HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND UNAUTHORISED EXPENDITURE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 772, 4 February 1871, Page 2

HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND UNAUTHORISED EXPENDITURE.

The following circular has just been issued by his Honor the Superintendent to the members of the Provincial Council: —

" Superintendent's Office, 'Nelson, December 30, 1870.

" Sin, —Th<' appropriations made by the Provincial Council, for the Departments quoted in the margin hereof (Hospital. Charitable Aid, Lunatic Asylum, Groldfields, Warden's Department, Police Department), proving insufficient to meet the requirements for the current financial year, ir. is necessary to make further provision for those departments without delay.

•"' A special meeting of the Council for that purpose would be attended with great expense to the Province, and considerable inconvenience to those inesibers of Council residing far from the city, and aa the Council have on several occasions expressed their wish not to be called together for ordinary business at this time of the year, the Executive desire to ascertain whether the members prefer that the Council should bo specially summoned for the purpose mentioned, or whether they will authorise the Superintendent to sign ' Special Orders' for the amount required, and pledge themselves to sanction the expenditure when tiie Council meets.

'• It is estimated that the total amount for which Special orders will be necessary for these departments will not exceed Two thousand two hundred pounds (£2200), and the reasons why the expenditure has been in excess of the appropriation are as follows: " Warden's Department.—£GQo required. Chiefly owing u> the discovery of new mining districts, the necessity for additional horse hire, arid other contingent expenses, and the large amount (viz . £3OO in excess of the vote) require.l for the payment of witnesses in criminal cases GrOLDJFIELDS L'OUCE DePABTAIENT. —£Boo required. Several important criminal eases, on the West Coast. The opening up of new districts on

the goldfields, and the increased neces«ity i'or special constables, additional travelling expenses, &c.

" Chahitablk Aid. —£3o3 required. The di pressiou of the Colon)', and consequent increase in the number of destitute persons. " Hospital.—£-150 required. The Hospital Committee report the excess to be due io the increased number of patients, especially out-patients. " Lunatic Asylum.—£oo required. Increased number of patients. " 1 have to request the favor of an early reply, as should the Council prefer being summoned, the meeting must take place at the beginning of February. " I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your obedien t'servant, " Oswald Curtis, "Superintendent."