while I was in charge and what was stolen.
it is considered
were
I ask this not for the purpose of shirking the question of my pecuniary responsibility but for the purpose of meeting it. I should also like to know in what way it is considered wrong committed. I feel that being head of the Department at the time when the frauds were committed entails pecuniary responsibility to the amount of such frauds & can only admit that I was Treasurer from June 1888 to January 1890 and for the last few months of 1890. If however I can be relieved of such responsibility by showing that I exercised the ordinary prudence that could be expected from me in my position it is material that I should know how the frauds considered to have been committed were done.
Sgd) H. E. Wodhouse
Confidential
You are to be furnished with a Copy.
Eucla.
321 Colonial Secy's Office
11th April 1893.
I am directed to inform you that the Governor has perused the Commission appointed to enquire into the Treasury defalcation which has been forwarded to him with a copy of the report.
2. From the report and the statement attached to it His Excellency is unable to avoid the conclusion that you have continuously neglected the duties of your office. Irrespective of any obligations cast upon you by the Financial Instructions, it was your elementary duty as Treasurer to see that the revenue was properly accounted for.
To
The Hon. M. G. Mitchell-Jones
Colonial Treasurer.