I.—9b

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3. Mr. Commissioner Edwards, £52 Is. Bd. —The amount placed on the £ s. d. estimates was at the rate of £1,500 per annum, from 2nd March, 1890 ... 1,621 0 0 The House reduced that amount by ... ... ... ... ... 125 0 0 1,496 0 0 The amount paid Mr. Edwards was ... ... ... ... ... 1,620 19 4 In excess of item voted ... ... .... ... ... ... 124 19 4 From Ist November, 1890, to 31st March, 1891, there was charged to unauthorised expenditure, at the rate of £10 Bs. 4d. a month (which is £125 per annum) ... ... ... ... ... ... 52 1 8 If it was right to do so, an adjustment should have been made transferring from the Supreme Court vote to unauthorised expenditure the amount paid in excess of the rate voted, viz. ... ... ... ... 72 17 8 £124 19 4 It has always been understood that the Audit Office has no knowledge of items, and is guided by the amount voted, only; but where the House has determined that only a certain sum shall be paid for a specific service it ought not to be competent for the Treasury to pay more and charge the excess as for a service for which no provision had been made. 4. Passage of A. Bailey, Esq., to London on his Appointment to Her Majesty's Middlesex Begiment.—lt appears that this charge was refused to be passed to the Volunteer Vote on the 28th August, 1890. On the 2nd September it was returned to Audit, with direction to charge to " unauthorised." On the Bth September the Audit passed it to " unauthorised," pointing out that it should be placed on the supplementary estimates, which, however, was not done. It is in the power •of the House still to refuse its sanction to the payment. 11th September, 1891. Alfbed Saundebs, Chairman. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), £1 2s. 6d.

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