Executive Council
on
the 30th
Ultimo, and also statement of Mr Smale's Colonial service-leave already enjoyed, - and leave still grantable.
The enclosed Certificate exhibits all these particulars fully- and it results from thence that the almost leave grantable to Mr Smale from commencement of his service, viz. April 1861, would have been January ... Year been 17 months, and that he has already had 16 months 20 days, leaving 8 months still grantable.
I have, however, by advice of the Legal Council given him 6 months' leave from the 14th Instant, a date fixed finally after much correspondence.
Therefore, the leave now given him exceeds, - strictly speaking, by one month, that which the Governor in Council empowered to grant.
Nevertheless, the serious character of Mr Smale's illness, shown by the within Medical Certificate of the Acting Colonial Surgeon, seemed to require that indulgence to enable him to have time for obtaining suitable medical advice in Europe.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's Most Obedient Humble Servant,
Arthur Edward
Governor Graves Macdonnell