502
3. That the memorialist was acting Colonial Secretary of Ceylon when the Oriental Banking Corporation failed, and during the critical period which followed (as well as during his tenure of office in the preceding year) he had in addition to the duties of that office to perform those of the Principal Assistant Secretary - no other officers being available for the latter post - and for a time those of the second Assistant also. The posts of Colonial Secretary, and Principal Assistant, are admittedly the hardest worked offices in the Ceylon service, and they have never been filled simultaneously by any one except the memorialist. As to the manner in which he discharged the double (and for a time triple) duties, the Memorialist would venture to refer Your Lordship to the then Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon.
4. That owing to the strain of this overwork the memorialist's health suffered materially, and he was compelled to take leave which extended over three years, and he was subsequently again invalided on sick leave in 1889.
5. That partly in consequence of this and partly in view of other considerations, with which he does not desire to trouble Your Lordship beyond stating that they are connected with expectations of course promotion which have not been realised, he accepted the post of Chief Secretary of Cyprus in 1891, and at the beginning of 1892 that of Colonial Secretary of Hongkong, which he at present holds.
6. That he regrets to find, after a year and a half, that experience of over a year has shown him that the climate of Hongkong disagrees so seriously with him as to make it impossible for him to discharge his duties.
The work of the Colonial Secretary...