8.~~20

6

No. 16. The Hon. the Minister of Mines. Audit Office, 12lh August, 1905. Surcharge against Alexander Aitken for Water supplied on Credit from Waimea-Kumara Water-race. If, as would appear from the Hon. the Minister's memorandum of the 20th ultimo, he has disallowed, under section 32 of the Public Eevenues Act, the surcharge against Alexander Aitken of £1,433 Oβ. 3d. on account of amount which was owing for water supplied on credit from the Waimea-Kumara Water-race, the duty of the Audit Office is to send to the Speakers of both Houses of the General Assembly a report of the circumstances. The Controller and AuditorGeneral begs leave therefore to inquire whether the Minister is correctly understood to have disallowed such surcharge. J. K. Wahburton, C. & A.-General.

No. 17. Mines Department, Wellington, N.Z., 12th August, 1905. The Controller and Auditor-General, Wellington. Surcharge against Alexander Aitken for Water supplied on Credit from the Waimea-Kumara Water-race. In reply to memo, of the 10th instant, the Minister of Mines desires to inform the Controller and Auditor-General that, for reason stated in memo, of the 20th July last, the surcharge of £1,433 os. 3d. is disallowed under the powers conferred by section 32 of " The Public Revenues Act, 1891." It is proposed to submit a vote to Parliament for such portion of that sum as there is no prospect of recovering, and steps will be taken to endeavour to obtain payment of the balance. James McGowan, Minister of Mines.

No. 18. Mines Department, Wellington, N.Z., 22nd August, 1905. The Controller and Auditor-General, Wellington. Surcharge against Alexander Aitken for Water supplied on Credit from the Waimea-Kumara Water-race. Referring to memo. No. 1477, of the 12th instant, informing the Controller and Auditor-General that the surcharge is disallowed, the Minister of Mines desires to point out that the amounts included in the surcharge are principally balances due on current accounts for water supplied between the years 1899 and 1905, payments on account having been made from time to time as circumstances permitted by the persons to whom the water was supplied. Further, some of the amounts, after inquiry, have been found to be owing by persons who are either dead or whose whereabouts cannot be ascertained, while in other cases a number of the separate items included in the amount of the surcharge are for sums under £1. Jas. McGowan, Minister of Mines.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,450 copies), £2 14s. 6d

Authority: John Mackat, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9os.

Price, 6d.'\