It appears that Mr. Creagh would, in the ordinary course of affairs, have returned to the Colony in April 1882. But he was allowed an extension of leave for four months. This fact was not known to me until leave to take effect in April had been granted. Entirely placing on one side the facts, locally well known, as to the necessity of engaging passages in the spring long beforehand and of the possible forfeiture of one half the passage money, and also placing on one side the consideration of the fact that Mr. Creagh's duties had for so many years been discharged by other officers, so that there was no moral nor official necessity for recognising him as a factor in my application for leave, more especially as I had done nothing in asking that my leave should commence about the time he was then expected to return. I am content entirely to base the justification of my applying for leave on the medical papers attached. The ailment is, judging from the date of its commencement, probably...