CO129-251 - Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [9-11] — Page 362

Copy.

Enclosure 2

Colonial Treasurer to Act. Colonial Secretary.

No. 66.

Sir,

Treasury,

HongKong 3 October 1891.

With reference to my letter of the

20th. of July last forwarding my estimate of expenditure

for this Department for 1892, I have the honour to state

that I have been informed by the Local Auditor that in

his opinion, the examination of accounts imposed on the

Treasurer by the new Financial Instructions is not intended

to be by any means so detailed and minute as the wording

of those Instructions had led me to believe.

2.

I cannot of course say whether the

Local Auditor's opinion is correct or not, but, as he

must be well acquainted with the requirements of Somerset

House, I think that there can be no grave objection to

assuming it to be so until the contrary is proved.

Under these circumstances I beg to

3.

recommend that the appointment of the two junior clerks

recommended by me for Audit services be aeferred untill it

can be seen whether it is possible to satisfy the Comptrol-

requirements without them.

ler

and Auditor General's

4.

the Treasury

Staff will for the present befone

If this is approved, the increase to

chief audit

clerk