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which I was to communicate with the Government, I had been furnished with a Copy of the Commissioner report of May 19th 1879, which shewed clearly that some reform was necessary, and I felt that it would be advisable from time to time to make suggestions to the Government.
Had I been told that the Chief Justice was the proper medium of communication, I should at once, for obvious reasons, have declined the appointment, but the answer was, that the medium of communication was the Colonial Secretary. Accordingly, when I landed in the Colony, I called first on His Excellency the Governor, who received me with distinguished courtesy, then on the Colonial Secretary and then on the Chief Justice, and the reception I met with was such that only the respect I felt for the Office he held prevented me from giving expression to my feelings.
It was manifest by his conduct that the advent afforded him no satisfaction, but having resolved to enter upon my duties and perform them with as little friction as possible, I affected to disregard the discourtesy with which he treated me.
On my taking the Office, every interview I had with the Chief Justice was equally unsatisfactory. The matter culminated towards the end of May. I was then thoroughly wearied out and told him frankly that I could not bear with his treatment any longer, on which he expressed himself...