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Cadet, having withdrawn his application for the post, I consider Mr. Gordon Stafford Northcote has the strongest claim to the appointment of Assistant Postmaster General.
2.
As, however, I have not sufficient knowledge of Mr. Northcote's abilities to justify me in recommending him for an appointment which might involve his taking charge of the Post Office during the absence or on leave (or otherwise) of the Postmaster General, I have appointed him to act as Assistant Postmaster General on two months' probation, at the expiration of which period I shall make a recommendation to Your Lordship as to the permanent appointment.
Mr. Sercombe Smith, whose temporary appointment as Acting Assistant Postmaster General was reported in Mr. Fleming's despatch No. 284 of the ...