THE PROVINCIAL TREASURY OF WESTLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4134, 20 June 1874, Page 3

THE PROVINCIAL TREASURY OF WESTLAND.

The Provincial Auditor in Westland, Mr. Edward Patten, in forwarding to the Council statements of accounts for the quarter ending March 31, made the following report:— “ I would also beg to bring under your notice that a great deal of extra work has been imposed upon me in auditing these accounts, owing to the very incomplete manner in which they were forwarded from the Treasury. This can, no doubt, be attributed to the changes that have taken place in that department during the last six months, and also to the unusual amount of extra work occasioned in clearing off the outstanding liabilities of the Province since the Appropriation Act came in force. I have now to report that the cashbooks of the department are in arrears, and, as the close of the quarter is at hand—during which the cash transactions have also been very heavy—a considerable amount of time and labor will have to be expended on them, so as to make them as complete as the official books of the Province should be.

“ The deposit account, which is composed of moneys deposited by contractors and others, is in such an incomplete state that it is quite impossible to tell by whom and for what purpose the moneys have been deposited. In justice to the present Provincial Treasurer, I may state that this state of affairs has not been brought about during his terra of office ; but, from what I can discover, the account had been irregularly kept for some time previous. Instead of the deposits being taken charge of by the Treasurer, as at one time was the practice, the duty, for some unexplained cause, has been performed by the late County Secretary, and no cash-books appear to have been kept, or moneys banked when received, as should have been the case.

“ I have, therefore, considered it my duty to point out these matters to the Council, in order that no misapprehension may exist on the matter.

“ In conclusion, I would also beg to observe that, under ‘ The Audit Act, 1866,’ it is a portion of my duty, as Provincial Auditor, to examine the accounts of all persons entrusted with the stores of the Government, but I have not been able to do so up to the present time, owing to the amount of time and attention I have bad to devote to other matters. I hope, however, to be able to do so before the next session of the Provincial Council when I shall bo in a position to report more fully on the matter.”