(Copy) F.11576.
HARBOUR
Sir,
DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG, 20th September, 1895.
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter F.No.7791, dated 12th August, 1895, in reply to my letter No.56, dated 10th June last, reporting my having engaged a Shroff at $15 a month for the collection and payment of Board of Trade monies.
2. I trust the Board will see fit to reconsider their decision as to disallowing this man's wages as I have already had the honour to point out, large amounts of spurious coins are in circulation, I personally am not an expert in these matters, neither have I the time to go about and collect Compradore's Orders and Cheques.
3. Although the departmental shroff has been in the habit of collecting the monies, not being secured for Board of Trade Funds he could not be compelled to make good losses incurred for the Board of Trade.
4. I would respectfully point out that the Colony from its own revenues relieves all Seamen in Hong Kong registered ships, therefore, to farther make it accountable for an expert to guard against losses in Board of Trade monies seems very hard
1