I.—7b.

23rd October, 1895. I regret, when forwarding you the summons to-day to attend the Public Accounts Committee to-morrow, I omitted to ask you, in accordance with the resolution of the Committee, to bring a statement concerning the issue of debentures for £145,400, and how the amount is arrived at. I hope you will have sufficient time to prepare it. E. W. Kane, The Controller and Auditor-General. Clerk, Public Accounts Committee.

No. 189. 24th October, 1895. lam unable to make up such a statement. It was prepared by the Treasury, and, like all other accounts, carefully audited at the time and returned to the Treasury certified to as correct. But the Audit Office is not an office of record for all accounts it passes as correct. James Edward FitzGerald, Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee. Controller and Auditor-General. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,250 copies), £17 Is. Od.

By Authority : Samuel Costall, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9s. Price, 9d.]

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