✨ Audit Report
99
THE AUDIT REPORT.
Audit Office, Christchurch, July 30, 1863.
To C. Bowen, Esq.,
Speaker of the Provincial Council.
SIR,
I have the honor to forward the Accounts for the Province, transmitted to me by His Honor the Superintendent, together with,
- Abstract of Accounts for the quarter ending 30th June, 1863.
- Abstract for the nine months ending same date.
- Detailed Statement showing the items comprised under the head "Incidental Receipts" in the above abstract.
- Comparative Statement showing the sums voted for the service of the Provincial Government for the nine months ending as above, the expenditure on each vote, the unexpended balance, and the amounts paid on accounts not specially provided for, or in excess of specific votes.
- Comparative Statement as above, having reference to expenditure on Public Works.
- Account showing the Expenditure of Stores by the Public Works Department during the nine months referred to.
- Railway expenditure account, and
- Contingency account.
From these it will be seen that the expenditure during the above period amounts to £239,602 11s. 8d., the whole of which has been borne by the Province from its own internal resources, affording, when the limited population is considered, an evidence of prosperity almost unparalleled.
The "Contingency Account" shows the over expenditure by His Honor the Superintendent, which, in conformity with the provisions of the Audit Act, I now submit to the Council for its consideration.
On going over the Comparative Statement it will be seen that the over expenditure commences in Permanent Charges, £1800 having been paid to the Sinking Fund on the £30,000 loan, while provision was made for £600 only. By clause 6 of the Loan Ordinance it is provided that the sinking fund, after the third year, shall be at the rate of 4 per cent., and the appropriation of the latter instead of the former rate must have been an oversight.
The next item of over expenditure is on the vote for electoral expenses, amounting to £7 13s. 5d., and requires no special remark.
Under the head "Gaol" in the department for the Administration of Justice, it will be seen that the over expenditure amounts to the large sum of £901 9s. 7d. With the exception of about £350 for clothing and blankets, there has been no expenditure except for the ordinary maintenance and custody of prisoners, and the extra amount paid is therefore attributable only to the great increase in the number of prisoners.
The Police expenditure having been within the vote, any remark from me on the subject may appear unnecessary. I feel bound, however, to notice the great accuracy with which the accounts of this department are kept, and the admirable system for the prevention of fraud which is followed in it.
In the Waste Lands Department the second Commissioner has sat for seventy-five days, his allowance being at the rate of one guinea each sitting. Hence the over expenditure.
Next Page →
Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1863, No 12
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
💰 Audit Report for the Province of Canterbury
💰 Finance & Revenue30 July 1863
Audit, Financial Accounts, Provincial Council, Expenditure, Canterbury
- C. Bowen, Esq., Speaker of the Provincial Council