in the House of Representatives dealing with
arbitration in industrial disputes. Sir Richard Baker was the father of a
Bill introduced into the Senate on the same subject. While the aims of
the two were identical, the methods by which those results were to be
obtained were by no means analogous. Each Bill had its supporters in each
House. As the debates proceeded considerable bitterness arose, ending in
correspondence in the daily Press. Finally, Kingston and Baker commenced
to abuse each other in print. Kingston's temper gave out. He wrote a
letter to Sir Richard which he had delivered at the latter's office in
Victoria Square, together with a case containing a pistol and some
cartridges. He could no longer stand what he considered the insults Sir
Richard had thought fit to level at him. The letter stated that he would
be on the pavement on the opposite side of the street to the entrance to
Sir Richard's office at five minutes to twelve o'clock, noon, next day,
Saturday, and asked Sir Richard to take up a position on the pavement
outside his offices at that hour, bringing his pistol with him. As soon
as the post office clock, which was close to the office, began to strike
twelve, each would step into the roadway and shoot at his leisure. A
quaint duel, was it not?

The accident which saved the situation was the fact that Sir Richard was
not in the habit of attending his office on Saturday morning. His son, or
someone in the office, opened Kingston's letter, and the police were
informed. Shortly before noon Kingston was seen walking across from the
Government Offices towards Baker's offices. Two constables in plain
clothes followed him and watched him as he coolly took up his stand on
the pavement. The hands of the post office clock pointed at three minutes
to twelve. The two constables walked up to Mr. Kingston. They politely
asked him what his business was. "I am just waiting for Baker to come out
of his office," he answered; "then you will see some sport. I advise you
to move a bit to one side. I don't think he is much of a shot. He might
get one of you two." The constables, who were well known to Kingston,
informed him that Sir Richard had not been to his office that morning, so
that there would be no sport, but they had instructions from the
Commissioner of Police to arrest him for attempting to commit a breach of
the peace, and to take him at once before a magistrate. Within half an
hour he appeared before a polic