Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-15 00:00:00

RAILWAYS

The Law Clerk reported - that the bridges of two con-
templated railways would cross the Wavertree-road. There
was noilling in the arches that would obstruct the road
ways, but it was agreed; in one instance, to represent that
the arch should be made wider than stated in the report
—25 feet.
THE AUDITORS REPORT.-ABSCONDING OF THE CLERK.

The report of Mr. Rees' the auditor, was read, and it
stated that he (Mr. Rees) felt it his duty to state, thafhe
found a great descrepancy in the accounts—a deficiency
of £l,BOO, was found on the whole, but he (the auditor)
did not point out who was in fault, for not having-the
accounts properly arranged. He found that there waslho
cash-book, and he had warned the board in July. 1857 of
the fact, and yet he still found the fame thing this year,
so that he could not audit the accounts. The whole had
been put into the hands of an able accountant, but were
not finally arranged. This was the substance of the
auditor's report.
Mr. Picton said, Mr. Birnie, the clerk and
collector, seemed to have gone away and left
the board over £4OO in debt. (Hear, hear.) The
chairman did not think the ratepayers would suffer by
that—(hear, hear)—for it was not a hopeless case, and
with the exception of the £4OO, there was no other
deficiency. (llear,lear.)
_

• - -
Mr. Pie cton thought the language of the auditor strong
as regarded the board, as he seemed to have stated that
he had warned the board in July, 1857. He inquired
for the report of Mr. Rees in '57, but it was stated that
no such report was recorded on the minutes of the
board.

Several members said they did not remember the
circumstance. The minutes of the above date were then
read, but there was no record of the auditor's - alleged
report.
Mr. Picton said, all the members of the board were in
ignorance of the report alluded to. Not one member of
that board was made aware of the facts until a week or
two ago, although it seemed Mr. Rees had sent remon-
strances to the proper officer of the board, according to
Mr. Rees' own statement. _ _

Mr. Rishton said the only accounts he knew of that
were brought before the finance committee on any occa-
sion, were the monthly bills in the usual way. He never
heard of the report before now.
The Chairman said, it came on the entire board with
great surprise, at the last meeting, when Mr. Bernie
informed them that there was no cash book kept in the
office.

In reply to Mr. Halhead,
The Law Clerk said, two members of the board and
the law-clerk should sign cheques when drawn.
The Chairman said, they had got security for the
greater part of the amount, and he believed ultimately,
that there would not be any loss to the ratepayers.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Rishton said, he remembered Mr. Rees holding
that board up as a model of perfection, compared with
all the other boards he had to deal with—how could
that be when there was no cash-book kept ?
Mr. Picton wished it to go to the public, that up to
the very last moment the hoard know nothing of the
matter. The moment that it was communicated to them,
they took instant proceedings on the whole affair. (Hear,
hear.)
The Chairman said it was right to let it go to the
public, that when Mr. Birnie might have gone off with
a hundred pound in his pocket, and the check-book, he
did not do so, but inclosed them to him--(hear, hear)—
that was some redeeming quality in the transaction.
The subject then dropped,. by the Chairman again say-
ing, so far as could be seen at present, the ratepayers
would not be at any loss.