!
240
Officer in the same district. He has by this means acquired
a thorough knowledge of the Northern District and its
Gov
43211
Gov $23211
oy
oy
inhabitants, and his energy and knowledge of Chinese have
given him a personal popularity among the Elders which is
most useful in the administration of the land law.
3.
Accordingly in my Despatch of the
8th. November, 1907, I recommended Mr. Ross for the subs-
1
-tantive appointment of Assistant Land Officer in the
Northern District of the New Territories which will be
rendered vacant by the promotion of Mr. C. McI. Messer to
the post of Head of the Sanitary Department. These pro-
-motions were approved by Lord Elgin in his telegram of
the 14th. of last December, but cannot take effect until
the Public Health and Buildings Amendment Ordinance has
been passed by the Legislative Council. The Bill was
introduced into Council and read a first time on March
5th., and it was read a second time on April 30th., but
at the request of the Unofficial Members of Council I have
postponed the Committee stage until the 28th. instant.
In the meantime I have appointed
Mr. Messer to act as Secretary of the Sanitary Board in
order that he may become familiar with the work of the
Department and since the 2nd. ultimo he has been drawing
full