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1877. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. ON THE SUBJECT OF THE PAYMENT OF THE THAMES OVERDRAFT, TOGETHER WITH THE MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS, AND EVIDENCE AND APPENDICES.

Report brought up on the 17th day of October, and ordered to be Printed.

Mmtbebs op the Committee :—The Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Larnach, Mr. Murray-Aynsley Hon. Mr. Ormond, Mr. Montgomery, the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, the Hon. Mr. Reid, the Hon. Mr. Stafford Mr. Stevens, Mr. R. G. Wood, Mr. Macfarlane, Sir G. Grey, and Mr. Rees: five to be a quorum. ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the Souse of Representatives. Thursday, the 9th Dat op August, 1877. Ordered —That the Public Accounts Committee be directed to inquire into and report upon the whole of the circumetanceß under which the Government paid off the overdraft of the Borough of the Thames.— (Hon. Major Atkinson.) REPORT ON THE PAYMENT OF THE OVERDRAFT OF THE BOROUGH OF THE THAMES. The Public Accounts Committee have the honor to report that they have enquired into the whole of the circumstances under which the Government paid off the overdraft of the Borough of the Thames, and that they have come to the following resolution:— That the Committee are of opinion that, taking into consideration the exceptional circumstances under which the liability was incurred, the Government were justified in paying the overdraft of the Thames Borough Council and charging the amount as a Provincial Liability. The Committee also beg to report the whole of the evidence taken in this case. Oswald Curtis, 17th October, 1877. Chairman. I.—l. 10.