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by the particulars furnished me in your letter of the 28th ultimo to delays in forwarding the monthly Requisitions during 1870 and 1871.
31. In three out of the twelve instances cited in support of this charge the dates set down, as the dates of the receipt in the Colonial Secretary's Office of the Requisitions, have already been shown to be grossly inaccurate, in one instance to the extent of five months—that may have been clerical error—but the other instances show clearly that the Requisitions were as a rule in the hands of the Colonial Secretary—or in his Office, days before he noted them as received.
My Requisition for October is marked as received the 25th of that month—the fact being that Mr. Austin had had it in his hands, and had acknowledged the receipt of it, as early as the 11th (see letter No.1187 of the 13th October)—
32. The date of the receipt in the Colonial Secretary's Office of a Requisition, even if accurately recorded, is no criterion as to the time of its preparation, and completion, by the Surveyor General.