384

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

New Zealand Settlements Act.—The balance of the moneys arising from the disposal of lands under the
provisions of the New Zealand Settlements Act amounting, as shewn above to £34,990 12s. 7d., is, by
the provisions of "The New Zealand Settlements Amendment Act, 1865," to be applied in such manner
as the General Assembly shall from time to time direct. It may be advisable that the Governor
should recommend to the House of Representatives the appropriation of this balance to a specific public
service, instead of its remaining in reserve in the Colonial Chest.

Gold Fields, Province of Auckland.—The over-issue, after crediting the Auckland Gold Fields with the
Gold Duty Receipts, is £701 19s. 4d. (a). The arrangement by which the management of the Gold Fields
in the Province of Auckland was transferred to the Provincial authorities, came into operation on the 1st
January, 1865, since which date the Revenues arising from the Gold Fields and from the duty on gold have
been paid into the Provincial Chest, on the understanding that the Province undertook all liabilities, and
was to receive all Revenues that accrued after the 31st December, 1864. On this understanding the
Province claimed and was allowed a refund of the sum paid to the Natives out of the Provincial Treasury
for rent of the Gold Fields, due prior to the 31st December, 1864.

In respect of the over-issue of £701 19s. 4d., it is recommended that provision be made to charge this
sum either on the Province of Auckland or on the General Revenues of the Colony.

Bay of Islands Settlement.—The sums over-paid on this settlement amount to £7,387 10s. 10d. On the
18th August, 1865, a Committee of the House of Representatives recommended that £3,131 8s. 6d. of this
liability should be defrayed by the General Government, and the remainder by the Province, on certain
conditions. The Report was not adopted by the House. As the matter now stands, the sum of £7,387
10s. 10d. is an over-issue out of the working balance of the Colonial Treasury.

Bank of Issue.—The balance to the credit of this Bank is correctly stated, but the Notes outstanding
amount to £757. The difference between the balance and the Notes outstanding represents the loss incurred
on the sale of the investment in the 3 per cent. consols. The sale was made at a very unfavorable time.

Auckland Reserves: Over-issue £2,101 3s.—The over-issue was made on the new Court House in
Auckland. It is a charge on the purchase money of Allotments Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, Section 15, of the City of
Auckland. Under the provisions of "The Auckland Reserves Act, 1858," the proceeds of the sale of those
allotments were to be applied towards the erection of a Court of Justice. The allotments, instead of being
sold at auction, as required by the Act, were transferred to the Province for £25,000, and the money was
handed over to a Public Buildings Commission, instead of being paid into the Colonial Treasury, subject to
the above charge of £2,101 3s. The Auditor objected to these proceedings at the time. The question
now to be considered is,—Out of what funds the over-issue of £2,101 3s. is to be made good?

(a.) See Balance Sheet, page 93.—Dr. Balance, £2,107 18s. 11d.—Cr. Balance, £1,405 19s. 7d. = £701 19s. 4d.