194
*
3.
amplification of my telegram of yes-
terday and of the remarks made by Mr.Ormsby who views with dismay the prospect of losing an officer of Mr.Crook's' ex- ceptional ability and experience, I beg leave to submit that it is undoubtly in the interests of this Colony that Mr.Crook
should remain here.
4. Mr.Crook was appointed in 1891 as an
Assistant Engineer for the new. sewerage works in the water
. and Drainage Department,. a second: Assistant Engineer Mr.Quill
in the same. Department having charge, under Mr.Cooper the
head of the Department, of the Water Works.
On the resignation of Mr. Quill in 1893
Mr.Crook took, charge. of the Water Works in the City" of "Victoria. in addition to the charge of the Sewerage system, and remained in charge under the Director of Public Works
till 1898 when he went on leave.
Mr.Gibbs then took charge of the Water
Works, and Mr.Drury did the same by the Sewerage System.
On his return from leave in 1899 Mr. Crook took charge of the water works Mr.Drury continuing in r charge of the Sewerage System till he went on leave recently
when Mr.Crook again: took charge of both branches of the work.
5. It will thus be seen that Mr.Crook is at
I present time in charge of both the Water Works and Sewerage
System, and as there is no officer in the Public Works Depart- ment at the present time who has the requisite knowledge of the special work in all its important and complicated details to enable him to take. over the work at once, and as moreover
there is no officer who can be spared to learn the work under Mr. Crook before his departure, the only solution of the
difficulty