The Nelson Evening Mail. WKDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 303, 23 December 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WKDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1874.

The painful disclosures that have recently been made with regard to the state of the accounts of the late Collector of Water Eatcs have led to much discussion as to who was the otßcer upon v/hom devolved the duty of checking the books, and guarding against such discrepancies —at present we are not at liberty io apply to ihem a stronger term—as are now reported Like a good many other* we were doubtful upoa this point until we had made ourselv s more acquainted with the matter by a perusil of the "Audit Act, 186G," but in a schedule appended to tfcafc Act the dut:es nf the Pr. - vincial Auditor are so distinctly and bo clearly defined as to remove any doubts that may havo been entertained upon the subject. Amongst others we find the following: — (1.) To examine the accounts of all persons entrusted with the collection, custody, receipt, and issue of public money and stores of the Provincial Government. (2.) To Cill upon all persons in the sirvice of the Provincial Government who may be in charue of public money belonging to such Government, for all necessary or proper explanation respecting the receipts and expenditure, and respecting a'l matters necessary to enable the Provincial Auditor to discharge his duties under this Act. (3.) To bring under the consideration of the Superintendent every (irenmstance neces siry to he known io ensure the faithful discharge by such persons of t l eir several duties in conf.rmity with the laws or regulations now, or here if tor to bs. in fo^ce. From the above it will be se<n that for the detection of c-rro-a such as those which have recently been brought to li»ht, the Provincial Auditor v s.lely resp-nsi»<le; and it now remains for him to offer, if he is in a position to do so, home snisfact ry exp'ana'ion of what nt the present moment, and ia the absence of any further information, looks very like continuous ne.qleci of his duties.