P.—No. 5,

6.— Province of Wellington. Electoral, £259 16s. 6d. (61 B. No. 2). This sum, according to Mr. Anderson's statement, was expended on advertising Electoral Rolls and contingencies. 7.—Postal, £212 13s. (61 B. No. 2). Expended on contingencies. B.— Province of Nelson. Postal, £411 17s. 7d. (61 B. No. 2). Mr. Anderson stated this sum also to have been expended in contingencies. 9. — Province of Marlhorough. Judicial, £794 14s. 7d. (61 B. No. 2). 10.—Customs, £816 11s 7d. (61 B. No. 2). 11.—Postal, £475 19s. (61 B. No. 2). All these items were stated to have been salaries and contingencies, principally on account of the gold fields. 12. — Province of Canterbury. Judicial, £992 19s. 4d. (61 B. No. 2). 13.—Electoral, £194 2s. lOd. (61 B. No. 2). 14.—Customs, £1719 Is. 2d. (61 B. No. 2). 15.—Postal, £3086 14s. 4d. (61 B. No. 2). These items were explained as having been expended on salaries and contingencies, principally on gold fields, and advertising Electoral Rolls. 16. — Province of Otago. Judicial, £3551 13s. (62 B. No. 2). 17.—Electoral, £348 12s. lOd. (62 B. No. 2). The first of these items was stated by Mr. Anderson to have been expended on salaries, contingencies, and crimininal prosecutions; and the latter, on contingencies and publication of Electoral Roll. Mr. Anderson retired, after being requested to hold himself in readiness to be recalled if it should be found necessary. Resolved, —That on Monday next, at 10- 30 a.m., the Committee proceed to inquire into the reasons for the unauthorized expenditure of each department, and that the Chief Clerk or other authorized person in charge of the accounts of his department be requested to attend. The committee then adjourned till 1030 a.m. on Monday next, 23rd instant.

Monday, 23hd July, 1866. The committee met pursuant to adjournment: Present all the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The committee then adjourned till Tuesday, 24-th July, at 1030 a.m.

Tuesday, 24tii July, 18G6. The committee met pursuant to adjournment: Present all the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and in consequence of the Panama English mail leaving to-day the committee adjourned till Wednesday, 25th instant, at 1030 a.m.

"Wednesday, 25th July, IS6G. The committee met pursuant to adjournment: Present all the members. Mr. "Woodward, Assistant Treasurer, attended to give explanations, and after a general conversation on the subject of the accounts, gave explanations as to the abstracts of accounts on page 73 B. No. 2, directing the attention of the committee to the preceding detailed statements of the several accounts in the Finance Account (13 B. No. 2, 1564-5). The committee then submitted to Mr. "Woodward several queries to be answered in writing. By the Chairman.'] "Would Mr. "Woodward have any objection to furnish the committee with his opinion as to the most effective means of securing the expenditure of the public money according to the wishes of the Legislature, as expressed from year to year in the Appropriation Act ? Is he of opinion that " The Comptroller's Act, 1865," together with " The Audit Act Amendment Act, 1865," provide sufficiently for this object P Mr. Woodward stated that he should have no objection whatever, and that he would furnish his opinion in writing. The committee then adjourned till Thursday, 2nd August, at 1030 a.m.

Thttbsdat, 2so August, 1860. The committee met pursuant to adjournment: Present all the members. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. "Woodward attended, and handed in the following written questions furnished him by the committee, to which he had appended the annexed replies ; and also his opinion on the subject referred to him at the last meeting : —

5

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE