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the erection and repairs of Consular buildings in China and Japan—a duty discharged by the Surveyor General of this Colony who had previously received an Imperial allowance from Her Majesty's Government of £200 annually.
As it did not appear from Mr. Wilson's first communication that it had been completely decided to discontinue that allowance, I let the matter stand over. Mr. Wilson has since transmitted to me a letter of the 3rd instant, copy of a despatch from Sir Rutherford Alcock intimating that his allowance of £200 per annum had ceased since 3rd May, being the date of Major Reeman's taking charge.
The Surveyor General, Mr. Wilson, therefore finds himself thus suddenly deprived of a sixth part of his income, whilst his application for an increase of allowance is refused. He therefore requests that I will remove the restriction hitherto put on his undertaking Private Practice, at least so far as accepting employment as a consulting or Practicing Engineer.
4. I have a very strong objection to conceding this point.
The multifarious duties thrown on the Surveyor General by different local Ordinances—no less than the actual duty of preparing plans and contracts for all Public Works, as well as personally visiting and inspecting all works in progress—appear quite sufficient to occupy
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