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Feiday, 31st August, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Pbesent: Hon. Major Atkinson, Hon. Mr. Eeynolds, Mr. Murray-Aynsley, Mr. Stevens, Sir George Grey, Hon. Mr. Stafford, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Eeader Wood. Mr. Eees. | Mr. Curtis in the Chair. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. FitzGerald attended and put in a copy of expenditure under the Auckland Provincial Estimate, approved by the Governor, to 30th June, 1877. (Appendix D.) Mr. Eeader Wood asked Mr. FitzGerald the following questions : — 1. Which of these items were passed by the Auditor as authorised expenditure, and which as unauthorised ?—The only payments charged as unauthorised appear to be those to the Thames Borough, and the three Eoad Boards mentioned in the estimate. 2. To whom was the sum of £933 os. lOd. on account of the Piako Swamp Eoad paid I —l could not say without looking at the receipt on the voucher. It was authorised, so far as I recollect, to be paid to the County Fund. Mr. FitzGerald made the following statement: —l should like to state to the Committee, that in all these payments of provincial liabilities the Commissioners of Audit have been compelled to accept the certificates of the Provincial Auditors; we had no knowledge of the provincial estimates, or to the extent to which they had been operated on; we, therefore, agreed from the first, that in passing payments on provincial liabilities, we must rely mainly on the certificates of the Provincial Auditors, and have done so, except in peculiar circumstances, which we considered called for further consideration. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Murray-Aynsley, That the Commitee do not enter into consideration of any other questions until they have reported on the " Payment of the Overdraft of the Borough of the Thames." Resolved, on motion of the Hon. Mr. Eeynolds, That the Chairman take steps to have the evidence given by the witnesses before the Committee in connection with the payment of the overdraft of the Borough of the Thames printed, and that the printing be done by a private firm, should the Government Printing Office be fully occupied. The Committee then adjourned.

Tuesday, 4th Septemhee, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Pbesent: Hon. Major Atkinson, Hon. Mr. Eeynolds, Sir George Grey, Hon. Mr. Reid, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Eees, Mr. Macfarlane, Mr. Eeader "Wood. Mr. Montgomery, Resolved, on motion of Hon. Mr. Beynolds, That Mr. Montgomery do take the chair. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. FitzGerald, Commissioner of Audit, who was in attendance was again examined (Vide Minutes of Evidence) The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, and Mr. Eeader "Wood, also gave evidence (Vide Minutes of Evidence.) Eeport by Commissioners of Audit laid upon the table. (B. 6. —1877.) Resolved, on motion of Hon. Mr. Eeynolds, That the evidence given to-day, and the copies of the papers referred to by Mr. FitzGerald, be printed. (Appendix A.) Resolved, on motion of Mr. Eees, That the Committee do now adjourn.

Tuesday, 2nd Octobee, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to notue. Pbesekt: Hon. Major Atkinson Mr. Montgomery, Sir George Grey, Mr. Macfarlane, Mr. Johnston, Hon. Mr. Eeynolds, Mr. Larnach, Mr. Stevens. Mr. Murray-Aynsley, Mr. Curti* in the Chair. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Resolved, on motion of Sir George Grey, That the Colonial Treasurer's evidence be printed in its amended form. Besolved, on motion of Mr. Montgomery, That the Committee do now adjourn.