64
that the work the Registrar-General had to do cannot be
measured by the number of ships carrying repatriated
Chinese back to South China. The Registrar-General had to
attend to the remittances sent from coolies in South
Africa to their families and friends in China, and had
also to forward monies and effects of coolies deceased in
South Africa to their next of kin in South China.
The work involved occupied the
Registrar-General daily. The allocation of allowances was
made by Sir Matthew Nathan, and the late Captain BarnES-
{
-Lawrence, who was Harbour Master and Faigration Officer
at the time, did not demur to the Governor's decision.
4.
The explanation of the fact
1
(alluded to in paragraph 9) that the Registrar-General waS
allowed to draw half a month's allowance after the 31st. of
March, is that the Agents for the line of steamers running
to Durban applied for instructions as to what was to be
done with a party of 106 repatriated coolies who were at
sea when the decision to discontinue the employment of
the Registrar-General was arrived at. The Agents did not
know how to deal with the men and the Registrar-General
was instructed to make the necessary arrangements for
sending them back to their native places, and to draw
half