POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10621, 13 October 1896, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(Fj_oh Oup. Own Correspondent.)

Wellington, October 12. THE BANKING REPORT.

I The banking report and evidence has just been kid on the table. It is a ponderous docui ment. The Interest will centre mainly in the I appendix, which contains a cumber of interest- [ ing returns. It appears that the uuderwriting j commission iv connectiou with tbe two million | Bank of Now Zealand stock paid to - Messrs . G.etnwell and Co., London, waa£2s,ooo. The total charges were £30,8.8.- Tbe charges were - written off to debit of the batik's profit and loss accoimt^ieavingthe stock standing at £2,000,000 in the bank's capital account. Under the heading, "Bunk, of New Zealand Estates Company," there is given a list of amounts ontntanding on account of cities at March 31,1896, the total value being £132,103. Uuder the same heading the followiog are the principal mortgages, the value* given being the book value :— Mrs S. Fry, £5000; Wi Pew aud Hon. J. Carroll, £74,195 18s 3s; W. B. Barker, £1200; George. Roberts,, £400 ;F, H. AVilson, £8500; C. J.- Storar.-'. £1000 ;W. Canon Johnston, £277 ; James Forsjth, £2557 ; Henry Ire, £250 ; J. Piikingtoo. £840 ; P. J. Piesse, £117; interest in. M'lnerney's mortgage to Bank of Ne* Zealaud over sectiou 11 and part 12, Wrick 111, Winton, and hotel, Johu Rr-d, £6810; G. V. Stewart, mortage-for £200; A. W. Fraser, £160; G. S. Herbert. £2150; Thomas G.Brown and M'Lean, £533; R. H. Heaslip; £270; A..''..' Browu, _300; E. Battler,.£773; F. J. Harbutt, £800; i F. Hicks. £200 ; W. Vosper, £1200 ; J. Bridgman, £800; Hamilton Bro*.. £1200; W. W. Philson, £150; J. R.-S. Richardson. £883; William Costelo,' £160; Kidd, £300. Tue total value is £111,410. , THE SPEAKER'S RETIREMENT. The distinguished services of Sir Maurice O'Rorke in the New Zealand Parliament are known beyond New Zealand, and iv this colony, at all events, it will be heard with regret that he has at length decided to retire from the parliamentary atena. Sir Maurice has been 33 */es.ra in Parliament, and thia greater portion of that time has been spent in one or other of.the parliamentary chairs. He was four times elected Chairman of Committees, and on no fewer that six occasions he has been chosen as Speaker of the House. These, he justly thinks) are houours sufficient to satisfy any political man, and entitle him to that repose from public life and party strife which people are entitled to in their declining years. SpeakiDg at the Mackenzie presentation the other evening, he said he had only come back to the present Parliament to retrieve the oce defeat he had sustained in bis 33 years of political life. General regret was expressed ab Sir Maurice's resolution not to re-enter political life, but he said that was bis intention, and he raised a hearty laugh by stating that to the good horse who had done many a long journey they could do no greater favour than to turn it out to grass for tbe rest of its days. A SCENE AND A SEQUEL TO A SCENE. There was a scene in the lobbies ou Sunday evening, in which three Canterbury members were the interested persons, one member calling two others "b- frauds." The members to whom this language was addressed did nob retaliate, but simply turned on their heels and left. • The description of the memorable scene between the member for Pat«a (Mr George Hutchison) and Mr Johu -'Kfinzie outside the Banking Committee room will be fresh iv the memories of your readers. It is satisfactory to have to announce that the breach between the two members has been healed, and at the last meeting of the Banking Committee Mr Hutchison expressed a wish to be friends again, and Mr M'Kenzie good-naturedly agreed. The two members thereupon sealed the renewed bond of friendship with a hearty band shake. , THE BANK COMMITTEE'S PROCEEDINGS.

The minutes of last Thursday's meeting of the General ■ Committee, which was held in camera to consider the draft report submitted by the sub-committee, show tbat the Minister for Lands moved to strike out tbat portion which recommended the abolition of the office of president, but bis motion was defeated by Bix votes to three, Mr Guinness. and Mr Hutchison supporting him. Mr Montgomery moved to insert the words, "amount of compension to be paid ihe present holder of the offico of president to be determined by arbitration," but he was defeated by seven votes to 2, Mr Tanner bsing the only member who voted with him. The Minister for Lauds wanted the number of directors to bs increased to nine instead of eight, but his proposal was negatived by one veto. The dratt report recommended that arrangements should be mad- by whioh Mr Butt should not be prejudiced by the concealm-nc of the agreement to reinstate him iv the service of the Baukof New Zealand, in the event of his losing his position as colonial auditor, but thi» provision was struck out on the motion bf tbe Minister for Lands by 8 votes to 2, Mr Maslin moved to insert the following words -.—" Your committee were also desirous of obtaining full information respecting tbo investment of £150,000 by tbe Bank of New Zealand in New Zealand consols, and the placing ot this sum with the Colonial Bank on fixed deposit. The investigation' of these accounts was ruled out of order and objected to as an inquiry into private accounts." This was negatived by 8 votes to 2. The paragraph in the report regarding the mismanagement of the Colonial Bank was only carried on the casting vote of the chairman. Those who voted for the clause were—Messrs Graham, MasliD, M'Gowan, Montgomery, and Tanner; and against it—Messrs Guinness, Hutchison, M'Kenzie, Seddon, and Steward.

It was resolved that the thanks of the committee bo tendered to the chairman (Mr Graham) for the able, painstaking, and conscientious manner in which be bad performed the duties of chairman of the committee. JOTTINGS. Mr Crowther raised a laugh to-nlghfc, in speaking on the Orchards and Garden Pests Bill, by remarking tbat he had an idea that some bird or other invention would yet be found to cope with the codlin moth pest in its infanoy. The Hon. J. M'Kenzie has given notice of the Reserves and Crown Lauds Disposal and Enabling Bill. Mr Guinness is to ask the Minister for Justice .whether the Government will offer a subit-nfcial reward for the discovery of the murderers of the late Mr and Mrs Joneß at Petone. i Mr Larnach is inquiring from the Minister ! for Mines whether in the interests of bona fide mining in New Ze.land he will consider the advisability of establishing a mining intelligence bureau in Wellington, at which a register of all mines iv active work -should be kept, giving their history, locality, oapital, prospects, and other information tbat would be useful for dissemination abroad in countries where mining investments are being.sought after. j