Offices have been filled. I will only add - that, after so long a connection with the service of this Colony; and after discharging a large number of those extra duties which constantly present themselves, there are few Departments of the Government with which
I am not more or less acquainted.
I sincerely trust I shall not be.
Office (now kept in the Post Office (held by me conjointly with the Treasury) all the rest of my service. The work is interesting, but it is excessively hard for any but a man in the prime of life.
Thirteen years of it have broken down my predecessor, a much stronger man than I have ever been. During the last eleven years my work in the Post Office has averaged nine hours a day, and spells of twelve and thirteen hours continuous labour are of frequent occurrence. The steamer traffic of this port, as you know, never slacks.
Sundays and holidays make no difference, night hardly interposes a spell, whilst the heavy mails from and for Europe arrive at any hour whatever.
All this entails an incessant watchfulness and constant personal supervision which sometimes becomes most wearing both to body and mind. Whilst always willing to give my best energies to the public service, I must feel grateful for any prospect of a less harassing post as I grow older.
I feel the severe strain of the Post Office telling more upon me each successive year. I should like to hope that what I may perhaps venture to call a not unsuccessful administration of the Post Office will not be regarded as a reason for keeping me in it for the rest of my life.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most Obedient Servant,
A. Lister,
Treasurer.