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I asked that ↑ might receive the same consideration as had been accorded to the Assistant Registrar General when the latter was appointed in 1896 to act as Police Magistrate, "viz" that I might have my pay made up to $450 a month, as was his from surplus salary voted, until half pay was available, but it was not granted.
6. I venture to make this personal explanation showing the reasons for the repeated applications I have recently made for a transfer.
Having regard to the large number of military officers in the Colonial service, and the positions occupied by many of them, I can hardly think that my former naval service militates against me.
My varied services in the last twenty (20) years indicates, I venture to submit, the wider training of His Majesty's Navy, whilst my professional qualifications have been of use to Colonial Governments - as at St. Lucia when, in the absence of the Harbour Master with the dredger, I was required to act as Harbour Master and Pilot. Also, when in 1896 I was called on to combine the offices of Acting Harbour Master and Captain Superintendent of Police.
Nor, unless in view of my former profession, I venture to submit, would the Provisional Plague Committee in 1894 have asked the Government for my services to bury the dead, except that I was qualified professionally.