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instances we find that the Surveyor General did not comply with this important regulation during the 18 or 20 months over which our enquiry has extended. We generally forwarded them during the month in which he had begun to incur expenditure, and not unfrequently during the month succeeding that in which the expenditure had been incurred. So that were As a result the Requisitions useless, so far as being the authority for works which were to be commenced, involving disbursements of public money.
2. We find that this course was continued notwithstanding certain definite orders from time to time to forward them through the Colonial Secretary. These orders were in the form of warnings and reprimands, but appear to have been followed up by no action on the part of the Executive. Not only, therefore, was the Surveyor General acting in disobedience of direct instructions issued to him, but he was incurring expenditure on the part of the Government without having any duly recognized authority.
3. Mr. Moorson admits that "the delay was his fault," and couples this statement with a plea that the Requisitions were not in a form which...