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very considerable exertion, extending far beyond the ordinary Office hours.
To carry on this work systematically, and prevent it from getting into arrears absorbed the whole of my time; and it was therefore only Sundays that I was able to give much time to anything connected with the Despatches. Had you taken the whole of that work into your hands, as formerly.
Even now, however much remains to be done, the collection and classification of former papers in connection with the daily work is far from what it should be. There should be someone who has time to read and arrange the documents, and, when necessary, précis them. All this was often painfully evident to me that local work must inevitably have got into arrears.
With regards to the routine work of registration, copying, I think the staff is adequate, more especially since the division of the registration was made at the commencement of this year by placing it under the charge of two clerks, instead of confining it to one. It would have been bright to have done had it been possible to do it; and for many months, I have been of opinion that, whatever designation may be given to him, some body who will be virtually Assistant Colonial Secretary is needed. In a few years, there will be a sufficient number...