At present would have been judicious; the very strained personal relations between these two gentlemen making it undesirable to bring them into closer contact than absolutely necessary. When discord prevails between officers in positions, it is the interests of the Public Service that suffer.
5. I acted during the absence of Dr Ayres, devoted a portion of my time to the Public Service, and that it is expressly understood the Colonial Surgeon's whole attention shall not now occupy my duties. Dr Wharry, Health Officer of the Port, states that when I was appointed, it was understood that I would devote a portion of my time to the Public Service. In explanation of this allegation, I ought to point out that being established in this Colony in private practice of my own, I could not of course have abandoned my own business either to assist Dr Adam or to obtain a holiday, and that my time is of course to be divided between my own practice and the official duties which, to serve two friends at different times, I have consented temporarily to undertake. But as Dr Ayres and Dr Adams also are both in the enjoyment of private practice, and also divide their time between the latter and their official work, I fail to see how the interest of the Service is to suffer during my temporary charge.
6. There is no truth in the statement that Dr Wharry has to advise and instruct me in the duties I am undertaking for Dr Ayres. As Inspecting Officer, I have to require of him certain official information, which it is his bounden duty to afford as to forms of procedure and other details.
7. In conclusion, I can only assure His Excellency the Administrator that difficult as my task may be, rendered by Dr Wharry's infirmities...