"What funny little secrets ooze out through the Parliamentary Papers, which the eyes of the Press see, but the public do not. We have Parliamentary paper B. — 4 on our table. Mr. Larnach, on the 1 4th December, writes to the Crown Agents, stating that the Government of New Zealand want to borrow three millions and a half of money. The information is conveyed to Sir Julius Vogel, who cablegrams, to the Hon. Mr. Labnach as follows : — " Loan instructions important — keep quite secret. War rumours last few days reduced price stocks, including New Zealand." Of course we do not know why anything should be kept secret ; but then we are not Ministers, dealing in loans of millions, although of a certainty we shall all of us, in some way or other, be called upon to pay our quota. We go on perusing this Parliamentary Papei', and find the plot thickens. On the 17th January Mr. Larnach cablegrams to Vogel, which reads like one of those mysterious advertisements which appear in the " agony " column of Tlte Times — "Have not authorised inscribed Stock. Think necessary,; yet premature. Regarding loan of seventy-six pledged, New Zealand Avilling act liberally, New South not so. Ought Igo London I—Larnach."1 — Larnach." We really do not know what to make of this. " New South not so," and "Ought I go London?" What has been the matter with " New South," and why does Larnach want
to "go London 1" We shall, it may be, get at the bottom of all this di rectly. There is a cablegram from Vogel. "Now strong hopes peace, and undesirable delay for your arrival ; but desirable you come over discuss scheme for conversion ; Julian concurs. It ■will be seen Larnach is told to come. He goes. For, a few days later, he cablegrams — " Leave for England today by 'Frisco 1 Saloon passage aboard a large steamer. Two private cabins, private secretary, champagne at dinner, mulled ■ claret and "Welsh rabbit at night from j cook's private galley. A Pulman's Car all to himself across the States. Saloon passage, and more private cabins in a Ctinard liner. All free of charge, and travelling allowances of four guineas a day. It is really a fine thing to be Larnach. More cablegrams. One from AgentGeneral — " Political condition prevents negotiation. Ready seize first favourable opportunity." A still later cablegram from Yogel — " Cannoi operate until war fever subsides." This is a new kind of fever. More deadly than typhus or any other kind of fever. Still more cablegrams — "Used exertions pay off advances possible. Not much running concurrently. — Vogel." We don't know what this can mean, Larnach is full tear at the time in a Pulman's car, and we shall learn all about it in the next batch of Parliamentary papers. We do not hear anything, or receive the slightest hint as to the probable pickings in these mysterious loan negotiations ; but they will come out some day, for certain.
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Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 635, 25 February 1879, Page 2
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490Untitled Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 635, 25 February 1879, Page 2
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