A.—4

10

With a view to provide for the conduct of the business of your department in the meantime, I am to request that you will forthwith notify to the Deputy Auditor that you have ceased to act as Provincial Auditor, and that you will hand over to that officer the books, papers, &c., in your charge. I am further to request that you will state whether or not you desire that this matter should be made the subject of an inquiry in the manner provided by section 4 of " The Civil Service Act, 1871." I have, &c, C. T. Batkin, W. Dorset, Esq., Wellington. Secretary to Treasury.

No. 19. The Secretary to the Treasury to the Deputy Provincial Auditor, Wellington. Sir, — Treasury, Wellington, 10th February, 1874. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, to inform you that the Provincial Auditor has been suspended from duty, and has been requested to forward to you a certificate that he has ceased to act. I have, &c, C. T. Batkin, B. Smith, Esq., Deputy Provincial Auditor, Secretary to Treasury. Wellington.

No. 20. Memorandum No. 24. The Secretary to the Treasury to the Provincial Auditor, Wellington. Treasury, Wellington, 6th February, 1874. It is requested that the Provincial Auditor will be good enough to state whether the warrant, of which a copy was transmitted to me yesterday, and the certificate of the Auditor thereto attached, are both in the customary form, or whether in either case a special form was adopted ; and if so, to forward copy of the ordinary form of warrant, with the customary certificate. The Provincial Auditor is also requested to ascertain and state what was the amount at credit of the Provincial Account at the Bank on the 27th January last. C. T. Batkin, The Provincial Auditor, Wellington. Secretary to the Treasury.

No. 21. The Provincial Auditor, Wellington, to the Secretary to the Treasury. Sir, — Provincial Audit Office, Wellington, 7th February, 1874. In reply to your Memorandum No. 24, of yesterday's date, I have the honor to inform you that the warrant, copy of which is in your hands, is substantially the same in form as warrants generally issued by the Superintendent to the Provincial Treasurer. In those the names of the individuals to whom the money is to be paid is inserted; in this one, payment is authorized to the persons to whom moneys may be or may become due. I am unable to reply to the question as to the balance of the Provincial Account in the absence of the Provincial Treasurer, who is away from town for a few days; immediately on his return I will make application officially to him for the information required. I have, &c, William Dorset, C. T. Batkin, Esq., Secretary to the Treasury. Provincial Auditor.

No. 22. The Secretary to the Treasury to the Deputy Provincial Auditor. Sir, — Treasury, Wellington, 14th February, 1874. Referring to my letter of the 10th instant, advising you of the suspension of the Provincial Auditor, and informing you that that officer had been requested to forward to you a certificate that he had ceased to act, I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, to request that you will inform me whether you have yet received the certificate referred to. I have, &c, C. T. Batkin, B. Smith, Esq., Secretary to Treasury. Deputy Provincial Auditor, Wellington.