THE Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1878. THE FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 27, 26 November 1878, Page 2

THE Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1878. THE FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

. . — « Robert Macalistbr, Esq., " Perma- j nent District Auditor, ami Auditor ot Local Boards," does not seem to hurry j himself over che work he has on hand, | or perhaps he has so much to engage j his attention, that he finds it im- j possible to spend a few hours in examining »he accounts of the Fox ton Local Boai d . In his celebrated report on the affairs of that body, written on the 19th August last, he used the rod very freely, and administered a pretty general castigation, in the course of which he said : — " The Clerk of the Board has been requested to make out proper accounts of all transactions— the items appearing in them to be supported by documentary evidenco. When such accounts may be supplied, they will have the attention of the j Auditoi." From this, we might have expected Mr Macalisteu to be an official who would bestow immediate j "attention" upon- the accounts of the j Board ; but such does not appear to be the case. Our high expectations of j his official promptness have been rudely disappointed, and verily the " Permanent District Auditor and Auditor of Local Boards," has proved a very laggaid in official work. From our report of the Board meeting on Friday last, it will be seen that Mr Thynne; the Clerk, " supplied " the accounts to the Auditor over six weeks ago, and though they may have had that gentleman's attention, we are kept in darkness as to the result. The Oracle remains silent. " Sesame !" is powerless. We do Dot of course know the reason of this, but the members of the Board one and all expressed very strong opinions upon Mr AJacalister's dilatorinesa, and a resolution was passed, urging him to forward the Hoard's balance-sheet and books as soon as possible. Doubtless this will bring some response, — we hope a satisfactory one. Until this comes, the

ti&drS vi the Board must remain iv ; ■■iliitu quo, much to the detiiment of | the ratepayers. I It is aUo .stated that Mr M.vc.vr.isTiiA ; now n fuses tv £»llow llie usual custom. | sUi'ii audit merely from the date of his ' last yearly examination, when he ; gave tliu Board a clean she- t, but winhes to cany the iuvcuti^i'.iiit bitOlc two or iluvu jiijtl'sj lichee lifj books: oi' the Board have boon sent to him | at Wellington. If such is the caso, i the proceeding is most irregular. > Wo ; thoroughly agice with the sivictrtst . scrutiny being made iuto all public j accoixnts, but if the report meutloiu'd is true, and wo have it on good jiu- j thority.iMv Macalisteh's action proves j one of two things. J • itJier his previous | audit was incorrect, or he is extremely j oflicious. It is a. standing rule ia j auditing, to stark from the date of the j last certificate of correctness, and if j any laches are found to justify tlie j second audit, it would indicate that | the former examinations must have been conducted in a loose manner. We are pleased to see that the Board have begun tlleir meeungsngain, j and anticipate they will be held iv ; future at regular ar.d fiequent in- ; tervals. That mistakes have occurred ' in the p:ist would be foolish to douy, j but with that experience to warn, and j a watchful Press to suggest and ad- | vise, iv \vhich the ratepayers can : fairly And temperately bviag tl»eiu I claims before the Board, we do not j anticipate a recurrence of them, i There is plenty of work to be done iv j the town, ami directly the rate is ■ struck, we expect to see the Board j energetically take in hand the large j number of requirements which have ' accumulated during their recent ; " hibernation."