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granted, but the increase of 35 per cent. must be based on $1,920, which has been the fixed permanent pay of each of these officers since 1875 and not on $2,160. This will bring the future fixed salary to $2,592, instead of to $2,916, as voted on the Estimates.
The two present holders of these posts may continue to draw their personal allowances of $720 and $960 respectively in addition to the above salary of $2,592.
4. Fifth Clerk in the Treasury.-In my Despatch No. 225 of 10th October last, I approved the reduction in pay of Mr. FREIRE from $1,320 to $1,080 and his transference from the Audit Office to the Treasury, but added that he might nevertheless receive the 20 per cent. increase to be given to other clerks. This would bring his salary from $1,080 to $1,296 and pending further explanation I am only prepared to sanction $1,296 instead of $1,440, the amount placed on the Estimates.
No. 438.
5. Surveyor General's Department.-As regards the Memorial of Mr. C. Enclosure 12 in Despatch MALSCH, I have to refer you to my despatch No. 279 of 26th November, to which I have nothing to add.
As regards the (so-called) First Clerk in this Department, Mr. M. GUTIERREZ, I concur in the view expressed in your despatch No. 5 of 14th January, that he has no claim to be treated as though he held the same post as the First Clerk of the Department in 1875, who had to perform additional duties since transferred to the Land Department. But I think that if the pay proper of his post be regarded as raised from $1,440 to $1,728, he has a claim to retain as a personal allowance the $480 which he has drawn for some years over and above the said $1,440. This will give him altogether $2,208 instead of $1,920.
The Second and Third Clerks in this Department appear on the other hand to have been awarded too much, for if Mr. M. GUTIERREZ is to be regarded as holding the post which in 1875 was styled Second Clerk, then the (present) Second and Third Clerks are holding the posts of the Third and Fourth Clerks in 1875, and the salaries proper of their offices should in that case be raised 20 per cent. above $1,080 and $900 respectively, i.e. to $1,296 and $1,080 instead of to $1,440 and $1,296.
I am disposed to think also that the Fourth Clerk who was only appointed in 1889 should not receive the full 20 per cent. increase, but you may use your discretion whether to leave this as it stands on the Estimates or to assign a smaller increase.
6. No report appears to have yet been sent home regarding the organization of the new Water and Drainage Department. Pending the receipt of such report I suspend giving final sanction to the proposed salaries in this Department.
7. Post Office.-I do not find any explanation of so large an increase as 33 per cent. (instead of 20 per cent.) being given to the Compradore at this Office. As at present advised I only sanction the smaller increase.
8. Registrar General's Department.-I see no sufficient reason for departing from the decision given in paragraph 4 of my despatch No. 203 of 20th September last, that the Registrar General is entitled to have his salary increased 35 per cent. above $5,040, i.e., to $6,804 instead of $6,000.
9. I consider that, as suggested in paragraph 11 (a) of the despatch under acknowledgment, the First Clerk in this Department should be treated as favour- ably as the Second Clerk. The pay proper of the First Clerk may therefore be raised to $2,592 (35 per cent. above the 1875 rate) but Mr. OSMUND should in that case only retain $120 of his personal allowance, that amount having been given to him personally in 1889 for length of service; and the pay of the other office held by him, namely, that of Deputy Registrar of Marriages may also be raised, say 20 per cent., from $240 to $288 which would bring up his total emoluments to $3,000 instead of $2,904.