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failed in time to put forward and urge his claim, I can only
put down to his ignorance of his position or the expectation
that continuous service under Government certainly led in the
end to a permanent engagement.
2. To go back to Mr. Boulton's first employment under
Government; I find that in February, 1888, Mr. Price, then
Surveyor General, engaged him to make preliminary surveys for
the projected Praya Reclamation Works on a salary of $300 a month
the dollar being then worth 5/- see C.S.O. 503/1888.
Some months after the completion of these surveys,
on Mr. Price's recommendation Mr. Boulton was offered and accepted a salary of $400 a month with quarters and travelling expenses in Formosa in connection with Railway works projected there.
These works for reasons well known came to nothing, and
Mr. Boulton returned to Hong Kong, in consequence of a letter
received offering him employment on the Praya Reclamation Works.
On arrival in Hong Kong Mr. Boulton learned that the salary of
this appointment was fixed at $250 a month or $50 less than he
had previously received, but the prospects of permanency seeming
better he accepted it, (see C.S.O.837/1889.)
3.