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ume
post of Assistant Surveyor General I put the question directly to him and received an assurance to the contrary from that gentleman.
5. Godfrey Bird, His brother however Mr Godfrey Assistant Engineer, who had been principally employed on the works at Kowloon, has thrown up his appointment since, and I have had much difficulty in providing for the discharge of their duties.
6. As I am very anxious therefore to increase the legitimate emoluments of the Surveyor General and his staff when possible, it occurred to me that there is no objection here to the Surveyor General doing as he often does in Australia, viz selling the land offered at Public Auction and receiving the fee of one per cent at present payable to some Public Auctioneer.
7. Accordingly I brought the matter before my Executive Council and I inclose a minute of the proceedings from which Your Grace will perceive that they concurred with me in opinion and also that the Surveyor General should receive the whole of the 1 per cent and not a moiety of it which I was at first inclined to propose.
8. This will probably add on an average $100 to the income of the Surveyor General and replace him nearly in his former position before losing the £200 per annum which he derived from the Foreign Office,