3

1.—6.

Payment of the Plaintiff's Costs in Russell v. Grindell. The Public Accounts Committee, to which has been referred by the Treasury the Treasury voucher 40,098 and bills of costs in Russell v. Grindell —(a), between party and party; (b), between solicitor and client—with the view that the Committee might " inquire whether any portion of the total amount shown by the voucher to have been paid to Mr. H. D. Bell as solicitor for the plaintiff in Russell v. Grindell and another was wrongly paid, and, if so, might recommend such action as might be deemed neecessary or desirable," have the honor to report, — That the £800 having been paid to Mr. Russell's solicitors for costs between solicitor and client, and not between party and party, should have been paid out of and charged to unauthorized expenditure. E. C. J. Stevens, 9th August, 1880. Chairman.

Be Vouchers for £2,000 Paid on Account of Waimate Plains. The Public Accounts Committee having received from the Treasury a copy of the report of the West Coast Commissioners, with a view to an inquiry into the circumstances referred to on page xxvih. (second report) connected with certain vouchers for £2,000 charged by the Land Purchase Department to the cost of acquiring the Waimate Plains, and having been requested by the Treasury to report on the following questions,— "1. Was the sum of £2,000 imprested to an officer of the Government for a specified service expended by that officer on an entirely different service, though vouched for as expended on the service for which the imprest was made ? " 2. If such was the case, who is responsible for the misapplication of the money ? " 3. Were the purposes to which the money was actually applied disclosed to the Native Minister, to the Under-Secretary of the Land Purchase Department, or to the Audit Office when the vouchers were submitted for approval and passed for credit of the imprestee? "4. Who is responsible for the preparation and signature of these vouchers in a form at variance with the actual facts of the case, aud for the suppression of the true vouchers? "5. How the Waimate Plains purchase or takoha account, which now stands charged with the expenditure represented by the vouchers upon which credit was allowed to the imprestee, may be relieved of the same, and to what other account the true expenditure may and ought to be charged?"— have the honor to report:— That the Committee is of opinion that this matter should be investigated by the Controller and Auditor-General, and that such action should be taken by him as the circumstances of the case may be found to require. E. C. J. Stevens, 23rd August, 1880. Chairman.

Payment of £300 to Me. Sieyweight. Vide 1.-6a.

By Authority : George Didsbtjet, Goyernment Printer, Wellington.—lBBo. Prico 3d.]