329
Mr. Rinecker was thereupon applied to account for the "irregularities" to, and confer with myself equally at a loss.
I think it right to give the following explanation:
The inefficiency of the Treasury Department, during or since the Chief Clerkships of Messrs. Konelation and Jelly, threw more work upon Rinecker than, in his state of health, he was able to bear, and rendered me unwilling to press hardly upon him the necessity of sending in his Accounts for Audit.
At length, by frequent urging, together with the Accounts for the 2 Years 1853 and 1854, on the 3rd May, he produced the Accounts for 1855.
Unfortunately, on the 6th May, Mr. Chapman, the Audit Clerk, was seized with illness, and I had to depute Mr. Rinecker himself to assist in the work of Audit, which I did not wish to delay, as the Mail was about to leave on the 10th of the same month.
The Accounts, to the best of my recollection, were Audited, and no irregularities were discovered, or such as did appear were rectified.
Late on the afternoon of the 17th, when the Audit ended, it being too late to post the Accounts for that day's Mail, Mr. Chapman was still unable, through sickness, to attend to the Office, and, having my time fully occupied otherwise, I requested Mr. Rinecker to Superintend their making up and transmission.
After this, the mistake recurred.