28 JUNE 1873, Page 2

The Committee on the Zanzibar Contract was nominated on Thursday

night, after an attempt by Mr. Ward Hunt to substi- tute a nomination of five members by the Committee of Selec- tion, with two to be added by the House, for the list submitted by Mr. Bouverie. Mr. Gladstone stated that the method of nomination seemed immaterial to the Government, which was willing to be guided in that respect by the prevailing sense of the House. Mr. Massey and Mr. Scourfield objected strongly, And with reason, as we think, that this Committee was one of such considerable public interest that the House should take the direct responsibility of naming it. Mr. Hunt's amendment was thereupon defeated by a vote of 124 to 85; and Mr. Bouverie's list, which Mr. Gladstone characterised as "unexcep- tionable," was adopted. We were in error last week in stating that the lower tender transmitted by the Indian Post-Office Director had been forwarded by Mr. Monsen to Lord Kimberley, and through the Colonial Office to the Treasury. The Post-Office,

being directly subject to the Treasury, Mr. Monsen could, of course, only correspond with Lord Itimbaialeytiirough- Mr. Lowe. The Postmaster-General throughout refrained from expressing approval of the contract low impeached, as indeed, having been accepted for reasons of higher policy, it could hardly have been approved by that department on the ordinary-principles affecting- such contracts. We trust the Committee will not shrink from - urging that the contract must be revised.