THE LATE DEFALCATIONS IN WESTLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 207, 3 September 1869, Page 2

THE LATE DEFALCATIONS IN WESTLAND.

The Westland County Council met again last week. The meeting, says a correspondent of the Greymouth Star, was a most unsatisfactory one. The books of tlie county have been so badly kepfc, and the various expenditures and receipts are so muddled, that nothing can be made of thera. Mr. Lahman, who has been performing, pro tern., the duties of County Treasurer, in reply to Mr. Buttons demaud for a complete statement of accounts, instead of a mere formal balance- • sheet which had been prepared, said that if- Councillors wished to know he could lay the books on the table for them to examine for themselves. The books, he said, had been kept in a wretched way. He would do the best he could to make things clear. But I tell you that neither Mr. Lahman nor any one (except perhaps a highly competent professional accountant) will be able to make anything of them. The books have been kept for a purpose, and that purpose, was tbat nothing should ever be made of them. My opinion is, that instead of attempting to elucidate what will never be elucidated,' it will better to drawa line through everything and begin again. The acting treasurer acknowledged that the financial half-year of the County Council commences with a. debt. of ten thousand pounds, which by the way, the Estimates make no provision to liquidate. The esfcimatedreceipts for the half-year ending December next, are £57,400., The expenditure, £53,542— leaving a surplus of not quite £4.ooo; and that is always supposing that thf estimated receipts come up to -the vmark, iandr that the expenditure, does, not exceed A it.

Down ih the receipts, under the head of " incidental," is £2,000 to be recovered on the late " defalcations," a sum not likely to be recovered, as Mr, Lahman should know if he had read the security bond of the late County Treasurer. Oneof the County Councillors, who is welUup in figures and has given considerable attention to details, gives the following rough but rather graphic estimate of the state of the County incomings and outgoings for the next six months :—'Receipts, instead of £57,400, will be £49,000, there or thereabouts — more or less, but most likely less. Expenditure as much' more as the County can obtain credit for. Assistance from the General Government — nil. Result — general dissatisfaction among the County creditors, and a public appeal for the annulment of the County of Westland Act, which mauy are now asking for."