No. 23
The Legislative Council, on the 29th of February last,
passed a resolution to request my predecessor to separate the
duties of the Auditor of Public Accounts from those of the
Colonial Secretary.
2. After due consideration I came to the conclusion that it
would be well to carry out the desire of the Legislative Council,
and I have, as a experiment, appointed
Mr Robert Ker, Acting
Auditor
Auditor General of the Colony for one year from
4th June 1864.
3. The expense entailed on the Colony by this experiment is
only one hundred pounds (£100).
Mr Ker held the permanent appointment
of Chief Clerk in the Audit Office under the Colonial Secretary
on a Salary of Four hundred pounds (£400). I have, temporarily,
raised it to Five hundred pounds (£500).
4. I am happy to say that
Mr Ker performs, as the head of a
Department, the duties of his Office very satisfactorily, and
I think it not improbable that I shall have to recommend to you,
and
and to the Legislative Council, a continuance of the present arrangement.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I think that this separation of the Offices of Col:
Secy
& Auditor
shd be sanctioned. The combination was made
in the first instance from motives of convenience & economy.
The Col:
Secy will now have his hands pretty well occupied.
I conclude that
Govr Kennedy's arrangement, reported in
6970, was only temporary.
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