matter. THE ADVANCES TO SETTLERS LOAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 23

matter. THE ADVANCES TO SETTLERS LOAN.

The cost of raising the advances to settlers loan of one and a-half ntfllion was £105,897. i The discount amounted to £83,94-7,- commisi sion, £11,232; stamp duty to Imperial Goj vernment, £9375; advertising and printing. I £798 ; cablegrams to and from London, £351; miscellaneous expenses, £193. MR JACKMAN. Mr T. Taylor to-night referred to the dismissal of Mr Jacktnan, a customs official who had exposed fraud after fraud upon the revenue in which the brewers were concerned. That official, he said, had saved his salary time after time. Nearly every town lie touched" he smote the brewers* for revenue which they were defrauding the colony out of. Well, then, Mr Jackman went — (laughter), — and there was peace, perfect peace. — (Laughter.) The peace that passeth understanding-. — (Laughter.) He would like to see the records regarding that dismissal, but they could not get on the track of these tilings, because the departments destroyed private correspondence. It was a pity they had noL a real full power phonograph in every Ministerial room, and then they might hear the details of some extraordinary interviews. But at present they were baulked at every turn in their desire to get information. THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. Thera was considerable discussion at the rt.eeting of the Public Accounts Committee to-day on the proposal of Mr AJontgomery to have the Auditor- general examined as to the finances of the colony. The proposal was opj.osed by the Premier, and, of course, rejected. SIR W. BULLER'S COSTS. The Premier to-night read a list of Sir W. Buller's costs in the Horowhenua litigation. The total, he said, amounted to £6310, and there was a proviso that these moneys be j secured under mortgage on Horowhenua, and that the mortgage be held by Major Kemp, . so that Sir W. Buller would not loss his costs. It was ridiculous to say that the colony should pay this poor man's costs. AN EVERGREEN GRIEVANCE. The old <>iievance regarding the persistent refusal of the Go /err ment to agree to certain returns, was gone into at some length by members to-night when the Imprest Supply Bill was befoie the House. Some warm speeches were made condemning the anxiety of *yie Government to keep important information from the House and the country. Mr Duthie made a very strong speech, in the course of which he declared that theie was reason to believe thai lull particulars had not yet been given of the expenses connected with the Premier's visit to England. Other expenses which had not been included in the return placed before Parliament had, he understood, fceon incuired. A BOARD OF TRADE. The New Zealand Times iB jwivooating the

I establishment of a board of trade for this ' colony. The main object of such a departi ment, says the Times, would be the collc3 | tion and dissemination of reliable information, j This work need not be confined to the colony, j It would be useful, for instance, to procure information regarding Eastern markets, the trade customs of these markets, and such other matters as are of keen inteiest to our people. Again, the trade figures of the colony, which are now never given to the public with any promptitude, and which are only partially presented, would be the especial care of such a department. There is r no limit to the work that could be accomI plished by a competent and active board of tiade. JOTTINGS. j G. J. Small, of_ Wanganui, some time ago j petitioned the House, stating that he was J entitled to the New Zealand Cross for an act ' of bravery in the attack on TaAirangaika pa jin 1868. The Petitions Committee have no. recommendation to make. " ' j Mr Parata has presented a petition from a large number of Natives interested in certain lands held by the Hon. Jas. Carroll and Wi ! Pore, M.H.R.'s, in trust, situated on the East Coast of the North Island. They wish the House to pass an act authorising a board to take over and deal with these lands on certain conditions. The cost of sending trial shipments of kauri for wood-paving to London was £1075. The cobt of the timber itself comes to about half this amount. There was a loss on the shipment of £225. A private shipment of mottled kauri resulted in a profit to the shipper of £85. The loss on a ,-hipment of assorted timber to London sent by the West Coas-v, sawmillers was £846. The Government paid half the freight (£767). The loss on assorted timber sent by Scott and Co. (Christchurch) to Cape Colony was £508. The Government, paid half the "freight (£482). This loss was caused owing to the timber ariiving at the time of the Transvaal disturbances, and heavy charges being made for demurrage. There was also a loss on assorted timber sent by Scott and Co. to London of £U. The Government paid this. The Speaker is still too indisposed to ap-j-pear in Parliament. The Hon. John M'Kenj zie is also absent from the House to-day | through illness.

j "WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31. ! In the Legislative Council on Wedneday the I Municipal Franchise Reform Bill was passed through its final stages. The Imprest Supply 1 Bill, Unrsersity of Otago Leases and Securi- ■ ties Bill, Divorce, and First Offenders' Pro- ' bation Act Amendment Bill were also passed.

1 | In the House of Representatives on Wednes1 day consideration of the measure intended to I regulate motor car traffic was again adi journed. A number of returns were ordered ito be furnished. The amendments made by the Council in two bills were approved of, but it was decided to delay dealing with those made in the Divorce Bill until they were j printed. The Institute of Surveyors Bill was j read a second time. Mr M'Nab's bill providing that the wife or husband and family of a testator must be maintained before the money or property left can pass to strangers occupied much time in Committee without I<i egress being made, and then members were disinclined to consider the Restraint of "Wagering Bill owing to the lateness of the hour. RETURNS ORDERED. Returns dealing with the following matters were ordered: — Claims under the Eapiti Island Public Reserve Act; the number of people employed in the Government service for the year ending 1893 ; correspondence adverse to granting the New Zealand Cross to Harry Wrigg ; the cost of the Naval and Military Settlers' Land Claims Commission; the number of letters posted to places beyond Australia; the number of distress warrants issued in each mining district for non-pay-ment of rents. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was ; devoted to formal business, j INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS. 1 Mr FIELD moved the second reading of the I New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Bill, which pro\idi« for the incorporation of the Instil iv e of Surveyors. The measure was intended, he sai-l, to ensure greater proficiency than at present exists in that profession. Captain RUSSELL contended that several matters required a fuller explanation than that givo;i by the introducer of the measure. The PREMIER objected to the bill on the gro.tnd that it would create a close corporal uon. | Mr JOHN HUTCHESON pointed to the i necessity for the measure in order that only reliable men should be recognised as surveyors. After further discussion, the second reading was agreed to.