L
A. 242
creation of several new posts, while other posts have been
omitted. The first new post I have called "Director of the Probate Registry" and have placed it in the second class. It is very important that there should be a Cadet Officer of considerable experience in this office, who would devote his whole time to the work with the aid of an Assistant, who would also be Second Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court. The Government is undoubtedly losing a very large sum every year owing to the constant changes in the officers who supervise the work of Probate. If two Cadet Officers with a sound knowledge of Chinese and some legal ability could go thoroughly into the investigation of Chinese estates it is not improbable that the increased revenue would amount to as
much as half a million dollars a year.
The second new post I have proposed is
that of Superintendent in the Public Works Department in the third class. It is very desirable in my opinion that the
Director of Public Works should have the assistance of an experienced Cadet Officer to conduct the office work of his Department and supervise the accounts, stores and correspond- -ence. The Director and his Assistants would thus be relieved of much unnecessary work which they should not be called upon to perform. This officer would have a technical assistant. The post could be created on the retirement of the present Superintendent of Accounts, Correspondence and Stores, which will take place shortly, and the latter post would be abolish
-ed.
The third new post is that of District Officer, South, in place of the present Assistant District Officer. I am of opinion that this officer should have his headquarters at Cheung Chau (Dumbbell Island) where there is a large Chinese community andduring the summer months a
considerable number of Europeans.
The fourth new post is that of
Assistant