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The Chairman.—I don't think we have to enquire into why he was not arrested. (To witness) Mr. Mitchell Innes went on leave in 1892, did he not?
A.-I do not know.
Q.-He was away during last year?
A.-During a portion of last year.
Q.-He was here during the whole of 1891 ?
A.--Yes.
Q. In 1891 did you ever ask that theRent Roll for 1890 should be balanced? A.-Certainly, I called attention to its not being balanced. It was one of the first things I called the attention of the Acting Treasurer to.
Q.-He only came in 1892 ?
A. Yes.
Q-And did your observations refer to the book of 1890 ?
A.-My observations referred to the books of 1890 and 1891. Q.--Did any other book particularly require balancing?
A.--No.
Mr. Thurburn. For the assessed taxes there was no book at all apparently? A.-There is now.
Q.-Formerly?
A.-No, formerly they collected the assessed taxes and simply showed the calcula- tions in a lump sum.
Mr. Bird.--There was no way to ascertain whether the taxes were paid in ?
A.-If you got a man to work at it for a year he might do it. I have been checking the assessed taxes, during the past day or two, for the villages. All we have been doing is checking the counterfoils with the payments into the Treasury and looking down the assessments book. To do one quarter for the villages alone has taken three days.
Mr. Thurburn.The book they have now adopted will balance?
A.-Yes.
Q.-And therefore they will have a check
A. Yes.
Q.-How often?
upon
it ?
A.—Quarterly—at least it ought to be balanced quarterly.
Q.-Of course the checking of all these other items, (indicating items in the annual financial balance sheet published in the Gazette) most of them apparently, had been in other departments?
A.--Yes.
Mr. Bird. When they come from other departments they are probably correct, one department checking another?
A.-No.
The Chairman.--The Treasury only knows that the Bank has received so much? A.--Yes.
Mr. Thurburn.When the Treasury receives so much from the Post Office the Post- master is responsible for that being correct?
A. Yes.