M. Merivale. According to the Secretary's Letter of the 19 Febs./460 Conclude that an instruction to this effect will have to be Communicated to the Governor, for the Chief Justice informs me & guidance.
The only doubt I entertain is whether the Chief Justice is entitled to any fees. According to the standing rule in the Civil Service at Hong Kong all public officers are required to pay the fees they may receive into the Treasury, & Mr. Hulme would at first sight appear to come within it. It is to be observed that the fees on account of which he has received payment are tendered under the Admiralty, not under his appointment. He went from India to Hong Kong. M. 20/2/50.
The services he has rendered were not judicial. Has the Audit Office a right to require him to take fees for work done for another department? I can find no special engagement with Hulme on the subject. With so large a salary as Mr. Hulme has, I do not think he ought to realise, in addition, these fees: but I am afraid the former letters shew a recognition on the part of this office that he was receiving them. When he received the Commission, the Holders of the Admiralty were, that if annual Emolument was about £50, the Instrument was to be returned with the Stamp affixed. This apparently implied that he was allowed to receive the fees.
I think therefore the Gov. must be instructed as Mr. Merivale suggests. In itself, it is very unfortunate since nothing can be more improper than that a Judge with so high a salary & much light work should receive fees also for the duties he may perform as Judge of the Admiralty Court, but here to disallow such receipts would be to invalidate objections a recognition that they are received must now be retracted.
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Gov. Bonham C.B.
HM INUITS
24 9087/50.
1850
A
trong động
5 Marchy.
190.
150.
the 4 March 1846
Predecessor's despatch of with reference to my
12
have the honor to transmit to you The copy of the Letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of the to the Secretary of the Office of the Admiralty directing the Registrar of the High Court of Admiralty to transmit to the Office a statement. accompanied by the Trade
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