The Deputy Registrar General should succeed the Registrar General as Registrar General.
M. Osmund should be coach assistant registrar general as suggested and M. Osmund should take the 3rd place.
More or less it has been expected that the good place in the Registrar General's office should be filled by a cadet: the department is an office department and it is very important that the next man to the Registrar General should be a man with an English education and a member of the covenanted service.
On the other hand, I am rather sorry to take the place away from the cadets. I would modify the salary not given to M. Innes more than $2400, which is the amount which the Assistant Postmaster receives and which is $526 less than $3240 recommended by the Governor.
M. Northcote, the second clerk, was recommended confidentially by Sir J. Hennessy for the post of Registrar General, but he has no claims for special consideration, and M. Osmund is evidently considered as entitled to the promotion. He has had facia and is a good Chinese linguist.
I must allow M. Osmund to draw the same salary as M. Gerrard draws, viz $2400.
The present state of the offices of the Registrar General's department is:
Name Post Pay M. Stewart Registrar General $5040 M. Gerrard Deputy Registrar General $2480 M. Northcote 1st Clerk/2nd Clerk $1920 M. Osmund Registration Clerk $1440 To... $240, $480, $1440Page XX
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