463
was
mu
shown in the address presented to
them on by them
taking my first privileged leave in 1886 which His Excellency
the Administrator Sir W. H.
me he had
harsh kindly informed
account of to the then Secretary
of
State That this duty entails a large amount of day and night work is well shown when I state that besides the fathers and mother I have nearly
150 children under ten years of age to
look after. This concludes the
I have to perform.
1873
duties
when I joined
the
Superintendent of
the
Service I received $2,880 as Lock Hospital Surgeon's pay, $288 for Chair Allowance. I was also allowed private practice and to receive $10 fee for Health certificates granted to Mail Steamers.
In
my predecessor Dr Murray's time
he received $10 for Health Certificates granted to all vessels but on my arrival I found that the Health Officer received
the
fee for every case
except the mail steamers.
In 1885 Government took over
these fees and I was
allowed $200.
In 1888 I was
required to give up my private practice. When this privilege was granted to my predecessor Dr Murray the Government reduced his pay £200 sterling and it was understood that it should be returned should he be required to give up private practice, this regulation was still in force when I joined but when
I resigned my practice I received $840, this is calculating the dollar at 4s. 6d. what it was worth nearly thirty years ago.
In 1888 the average rate of the dollar was 3s. 11½d. and if I had received £200 sterling back it should have amounted to $1280.
Besides this $840 I was, in consideration
of my being compelled to live