Minute for Mr. Batkin.

It appears that £24,000 was paid at the request of the Comptroller into the Public Trust Fund after the Public Revenues Act was passed. How was this amount made up?

Has this sum or any portion of it been paid out? If so, state under what authority.

Are you aware whether any requisition was sent from the Treasury to the Comptroller for the sum of £6,031 18s. 9d. Dunedin Disputed Reserves?

Reply by Mr. Batkin.

The sum of £24,431 2s. 2d, referred to by the Committee was made up as follows:—

Out of this amount the sum of £6,031 18s. 9d. was withdrawn from deposit and paid into the Public Account on the 3rd September, 1867. The Public Revenues Act was passed on the 10th October; only the balance, therefore, of the amount first mentioned was paid into the Public Trust Fund after the passing of the Act. This balance, amounting to £18,399 3s. 5d., was withdrawn from deposit and paid into the Public Trust Fund on the 3rd January, 1868.

The sum of £6,031 18s. 9d. was paid out of the Public Account on the 24th September, 1867. The authority quoted on the voucher for this payment refers to the written direction of the Colonial Treasurer. Other sums comprised in the amount referred to (£24,431 2s. 2d.) have been paid out since that date, but it would take some time to prepare an exact statement of them.

A requisition for the sum of £6,031 18s. 9d. was made on the Comptroller when the amount was originally withdrawn from the Public Account for investment. I have also seen a requisition, prepared page 160in January or February, to cover issues of money from the Public Account prior to the 31st December, in which this sum was included, but was disallowed by the Comptroller. I am not aware, whether any other requisition for this sum was made on the Comptroller, this branch of the Treasury business not being in my charge