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Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, 21 October 1867, Page 261

necessary, on, the part of the Auditor, to whose inspection the'voucher was subihitted before it was paid by~the Treasurer.' The transaction' as it , stands before your Committee is one. of mere mutual agreement between the Superintendent and the Surveyor. Your Committee deem - this a very grave irregu-larity-^-Pirstiy;. as relieving the‘Provincial Engineer of that control and responsibility which he is specially employed to exercise; and, Secondly as an assumption of unchecked and absolute disposal of public funds that does not vest in-the-Su-perintendent. Your Committee submit the following as their conclusions, viz. 1. That the agreement with the Surveyor was loose, unbusinesslike, devoid of professional exactitude, and the amount most inadequate to the work proposed to be done. 2. That the Provincial Engineer, and not the Superintendent, was the proper officer to make the agreement. If the former was absent at the time, it ought to have been conditional. on his approval of its terms. , 3. That the expenditure on the road has been ' heavy, and By the application of the contract system, it is certain would have cost less. Your Committee finally. recommend its being made imperative that the certificate of the head of the department should be an indispensable preliminary to the granting of a -warrant by the Su- ■ perintendent tor the payment of money. Charles Lambert, Chairman i John Buchanan Thomas Tanner S. Locke ; A. Kennedy. Memorandum,. The Provincial Government of Hawke’s Bay agree with. Michael Fitzgerald, Esq., to explore and mark a bridle track through the bush from the’ Kiiataniwha Plains to the open country at the head of the Wairarapa, and from that line at or near Puketai out to the open country on the Ma- ■ nawatu on the West Coast. ■ It is understood tliat Mr Pitzgerald will explore 1 the country with a view of obtaining a good bridle 1 and stock-driving track; that the line will be marked, so as to he easily distinguishable by the parties who may afterwards be employed to cut the road. This work Mr Pitzgerald has consented to 1 undertake and perform for the sum of two hun- . dred and fifty pounds (£250). ; The work to be proceeded with without delay, • and concluded as soon possible. i It is understood that if Mr Fitzgerald should be prevented in his work by native interference, that the Government will give equitable consideration to his claim. M. Pitzgerald. Napier, Oct. 17, 1865. Napier, 9th January, 1866. Sir, —Mr John Campbell proceeds to-day to see : you, preparatory to the line of road marked opt ■ by you being commenced towards the West : Coast. ; I am in hopes that the progress you have mnflp. ■ in exploring and marking out the road, so as to be easily distinguished, is so far advanced as to avoid - delay in forming a good bridle track. > If the survey of the West Coast here is completed, and that the natives interfere with the road to Wairarapa, I have to' request that you will report the circumstance, as that portion of the ’ work may be tor the present dispensed with. 1 I have the honor to be, l Sir,- , Your most obedient Servant, < (Signed) Donald MLean, Superintendent. M. Pitzgerald, Esq.