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Question discussed as to whether the suK.W . i . could entertain. 3 one w hich the Committee -The question was postponed. rhe Colonial Treasurer attended to give evidenrp Ho r, i .i sal?CoJikl th »" b ? ,h « ,„d answered by in J * "» • - 2 ' < Up ° n showln ? y° ur statement of account to Dr. Knight he was of sr. a. a w win'° "r. in c "" y "' s for "*"'»*'»«».?■ ™«s as a liabilitv > A Th /Z State y ) ° ur I . r fISOnS1 SOnS for « m 7 in g the same forward as a liability . A—This fund might be liable to be repaid. Parties might not get the land. The payments are merely provisional. A" Q -An< ? if dl T d become available would it not belong to the revenue of the future year? A-It would belong to the revenue of thf period when the transaction was closed. For instance, until I am able to remove it out of the deposit account the New Zealand Company's portion cannot be ascertained : and, aSi,,™ VSuperior"" 1 " li " >lette d "«" md >h »" 4. Q-Then you do not consider this money available for services of the past period ? A—No 5. Q-Is it available for current transactions ? A—l should not consider so as an accountant. 6. Q—lf. for instance, you were to spend all this on the purchase of Native lands would not the Company's quarter and the subsequent charges be unprovided for ? A—They would. r 7- Q Have you any objection to allow the Committee to see your books ' A—None whatever. 8. 1 suppose the details of accounts are kept by the Auditor-General > A—They are. 9. Do you bring the accounts finally into your book s ? A—Not hitherto. But 1 consider it ought to be done. 10 Q—Do you correspond with the Audit-Board at home? A—l do ;it forms an onerous part of the duties of the office. The mechanical labour is considerable. 11. Q —Are queries addressed to you from home ? A—Yes. Within the last six months I have had to reply to queries of ten and twelve years standing, relating principally to matters in the Southern Provinces. The Chairman then read to the Committee a paper, drawn out by himself, on the subject of the distribution of the Revenues of the Colony as arranged by' the Constitution Act, and a discussion ensued on the subject. A statement (marked C) was received from the Colonial Treasurer, of the payments made by him into the Commissariat Chest at Auckland on account of the New Zealand Company's Debt, from May 22nd, 1854, to the 18th of August, 1855, inclusively. The Committee then adjourned till Wednesday, August 22nd at 10 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22nd, 1855. Present : — Messrs. Travers Messrs. Hart Crompton Brawn Macky Forsaith Mr. Sewell—Chairman. Minutes of the Committee read and confirmed. Moved by the Chairman—That the Committee do now proceed to fix the rules according to which they wish to have the public accounts stated. Motion adopted.