4
83
and
verbally reported the matter to The Honorable The Acting Colonial Secretary. From directions received during the day, I permitted Mr. Prior and "Ng a Thing" to pay Messrs. Lammert, Altman & Co., and allowed them to return to their havens.
The following morning, I was surprised by Mr. Smith, the Senior of Trickett & Co., coming to me and representing that he had not received payment, that the Chinese signature Voucher was that of his Shroff, and that he had signed it at the request of Ng a Thing, who at the same time gave him an order upon the Magistracy Shroff (See enclosed Paper 1) with directions to present it on the 4th April. The Shroff had mentioned to Mr. Smith that he had received this Order, and Mr. Smith, considering this Order as equivalent to receipt of the money, had without much reflection, signed the Voucher for the Firm.
On reaching him, a rumor, however, on the morning of the 2nd April, he had come to me without delay. I expressed my surprise that he had signed showing the regularity of Government monetary matter.
This new matter necessitated...