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observations impossible for three months after Dr. Loberck's departure.
Dr. Doberck blames Mr. Plummer for permitting such waste of time in effecting the repairs. Mr. Plummer admits the loss of time but refers to the want of labour caused by the Plague as the reason for it.
(b) During three weeks subsequent to the repairs being completed, the transit clock was out of order and trustworthy observations were impossible.
(c) Subsequently he was peremptorily instructed by Government to carry out the recommendations of the Retrenchment Commission as contained in their report, copy of which was sent to him. One of the recommendations, he informs us, was that "all work not of local interest or of use to the shipping should be discontinued". He did not consider that these observations were of direct use to the Colony and therefore discontinued them.
Unless orders were issued to Mr. Plummer to cease all such work as was not in his opinion of local interest (vide report of the Retrenchment Committee), we fail to see what sufficient reason existed for his discontinuing work which has been regarded as important by Dr. Doberck.
5.
As regards (c) Dr. Doberck declares himself convinced...