No.
419.
Hongkong.
C. C.
43646 473
Goverment House,
02 OCT C
Hongkong, 18th. September, 1902.
sir,
Admy
I have the honour to acknowledge the re-
29470
ceipt of your Despatch No. 227 of the 31st. July last, stating
that if the Legislature sees fit to make some grant to Mr.
George Mitchell, late Chief Sick Berth Steward in the Royal
Navy, you will be prepared to approve its action.
2.
Before I lay the matter before the Council
I am of opinion that it might be well to make further enquiry
as to the date and manner of the injury to Mr. Mitchell's eye-
sight, as there appears to be no record, either in the Govern-
ment Civil Hospital or in the Naval Hospital, of his having
been treated while in Hongkong for any affection to the eyes
caused by flies or otherwise. The Principal Civil Medical
Officer reports that there is no evidence of his ever having
been in the Goverment Civil Hospital, and the Naval Authori-
ties say that the only occasions on which he was under treat-
ment in their Hospital was when he was under "observation for
plague" and for simple continued fever.
I have the honour to be, sir,
Your most obedient
Humble servant,
Henry, isabe
Governor, &C..
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
myD