The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1880.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3527, 31 August 1880, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1880.

There is a deficiency of over £100.000 of railway stores, for which no account can be giren. Such is the statement made by Mr. Oliver in the House. He said the information on thia point was not so definite in its character as to permit him to go into the matter very fully, but the deficiency was of such a magnitude as to require immediate investigagation. Mr. Shrimski asked how the deficiency arose, and whether it was in consequence of any misconduct on the part of any officer of the Department. Mr. Oliver replied that no allegations had been made against any offioer of the Department ; but he was informed that the deficiency he had alluded to was over £100,000. Mr. Stevens asked if the deficiency tended over the period since 1871. Mr. Oliver said the Comptroller bad drawn his attention to the fact that this deficiency existed, and he did not consider he would be doing his duty if he did not inform the House of the matter. .There is something so startling in this cool announcement of the Minister of Public Works that nothing should satisfy the public but a full investigation into the matter. It surely would be no difficult matter to trace it to officers who had charge of so much property, and who should be made responsible for its loss. The department must be badly administered or such a scandal could not take place. How is it that proper books have not been kept, or a check on the issue been made ? Had this been the case we should not have had to report such a loss to the country as we mention above. Colonel Gorton and his inspecting staff were laughed and jeered at, but, there is little doubt they were the means of saving the Colony thousands of pound. The statement, when it becomes known, will tend to alarm the Country, and nothing but a full, clear, and exhaustive enquiry into the whole affair, by men who are above suspicion will satisfy the public.

The s.s. Taiaroa leaves Onehunga at 4 this afternoon, is due in the roadstead to-morrow morning, and leaves for Nelson about noon.

Mr. Samuel has received a telegram from Mr. Crombie, the Deput Property Tax Commissioner, relative to the time for sending in Property Tax papers, which is as follows :—: — " Time extended to 30th September. New forms will probably be issued next week.— Chas. M. Ceombie."

It will be seen that a conversazione in connection with the Church Bazaar, will be held at the Freemasons' Hall this evening. PreTious ones have been so uniformly successful that there is every reason to believe that those who go to-night will have plenty of enjoyment.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, a case — Revell v. Shaw — excited some interest. Mr. Govett appeared for the plaintiff, the defendant did not appear being at present absent at Wellington discharging the duties of Resident Magistrate and District Judge. He had, however, applied to the Court at Wellington to obtain an exparte hearing of the case there. Mr. Govett said he objected to the case being adjourned to Wellington, as the application had been made by the defendant, solely for the purpose of causing delay. His Worship said he was placed in a very delicate position, and he did not desire to act in a harsh manner towards Mr. Shaw. The hearing ex parte was fixed in Wellington for the 10th September, which would not cause a great delay, and he would therefore adjourn the case until after that date, when the evidence would be sent up from Wellington.