H.—36

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

SUM OF £300 PAID TO MR. SIEVWRIGHT (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE).

Presented to loth Souses of the General Assembly ly Command of His Excellency. Copies of Audit Minutes, dated 30th July, 1879, upon requisition by Mr. Hoani Nahe for £300 to defray Legal Expenses, "West Coast Natives. The Public Eevenues Act imposes on all persons receiving or holding public moneys such, obligations in respect to the rendering of accounts, &c, as make it very undesirable that advances should be made to Ministers of the Crown. Assuming it to be the intention of the Government that the money applied for in the requisition should be under the sole control of the Hon. Mr. Nahe, it is respectfully suggested that that object can be attained, without the inconvenience to which reference has been made, by mating the advance to some officer of the Government, with instructions to issue it in such sums and iv such manner as the Hon. Mr. Nahe shall direct.—C. T. Batkin.—3/7/79. It was expressly agreed with the Premier that imprests were not to be issued to Ministers personally but to their Secretaries.—J. E. FG.—3/7/79. Memobanda. Me. Lewis. — Re imprest of £300, authorized to be advanced to the Hon. Mr. Nahe as contributions towards defence of Native prisoners. To meet the difficulties raised by the Audit Department you had better take the imprest to yourself, paying the same in such a manner and to such persons as the Hon. Mr. Nahe may direct. Please attend to the thing at once. —John Sheehan. —1/8/79. Requieed the sum of £300 sterling, as an advance for payment of legal expenses in connection with West Coast Natives (to bo spent under direction of Hon. Mr. Nahe). To be charged to advances, Consolidated Fund.—T. W. Lewis.—l/ 8/79. File with my requisition. It has since been arranged that the money had better be paid to Mr. Sievwright direct, so that he may be held responsible to furnish detailed accounts when required by the Audit Department. Native Minister has approved. —T. W". Lewis. —1/8/79. New Zealand Government, Native Department, Dr. to Basil Sievwright. I authorize Mr. Sievwright to receive the sum of £300. —Hoani Nahe. This money is wanted as part costs of legal advice to and for the Ngatiawa and Taranaki Natives in regard to their lands on the West Coast. Approved, for immediate payment. —J.S.—1/8/79. I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the foregoing account is true in every particular, and according to authority.—T. W. Lewis. Eeceived from the Paymaster-General, by cheque No. 6,239, on Wellington, countersigned this 2nd day of August, 1879, by W. T. Thane, Esq., the sum of £300 sterling, in full payment of the above account. —W. Sievweight. Me. Lewis. —Will you be good enough to direct how this expenditure of £300 is to be charged ? —W. J. Moepeth.—6/10/79. Hon. Native Ministee. —For your instructions. This payment, I think, should be dealt with in same manner as other amounts paid on account of Maori prisoners. Papers relating to which are before you for consideration. —T. W. Lewis.—9/10/79. Me. Lewis. —I shall bring this matter before the Cabinet before deciding. Please attach letters from Mr. Sievwright, and telegram from Hoani Nahe.—John Betce. Hon. Native Ministee. —Papers herewith.—-T. W. Lewis. I—H. 36.