THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 20

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

A SHARE GUARANTEE BILL PASSED. THE BANK NOTE ISSUE ACT EXTENDED. (Fhom Oub Own Correspondent.) Wellington, June 29.

The House had not assembled to-day ere a whisper was broad in the lobbies that a question of the greatest urgency was engaging the attention of Ministers, then in Cabinet. Soon I learned that the cause of the disquiet among prominent leaders of both sides that made them look grave to apprehension was the inteation of the Government to immediately pass a bill through all its stages to preserve a great financial institution from a swiftly coming crisis. A little later on in the other place Sir Patrick Buckley made a call of senators for a special after-dinner sitting to consider a measure of urgency. Bit by bit the real nature of the case was pieced together, until, when a few moments before the dinner adjournment, the Premier, rising in his place, asked for a full attendance of members at 7.30, when he would move the suspension of the Standing Orders to admit of the passage of a special bill through all its stages, we all knew that a situation had to be grappled with of greater moment to the community than any that had preceded it in the financial history of New Zealand. Like an earthquake tremor the summons flew through the city, and at the beginning of the evening sitting the House was crammed with an eager auditory, among whom were many anxious and eager faces that had more of interest in the coming business than ordinary onlookers. That which followed is to be reported to you in full by the association, so I need say no more.