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In a more recent dispatch from Derby of 7th March 1887, he censured the Acting Auditor General, Mr. Edewach, for not having personally examined certain Vouchers therein referred to.
I reported at some length on 2nd May 1879 on the necessity, in my opinion, of separating the Offices of Colonial Secretary and Auditor, as the former Officer had quite enough work to occupy his whole time, but although I endeavoured to show that the public business of the Colony had increased 120% in late years, and to justify the change, my reasons were apparently not thought sufficiently weighty. I referred specially to the fact that no Audit of Revenue had ever been made previous to my arrival. The Audit of Revenue accounts which I at once instituted probably increased the labour performed.
Two Chinese Clerks, in one of the Departments who had uncontrolled collection of certain Taxes, shortly afterwards absconded, and I have good reason for believing that some revenues did not find their way into the Treasury in consequence of...