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No. 23. The Deputy Provincial Auditor, Wellington, to the Secretary to the Treasury. Sir, — . Lambton Quay, Wellington, 14th February, 1874. In reply to your communication of this day, I have the honor to inform you that I have not received the certificate referred to from the Provincial Auditor. I have, &c., B. Smith, C. T. Batkin, Esq., Deputy Provincial Auditor, Wellington. Secretary to the Treasury, Government Buildings. »

No. 24. James Fergussox, Governor. Treasury, Wellington, 12th February, 1874. His Excellency the Governor is respectfully advised to remove Mr. William Dorset, the Provincial Auditor of the Province of Wellington, from that office. The papers on the subject are attached for His Excellency's information. It appears, from the report of the Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Dorset has admitted that he certified the warrant of His Honor the Superintendent for the total sum appropriated by an Act authorizing expenditure on various objects without having read that Act, or satisfying himself, as he was by law required to do, that the money to be issued was legally available. If by this proceeding he has not transgressed the law, he has certainly neglected attending to what has always been considered the most important of his duties ; and if the action taken by him arose through incapacity to appreciate the spirit and intention of his functions, there would be sufficient reason for his immediate removal. I am bound to say there is besides grave suspicion of his having, at the instigation of the Provincial Government, acted in such a manner as to anticipate, or attempt to anticipate, the disallowance of the Act referred to, there is reason to believe that the warrant differed from the ordinary form. The reason for obtaining a warrant in full for the sum authorized could only have arisen out of the desire of the Provincial authorities to anticipate the possible disallowance of the Act. It was clearly the duty of the Provincial Auditor by all proper vigilance to endeavour to frustrate such a proceeding, and not by complicity to aid or abet it. In the event of Mr. Dorset desiring an inquiry under the Civil Service Acts, His Excellency is respectfully recommended to grant an inquiry under' section 4 of the Civil Service Act of 1871, and to appoint the under-mentioned officers to conduct the inquiry—Charles Knight, Esq., Auditor-General, and William Seed, Esq., Secretary of Customs. Julius Vogel. Approved in Council, 19th February, 1874.—Forster Goring.

No. 25. The Secretary to the Treasury to Mr. Dorset. Sir, — Treasury, Wellington, 19th February, 1874. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, to inform you that His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to remove you from the office of Provincial Auditor of the Province of Wellington, and to request that you will be good enough to hand over the books, papers, &c, appertaining to that office to your successor, Mr. Benjamin Smith. I have, &c, C. T. Batkin, W. Dorset, Esq., Wellington. Secretary to the Treasury.

No. 26. In Executive Council. His Excellency the Governor is recommended to appoint Benjamin Smith, Esq., to be Auditor of the Public Accounts of the Province of Wellington, at a salary of £200 per annum. William H. Reynolds. Approved.—James Fergusson, Governor. Forster Gorixg, Clerk of Executive Council,