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Mr. Gibbons. Though forwarded by Captain Ommanney on the 27th of February, 1880, to Hong Kong, for my information, the agreement and bond signed by Mr. Gibbons, Secretary, were put away by the Colonial Secretary in the Audit Office without having been shown to the Chief Justice, or to me; and I was not aware of their being there until, on receipt of Mr. Thomson's complaint, they were put before me in December.
5. I agree with the Chief Justice in his letter of the 29th of December that the Bond, as drawn, does not expressly extend to suretyship for duly accounting, as Official Administrator or Official Assignee or as Official Trustee, or in respect of other Offices held by Mr. Gibbons, for monies larger in amount than those held by him as Registrar.
6. I trust it may be possible to provide an adequate safeguard with respect to the important liabilities referred to by Sir John Smale in any bond that may be drawn up for Mr. Gibbons' successor.
I have the honour to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's Most Obedient Humble Servant,