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not think that any other colony, as far as I can hear, nor even the Imperial authorities, can compare with us as to the manner in which we have had our business done. Major Pilcher had to give the officers the money, and in some cases, of course, it was impossible to get receipts in an orthodox way. However, the whole matter.now, I think, has come down to a very few hundred pounds, and lam satisfied that everything has been straight and aboveboard; but the ordinary Treasury regulations could not be complied with under the abnormal conditions that obtained. Mr. W. Fraser : You could not get vouchers for every payment ? Right Hon. R. J. Seddon : No. Mr. Warburton : I may just say that the Audit Office has no fault to find with the expenditure, which seems to be such expenditure as, if vouched, would be passed without question. There are a few more cases that have occurred since. I do not know whether I shall yet report them to Parliament. lam keeping them until all such payments are in, so that I can make one case of the whole, if I should make any case at all. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (1,425 copies), £1 2s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o3. Price 3d.]