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intelligent class of Chinamen on account of insufficiency of pay. I had to sacrifice my No.2 Office boy (No.1 is acting as shroff in the Registration Office) and send him down to Hong-Kong as a stamper last Mail. In order to retain the services of these two men on the sea line I earnestly beg you will see your way to recommend them for a higher rate of salary. Since the wreck of the "Sobraon", when a stamper was proceeding to Hongkong, there has been a decided hesitation on the part of the Chinese to take up the post of Marine Stampers.
Whilst on the subject of the Chinese Staff, I beg leave to be allowed to bring before you the following facts:- Out of ten postmen only one has two year's service; another one year's service, and the remainder under one year. Changes are frequent and the materials obtainable at the wages offered by the Government are utterly unsatisfactory, being of the coolie class. You can imagine therefore the difficulties I have to contend with in endeavouring to have correct deliveries effected with a constantly new and inexperienced staff.
The Chinese Post Office absorbs all the good materials that offer on account of their grades of remuneration being higher than ours: commencing at $9 rising to $15 per month; ours at $8, $9 and $10 without prospects of increment until vacancies occur.
The Compradore has 36 years' service and earns only $35 per month. He is in office always from early morn to late in the afternoon and supervises all the postmen, seeing that deliveries are promptly sent out, helps to write up in Chinese town correspondence, and is the medium for transmission of instructions to the postmen as none of the latter can speak English.