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139
was at the same time decided to introduce the modern practice of
dinting the amount of rate payable, on the Demand and Receipt Notes
his system being found to secure greater accuracy as well as being a
check on fraud.
REGISTRATION.
At the Revision Court for the year 1898, on the accounts of the
Overseers being presented to the Revising Barrister (Mr. Michael
Moloney), he objected to the charges made therein of £60 for the
services of the Vestry Clerk and of £36 15s. for clerical assistance
rendered by the clerks in the office, on the ground that these amounts
were not to be paid to the persons whose names they were set against,
but were ultimately to be transferred to the Vestry's account, the Vestry
Clerk and clerks being paid inclusive salaries to cover the work of
Eegistration. He therefore struck the amounts out of the account, and
they will not be received by the Vestry.
AUDIT OF COLLECTORS' ACCOUNTS.
The serious irregularities which occurred in connection with the
accounts of the Collector of Ward 1, who was removed by the Vestry
from his office, were on the Audit of the Overseers' accounts for the half
year ending 29th September, 1898, commented upon by the District
Auditor, who expressed the opinion that the counterfoils of the Overseers
Receipt Books should be frequently compared with the Bank Pass
Books and the Collectors Paying-in-Books. After giving very careful
consideration to the suggestion, the Overseers were of opinion that a
weekly Audit of the counterfoils of the Collectors Receipt Books should
be made, and it was felt that the best method of having this work
carried out was to employ Professional Auditors, which would secure a
more independent audit than appointing an extra clerk for the purpose.
The General Rate Accounts are audited from time to time on behalf of
the Vestry, by Messrs. Hart Brothers, Tibbetts & Co., and after ascertaining
that that firm would undertake the Audit of the Poor Rate
Accounts weekly, at the sum of thirty guineas per annum, the Overseers
on the 6th February, 1899, agreed to employ them for this purpose.