28

It is on account of the nature of the 12th
Clause of this Act that His Honor the
Superintendent has been compelled to call
the Council together before its usual time of
meeting; this clause rendering it impossible
to authorise the payment of money after
one-twentieth part of the amount of the
ordinary provincial revenues of the preceding
year has been expended—the amount thus
at the service of the Government for over-
expenditure is only £2784 11s. 4d. In the
ordinary course of events this might prove
sufficient; but the sudden and rapid develope-
ment of auriferous country on the West
Coast of this Province has rendered a
prompt outlay absolutely necessary of far
greater amount than was anticipated by
either the Government or the Council. It
will nevertheless be a satisfaction to the
Council to know that large as the expendi-
ture is, the receipts are still larger, leaving
a considerable balance to the credit of the
Government; and which balance it is hoped
will be still further augmented when the
gentlemen appointed by the General Govern-
ment to report upon and recommend an
equitable rate of the division of Customs
Duties received at Greymouth, between the
Provinces of Canterbury and Nelson, have
forwarded the result of their enquiries.

The total amount received from the 1st of
April to the 30th November last, on account
of the West Coast Gold-Fields, a period of
eight months, was £22,854 3s. 3d. whilst
the expenditure for the same period has been
under £10,000, but which expenditure will
be very materially increased for the remain-
ing four months of the financial year.

I have also the honor to state to the
Council that in the performance of my
official duties, I visited, in November last,
the various offices connected with the South-
west Gold-fields, on the West Coast, when
the Accounts were Audited to the 31st
October, and found satisfactory.

I could not, however, but remark at the
same time that the officials were overworked,
and required considerable assistance, and at
the present time this is even still more the
case.

The Cash Balances to the credit of the
following accounts of the Provincial Govern-
ment, at the Union Bank of Australia, on
the 31st December, were as follows:—

On which amounts a small per centage of
interest is allowed by the bank.

I have &c.,
H. D. JACKSON,
Provincial Auditor.

Provincial Audit Office, Nelson,
October 26, 1866.

To His Honor
The Superintendent, Nelson.

SIR,—I have the honor to enclose herewith
the Provincial Treasurer's Statements for
the Quarter ending September 30, 1866, with
the Certificate as to the correctness of the
same endorsed on the face thereof. I have,
however to remark to your Honor that the
receipts on the statements do not include
anything as having been received for the
Customs collected at the Port of Greymouth.
The last receipt under that head was for
May; the receipts for the month of June,
July, and August ought to have appeared.
On enquiring I find that the last two months
have lately been received, but the amount
for June seems to have been lost sight of.

I have, &c.,
H. D. JACKSON,
Provincial Auditor.

AMOUNT OF UNAUTHORISED EXPENDITURE
BY PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NELSON,
TO JANUARY, 1867.

H. D. JACKSON,
Provincial Auditor.