It is with regard to these that I regret to find, if I may say so with respect, that Your Excellency has been misled by Mr. Seth's over-elaboration of his duties. They may be summarised as follows: he has duties as Registrar, which are divided into magisterial and ministerial duties, among the latter are the routine duties of the office. Some of the former are regulated by Ordinance. He has also certain other offices imposing on him other duties which he cumulates with his duties as Registrar. With these I have nothing to do; nor have I ever contended that I have; it is therefore entirely beside the question for him to refer to them. He is not given them as Registrar; but the legislature has decided that for the convenience of the Government the holder of the office of Registrar is to perform the duties of these other offices. Other instances occur in this Colony where this is done. The late Mr. Johnston once acted as Postmaster-General and Treasurer. If the Postmaster-General were under the control of the Postmaster-General of England, it would hardly be contended that he was not, as Treasurer, under the orders of the Governor.
This remark applies to (e) (f) and (g) of Mr. Seth's list: administration of estates of deceased persons,
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