PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 71, 13 July 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[by electric telegraph.] . ♦— Wellington, Thursday. ON LOANS... The House met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. Mr. THOMPSON asked several questions respecting unnegotiated bonds. The PREMIER informed him that of the unsold unguaranteed bonds there had been hypothecated for the General Purposes Loan bonds with L 210,500 for L 20,000 cash; Defence Loans bonds, L 52,700 worth L 50,000 cash.—both in the Bank of New Zealand. The Treasurer has also drawn on London for L 175,000 against the proceeds of bonds authorised to be sold. No portion of tlio LBO,OOO guaranteed bonds have been sold, but L 269,000 have been hypothecated to the Crown Agents. TELEGRAPHING HOME. Replying to a question, the PREMIER said the cost of cablegrams to the Colony while he was at Home was LBOO 15s. lOd. CAPE EGMONT LIGHTHOUSE. Mr.'MCLEAN told Mr. Carrington that the lighthouse could be erected on Cape Egmont as soon as..the native difficulty could be got oyer. BILLS. The Premier announced that he expected to be able to bring down the Counties and other Bills on Friday next* NATIVE COAL. A long discussion arose upon the motion by Mr. Swason that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of using brown or other native coal for

steam purposes, in the course of whicatlu Premier took occasion to inform the House o£ the enquiries he had made into the sii ject while at Home, and of the inf ormatioj ne elicited. He thought the manufactnn of .patent fuel had a great future before it in New Zealand, as it was largely used anj deservedly popular in England and on th e Continent at present, and gaining in favoi from its cleanliness, and the fact that it occupied less space. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. Mr. THOMPSON moved for a lot d varied information regarding the financial arrangements of the Government, and promised it should be supplied with at promptness. A GOOD IDEA. Mr. REYNOLDS moved that every le . turn and paper should have the cost i production printed upon its face. Hj was strongly opposed by several memben but was carried on a diyision by 28 to 23, The House rose'at 5.30. A CAUCUS. A caucus of Canterbury members held to-day, when all the members fortfe Province, except the Minister for Publj Works attended. A proposal, emanatiu from the Otago Committee, and a scheme of financial separation, was las before the meeting by the Hon. Mr. Hal After some discussion, a Committee in appointed, to cope with the Otago Cot niittee or any committee representing ai other Province on the state of Golonij affairs generally.