MR. J.M'GLASHAN—Examined.

Otago Witness, Issue 497, 8 June 1861, Page 3

MR. J. M'GLASHAN— Examined.

1. Q. You are the Provincial Treasurer?

I have been so since January,

A. Yes. 1854.

2. Q. Have you received written instructions regulating your duties as Provincial Treasurer ?

A. None as far as I recollect.

3. Q. Have you given securities for the faithful discharge of the pecuniary trust confided to you ? A. Yes. 4. Q. In whose custody is the bond ? A. In the custody of the Superintendent. 5. Q. Was the cash balance in your hands as Provincial Treasurer regularly verified by the Board of Audit prior to the Provincial monies being deposited at the Union Bank ? A. Yes.

" Gala " Case.

6. Q. Produce the voucher and warrant for the payment of £1712 on account of Immigration per " Gala ?"

A. Voucher and warrant put in accordingly.

7. Q. This voucher should be supported by a reference to the contract under which the expense was incurred. Will you hand in the original contract ? A. It is in the hands of the Superintendent.

8. Q. It appears on reference to Council papers (C.) that the Agents of the Contractors (James Macandrew and Co.) for the conveyance of Immigrants by the " Gala " were Messrs. Gladstone and Co.

A. Yes.

9. Q. The warrant directs payment to be made to James Macandrew and W. H. Reynolds, the duly authorised agents of Messrs. Gladstone and Co. It is found that the receipt of James Macandrew only has been taken. Have you on any former occasion paid the money with one signature only, and afterwards obtained the other ?

A. I am quite uncertain whether previously any payment was made on the signature of one person only ; but lam certain that Mr. Reynolds upbraided me on a previous occasion because I had refused to give the money on Mr. Macandrew's receipt alone. I have no explanation to offer in addition to what will be found stated in the printed Council papers, pages 8. 9, and 13.

10. Q. Did j'on apply to Mr. Reynolds for his signature in the case of the " Gala ?" A. Many a time. 11. Q, Did Mr. Reynolds explain why he refused his acquittance. A. lie said he would require to see Mr. Macandrew first : this answer he gave several times before he absolutely refused to sign a receipt for the money paid to Mr. Macandrew.

12. Q. It is observed that a new warrant was afterwards issued in favour of James Macandrew and Co., and the acquittance of James Macandrew and Co. supplied as a new voucher. Produce these documents.

A. I hand them in. I had repeated!) 7 requested the Superintendent either to return the money or produce the acquittance of Mr. Reynolds. On the 10th July and 2nd August last, I 'addressed letters to him on the subject, copies of which I now hand in.

13. Q. Have you been furnished with the authority of J. Gladstone and Co. to pay to J. Macandrew and Co., instead of to James Macandrew and W. H. Reynolds, the amount of their claims on account of the " Gala ?"

A. I have not ; but the Superintendent has assured me that he holds such a letter of authority ; I am not aware of the contents of that letter.