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of every day distant colony like this, for instance, the Colonial Secretaryship has been in the hands of acting officers for nearer three years. The text is referring to the removal of Mr. Treagh in a way connected with the Police occurrence in a Department which was not consulted on the matter.
5. In the same paragraph it is stated that either Mr. Treagh or myself have almost invariably been absent from the Department during the last few years. I have above referred to the case of Mr. Creagh. As for myself, reference to the records will show that in the twelve and a half years that have elapsed since my return from sick leave (dysentery) in October 1870, I have only had eight months leave on half pay, one month of which was the result of shipwreck. Neither as a matter of fact have I taken nearly as much vacation leave as the regulations of the service would entitle me to.
6. Further allusion is made to Mr. Creagh and myself being on leave at the same time (four months in 1882). Reference to official papers will show that...