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NOTICE OF QUESTIONS.-Mr. WHITEHEAD gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would ask the following questions: --
With reference to the Report of the Retrenchment Commission will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the despatches and instructi ns received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies in relation thereto, and in connection with applications in respect of salaries similar to those recently referred by His Excellency the Governor to a Committee?
Will the Government lay upon the table a return shewing all sterling payments male in Eng- land for any purpose or in the Colony en a gold basis with the equivalent dollar amounts disbursed by the Treasury in respect thereof, such return to commence with 1890 and to include the estimated payments for 1897 and 1898?
What steps do the Government now propose to take with a view to the speedy disposal of the Crown land available at Taipingshan and what were the causes of the failure of the Govern- ment to obtain a bid for any lot at the recent sale by public auction?
Will the Government lay upon the table a detailed statement or account of the loan of £200,000 raised in 1887, shewing separately in sterling and in dollars all receipts and all payments in connection with or in respect of the principal, interest, and sinking fund, with the dates and the rates of exchange at which each item was converted from sterling into dollars or vice verså, in short, a detailed account shewing how much interest per cent, per annum the rate- payers have paid for the loan in question, and a similar account to date in respect of the last loan of £200,000 floated in 1894, shewing in addition what amount thereof is still available, if any, how and in what way the monies have been expended, and what are the available assets in respect of said disbursements? The statement to shew in what securities the sinking fund has been invested, the cost thereof in sterling and in dollars, the annual revenue derived therefrom and the present market value of the securities.
Bill entitled ÅN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORISE THE APPROPRIATION OF A further SupplemenTARY SUM OF NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO DEFRAY THE CHARGES OF THE YEAR 1895. - The Colonial Trea- surer moved the first reading of the Bill,
The Colonial Secretary seconded. Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
The Colonial Treasurer moved the suspension of the Standing Rules and Orders.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
The Colonial Treasurer moved the second reading of the Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question--put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time..
Council in Committee on the Bill.
Council resumed and Bill reported without amendinent.
The Colonial Treasurer moved the third reading of the Bill,
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a third time.
Question put-that this Bill do pass.
Bill passed.
BILL ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE CHANGE IN THE NAME AND STYLE OF THE OFFICE HERETOFORE KNOWN AS THAT OF THE COLONIAL SURGEON.--The Attorney General moved the first reading of the Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
The Attorney General moved the suspension of the Standing Rules and Orders.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question--put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.