-execution of the Warrants.
The Committee, moreover, remark that with the exception of Mr Flyndman, who up to February, 1864, was entirely engaged on the accounts under the old system, the Clerks in the Office were, for the most part, young Portuguese, not calculated to render the required assistance to the Treasurer; and further on, it is also stated "that if the assistance applied for by the Treasurer in July, 1864, had been granted, the arrears would probably not have accumulated to such an extent as they have now done".
Although, therefore, it seems to My Lords that the conduct of the Treasurer is by no means free from blame with respect to the manner in which the arrears have accumulated, and that his capacity to superintend his department is, at the best, doubtful, They have thought it right to make these remarks upon the share which, it seems to them, other public officers of the Colony may have had in the production of a state of things, for which the Governor states that he considers the Treasurer is alone responsible.
My Lords have no further remarks to make upon the subject, except that if the system suggested by the Auditor in his Report of the 20th of December, 1865, and adopted by the Governor, is not found to work satisfactorily, They would suggest that the original Plan of the Governor should be reverted to, and the Ordinance amended so as to make the rates a charge upon the "Owners" instead of "Occupiers" of Tenements.
My Lords have to make no observations...