Committee of Lord's Day Observance Society have called attention to new postal arrangements apparently causing mails in Calcutta and Madras to be made up on Sundays.
Apology for confusion over appointment of engineer for Lahore-Peshawar line; suggestion by Lord Stanley (Foreign Secretary) for averaging opium revenue over good and bad years to remove gambling element from Indian budget; negotiations with Orissa Irrigation Company; Parliamentary Committee on ir...
Suggests Lawrence should write letter in Secret Dept seeking authority to spend sum on secret service which would in fact be to finance Govt organ in the press; opposes publication of minutes by members of Governor-General's Council – 'the Executive Govt in India ought to be the Government of the...
Fitzgerald's report on Karachi harbour works, and question whether Manna breakwater should be completed; intends to appoint Sir Charles Jackson (former judge of Calcutta Supreme Court) as Chairman of Bombay Bank Commission.
Would have preferred Income tax to Licence tax but pleased a direct impost retained which could in future be apportioned among Local Govts; disagrees with Durand's view but disinclined to compel Members of Governor-General's Executive Council to vote for Govt in Legislative Council – would prefer...
Encloses letter from Fitzgerald and his reply outlining views on whether Govt should hold shares in Bank, whether there should be Govt Directors (to which he remains opposed) or an Inspector, and scope of Commission of Enquiry into Presidency Banks.
His own Council divided on question of Durand and his vote in Legislative Council; Northcote intends to write privately to Durand; is against suggestion by Sir Erskine Perry (member, Council of India) to give Governor-General in Council power to make ordinances to give effect to existing legislat...
Motion by Henry Fawcett (radical MP), and suggestion to establish scholarships for Indians to study in England to enable them to enter the [ICS] competition; completion of reform bill will probably prevent him proceeding with India Bill; suggestion that four Council of India members be allowed to...