8.—6,

2

The details of the above expenditure under the heads (1), (2), and (3) are before Parliament in the tables above referred to; and the above figures differ from those in the tables only by the sum above mentioned, £413 6s. 5d., which having been carried in the Treasury account to the credit of a vote, diminishes the unauthorized expenditure to that extent. In respect to the sums issued as unauthorized Provincial Liabilities, the Commissioners have been guided in the directions to charge almost entirely by the several Provincial Auditors, who alone possessed the information requisite to pass these accounts. 4. The Commissioners respectfully desire the instructions of the House as to their future duties in this matter. There will be no difficulty in furnishing such a return as the House has indicated within a few hours after the accounts of the year are closed ; but to do so will involve keeping in the Audit Department full abstract-books of the expenditure, which will be duplicates of those kept in the Treasury. James Edwakd FitzG-erald, Commissioner of Audit. By Authority : Gboeoe Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB77. Price 3d.]