The first fight in Parliament

There have been some extraordinary scenes in Parliament lately, ripping up bills and a spontaneous haka.
It’s nothing new. Parliament is at least as much theatre as it is actual work.
The first physical fight in the House actually took place in the very first Parliament.
James Mackay was the politician representing the town of Nelson in 1853. He and William Travers were the only two candidates and so got into Parliament unopposed.
He was a supporter of the then acting governor Robert Wynyard who thought Parliament needed royal assent but when everyone else disagreed he tried to end the session and the rest of the house reacted by suspending its own standing orders.
Mackay tried to bypass this tactic and disrupted the house until Henry Sewell who became the first Premier and another tried to manhandle him out of the chamber leading to a scuffle.
In some newspapers the first session of parliament was seen as a total and most disgraceful failure.
Mackay was found guilty of gross and premeditated contempt of the House.
But many found that Sewell was the author of the violence.
An account of it appears in the New Zealander makes it clear Sewell started it. Mackey entered and went to pick up his umbrella and the chairman of the house requested him to take off his hat.
He tipped the hat to him then put it on again. He tried to hand over several papers but they were snatched from him.
“Mr. Sewell then rushed upon Mr. Mackay, laid hold of him by the back of the neck with his left hand, and struck him repeatedly in the ribs with the other. Mr. Hart, keeping a respectful distance, cried out Oh! Mr. Sewell! Mr. Sewell! Mr. Sewell ! Oil, do not! do not — Then Mr. Carleton ran up, laid hold of Mr. Mackay by the arms, and finally forced Mr. Sewell awav; but several other members continued to hustle Mr. Mackay. He broke loose from them, and, standing in the middle of the house, flourished his umbrella over head, and defied any of them to turn him out. The Chairman, at the top of his voice, endeavoured to restore order, but with no avail.”
Mackay had been born in 1804 in Aberdeen in Scotland to Alexander Mackie and his wife Elspet. He began his working life as a banker in London before coming to New Zealand in 1831 after marrying Ann Charles.
He became a farmer in Nelson and became increasingly involved in local affairs. But after his first - and only - term in Parliament he left politics.
HIs first wife died in 1860 and he remarried, to Ann Adney Shuckburgh. He spent his later years farming, and though still taking an active interest in local politics, he was reluctant to re-enter public office.[
In 1874 he fell from a loaded cart while working on his farm. The injury to his back grew into a tumour which eventually left him paralyzed. He died on May 29, 1875.
Mackay and his first wife were buried at St Andrew's Church in Wakapuaka. The church no longer exists, and the churchyard is now designated an historic site.​