317
No. 755.
CAT
In any further correspondence on this subject, the above number should be quoted,
and the communication should be addressed to "The Comptroller and Auditor General."
Gov
Sir,
EXCHEQUER AND AUDIT DEPARTMENT,
SOMERSET HOUSE,
LONDON, W.C.
C. O.
25th July 1893.
12505
RECO
Rea 26 JUL 93)
I am directed by the Comptroller and Auditor General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 21st instant, forwarding a Despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong together with a copy of the Report of the Commission appointed by him to investigate the circumstances under which serious defalcations have taken place in the Colonial Treasury.
In returning the Governor's Despatch as requested, I am to express the Comptroller and Auditor General's thanks to the Marquis of Ripon for his courtesy in forwarding the documents mentioned for his perusal.
I am to state with regard to the 7th paragraph of the draft Despatch from the Secretary of State to the Governor, to which his attention was more particularly directed, that Sir Charles Ryan has only to express his grateful sense of the appreciation which is therein shown of the difficulties of Mr Nicoll's position.
The views which the Comptroller and Auditor General entertains of Mr Nicolls's share in the transaction will be best gathered from the accompanying copy of a letter which will be sent to that Officer under flying seal by next Mail.
As the Secretary of State invites the observations of the Comptroller and Auditor General upon the Governor's Despatch.
Honourable R.H.Meade O.B.
Colonial Office.
Despatch