I.—llb.

1902. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE) ON PAPER B.-13.—GOVERNMENT ADVANCES TO SETTLERS OFFICE (REPORT BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1902.

Beport brought up the 30th day of September, 1902, together with Minutes of Evidence, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from, the Journals of the House of Representatives, Tuesday, the Bth Day op July, 1902. Ordered, "That a Committee, consisting of ten members, be appointed to examine into and report upon such questions relating to the Publio Accounts as they may think desirable, or that may be referred to them by the House or by the Government, and also into all matters relating to the finances of the colony which the Government may refer to them ; five to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Colvin, Mr. Fisher, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Flatman, Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Palmer, Sir William Russell, and the mover." —(Hon. Sir J. G. Wabd ) Tuesday, the 19th Day op August, 1902. Ordered, "That Paper No. 151b. (Report of the Superintendent of the Government Advances to Settlers Office) be referred to the Public Accounts Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Mills.)

REPORT.

PAPER 8.-13-GOVERNMENT ADVANCES TO SETTLERS OFFICE (REPORT BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1902. The Public Accounts Committee, to whom was referred the abovementioned Paper, has the honour to report that it has considered the same, and taken evidence thereon, and " has no recommendation to make." Tuesday, 30th September, 1902. G. Fisher, Chairman.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

Be Paper 8.-13. — Report by the Superintendent of the Government Advances to Settlers Office for the Year ending 31st March 1902. J. K. Waebueton, Controller/and Auditor-General, examined. (No. 1.) 1. The Chairman.] Will you explain to the Committee, Mr. Warburton, the objections you raised in regard to this paper ?—The first objection raised was that the whole receipts and expenditure of the Management Account of the Government Advances to Settlers Office were not shown as provided by subsection (2) of section 50 of the Government Advances to Settlers Act. That objection appears to have been a good one, according to an opinion of the Solicitor-General which I See here, but which I did not see before I saw the printed papers. 2. You agree there? —It appears that we agree there, from what is stated here to be the opinion of the Solicitor-General; and I think the Government Advances to Settlers Office also agree on that point.