PUBLIC TRUST COMMIS. SIONERS' REPORT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9123, 2 July 1891, Page 3

PUBLIC TRUST COMMIS. SIONERS' REPORT.

COMPTROLLEK-GENERAL'S ■ > REMARKB. ,The remarks of the Comptroller and Auditor- General with reference to the Public Trust Commissioners' report are in form of memorandum, which has been Laid on the table of the House. The remarks touch upon the Commissioners' roport, iis far as the Audit Department is concerned, in detail. Ah regards the charges against . the Audit Office, Mr FilzGernld states that it is distinctly uutrue that the officers df the Audit Department wero ignorant of the existence of any book in tho Trust Oflico which could have thrown any light upon, or in any way assisted in, the fulfilment of their duties, or of any book which contained an entry of a single farthing which did not appear in tho books which they did audit; and not only was abundant teHliniony to this laid before tho Commissioners, but, strange as it may appear, the Commissioners did not ask a single question with the object of showing that tho books to which they refer wore in any way necessary to a comploto audit, or contained any information which ought to have boon ] disclosed to it, and which tho audit did not i already possess. To nuke this clear Mr Fitzgerald describes the books to which the Commissioners rofor, and speaking of the " rough cash books," says — " It will hurdly bo believed that tho chairman had diatinct evidence before him from several witnosfltttt that what ho wa» representing t? m p a fiwt was m reality thy diwctrj

contrary to the truth ; that the book in question was not a rough cash-book ; that no entries wero ever made from it to any other cash-book ; and that it was not the first official record of cash coming into the office." Mr PitzGerald admits that the audit overlooked the fact that neither list nor inventory of personal effects of intestacies had been kept, as required by the Audit Office. He also states that an unjust und most injurious slur has been cast upon some gentlemen of tho Trust Office for purchasing trinkets sold at auction by the office. It was, of course, an irregularity, but there was no allegation of any estate having suffered thereby. Ho accuses the Chairman of putting questions in a misleading way so us to suggest the answers ho wished to get. Mr Hamorton had been so ill during part of his examination that he was not responsible for his replies, and having applied to bo permitted to correct some parts of his evidence, had been refused. While owning that his Department is far from perfect, Mr Fitzgerald states its inefficiency is owing to insufficiency of the staff. If the recommendation of the Commissioners regarding the future management of the Public Trust Office is carried out, the existence of tho Audit .Department will, ho contends, bo all tho more necessary, because the experiment of the last few years has not proved that " men of largo commercial and financial experience " have protected tho holders of bank shares from ruinous losses, or encouraged us to trust the public revenues and credit to similar guidance. Mr Fitzgerald closes his commontson the character of tho examination as follows :—lt: — It may bo said that a reference to those passages in the evidence was foreign to tho purpose of this paper, which is a reply to the calumnies published agamst the Audit Office. I call, atientien tc them because they entitle me to appeal to Parliament and the public against the judgment of men whoso animus aga : nst the office whoso affairs they wore appointed to enquire into was* so strong that tl ey have displayed it by an iirscrupu'ous uso of the materials which eaire into their hands — by the prod iction of confidential papers which evei/ sentiment of delicacy and honour bound them to respect as such, and the I publication of which could add nothing whatever to the tas'c entrusted them — namely, to recommend improvements in tho administration of the Public Trust Office.

KEEP IT FOR REFERENCE. lnE followins suggestions are not designed to induce the public to attempt the j duties oE the regular surgeon, but merely to place the reaaor in possession of a means of treatment of the minor accidents occurring daily in the household. No family can be assured agaiast accidents ; the broken bone, the dislocated joint, the severed artery, these are misfortunes that may possibly happen to anyone ; and we scarcely need to add that they demand the inttant attention of the most skilful surgeon within reach. But by household accidents we. mean those which are constantly occurring every day, in nearly every family, and which, while not always daagorous in themselves, are exceedingly annoying. Burns, bruises, cuts, scalds, Btraius, &a, are principal among these troubleßome and annoying occurrences, and demand immediate treatment with the best means at hand. In th« kitchen, tbe dining-hall, the nursery, and the sittingroom they are liable to happen, and instead of fear and alarm at tho aiuht of the cut or mashed finger, or burned or bruisediarm, or scalded surface, a cool and quiet manner should bo assumed, and atter washing away tho blood (if rtquirort), tho injured parts should be dressod wuh that most valuable iemedy — St. Jacobs Oil. Its especial worth for the injuries named, and others of a similar nature, h not basod upon mero cinim an>i assertion ; but its constant uso for a long term of years baß given it a reputation which id always increasing. Its surprisingly quick relief, its cleanßius properties, its tendency to quickly remove all inflammation, and its wonderful efficacy in tho above, as well as iv all uiusculur and other pains, such as rheumatism, neuralgia, toothache, headache, BtifEuoßß of the limb 3, joints, &c, these qualities render St. Jacobs Oil preeminently the bi'Bt exturnul remedy before the people, which claim is fully Bubstuntiuted by ,tho class of strong testimony voluntarily accorded it by representatives of every class and station of life.