[Page 145]
place. Other steps were taken to recover large sums of money which were owing by merchants, planters and others to the late Administration, with the result that on the transfer of the Administration to Colonel Pethebridge, I was able to hand over to him, the sum of 698,558 marks, 46 pfennigs.
I also forward herewith, reports and statements in connection with the Administration's Stores Dept. at Rabaul and the Inter-Island shipping, as well as certificate by the Auditor as to the correctness of the accounts of that Department.
The Stores Department was presided over by Lieut. Keith Heritage, who was trained with the Union Steam Navigation Company, and whose services, I was fortunately able to procure. Like Captain Fry, the Treasurer, Lieut. Heritage has worked most assiduously, night and day, to achieve success, and I cannot speak too highly of the loyal support and assistance rendered to me at all times, by these two officers.
In accordance with your approval, I am sending Captain Fry to Melbourne, and he will take all these statements and reports with him, and I am quite sure the detailed explanation he will be able to offer in connection with both Treasury and Stores Accounts, will be of great assistance to the Commonwealth Treasury Officials, and enable them to understand the magnitude of the work that had to be performed, and the difficulties which I, as Administrator was faced with.
[William Holmes]
Colonel
late Administrator.