Mr Clarke. It occurred over the second reading of the Wollongong School Site Bill. Mr Clarke had charged MrLysaght with being intereaieu m the sale of the land required, and insinuations were freely made in a manner more forcible than polite. The Government objected to charges of this kind being made in the absence of members concerned, and the word “ coward ” having been used by Mr lynes was immediately accepted by Mr Clarke as applying to him, who then and there invited William J. to “Come outside.” Off he went out of one door and “Works ” out of the other. Meeting, they wont at it. Mr Lynes flourishing his arms as if chasing mosquitoes, while nis opponent stood describing fireworks, as Dickens calls it. But neither of them had the slighest idea of boxing, and if there had been more room for the onlookers and less encumbrances in the shape of chairs and tables, it is just possible the combatants might have (been parted without a scratch excepting one or two “ simmers *’ received from legs of chairs and other articles of furniture.

For they both came up, and they wont clown, Clarke, so bravely, stood his "round. Lynes was dancing all around, "What an active man was Billy. The Jdcrgeant-at-Arms hesitating for a moment to rush in, for the two parties were now getting their dander up, amidst the wildest excitement, Ihe AttorneyGeneral trying to make a ring, and cries from all sides to u Let him have it, - ’ “ Mow then at him,” and such other encouraging remarks. Mr Shepherd attempted to stop the fray by seizing the Minister for "Works by the scruff of the neck. This Mr Dawson would not stand, thinking it was two on to one, and so joined the vichr, Shepherd implanting one in Dawson’s bread-basket, who having recovered his wind by a puff or two, let drive fair on Dawson’s nose (first blood for Shepherd. I This virtually settled the fray, and the members returned to the Chamber, Mr Clarke, looking as if he had been chased by a bull or drawn through a hedge, and his opponent with a mark over his eye, not so much the result of the sparring; perhaps, as from the tumbling over the “ sticks,” while Shepherd went to wash his face. To-night, it is understood, all parties will apologise to the Blouse for|their disgraceful conduct. The Hon Mr Dibbs, who resigned office owing to the other members of the Cabinet having passed some censure or reflection

on him in Ins ab.-ence ii.r apo. niting i waive clerks for ; laii-' ieal \vi>tk it.-n----poraiT hands prolmbiv i v, iilioii: Cabind (■nncnm-iice, lias romned his chair, and expressed himself ; alb-tied ai the explanations, given hy liis colleagues of the mEnmFr.standing. | | i | | j