24.
305
of discharged seamen, making in all a deficit of One thousand four hundred and forty-two Dollars and thirteen cents.
Should I be right in my supposition, as to the rendering of the Board of Accounts and those Accounts be found Correct, no deficiency will have occurred before the middle or end of January when Mr. Neuman became ill and left his office, and the Acting Chief Clerk Mr. Gunthorpe virtually undertook the greater part of the Harbor Master's duties.
Mr Newman retained the key of iron Chest which does not appear to have been opened from the commencement of his illness until a day or two before his death.
When Mr Harris, however, was appointed Acting Harbor Master, the key was made over to him, but the contents amounting to between Eighty and ninety dollars were taken away by Mr Newman's orders and they doubtless form a portion of the effects left by him at his decease.
$1442.13
I think it proper also to remark that on the 9th of this month, four days after Mr. Newman's death, the salaries of the Harbor Master's Department for February were paid by the Colonial Treasury on Mr. Gunthorpe's assurance that he had already defrayed the same from his own private resources. This Assurance I had reason to doubt at the time and I expressed my doubts to the Colonial Treasurer. He however stated that he was not responsible for the monies he issued.