all labour by Government employees, except such as was absolutely necessary and unavoidable. I am unable to find, however, that instructions in the nature referred to were issued. Nothing actually more seems to have been done in the matter until Sir William Des Vœux addressed Your Lordship on the 13th of August, 1889, to which Your Lordship replied in your despatch of the 24th of October N.210 to Straits last.
I have thought it well to mention the above facts in a Confidential despatch, inasmuch as I considered the actual questions asked in Your Lordship's Circular despatch of the 31st of July could be better replied to without entering into the details I have stated XCR(85)72
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