ACT
A
Local Defence Commitee, and of course had many and intimate
relations with the Navy and Army, while in 1914, before I
was permitted to return home for service in the war, I was
appointed Marshal of the Prize Court. But in my own depart-
-ment I have many extraneous duties, covered by the "ke:" in
my official title. These embrace those of such posts as Superintenant of Lighthouses and of the Government Magazine;
as Emigration and Customs Officer; and as Superintendant of
the Mercantile Marine Office, which includes the relief and
repatriation of Distressed British Subjects.
A
5. In addition to the above, my statistics of, and
remarks upon the Trade of the Colony are so important and con
-prehensive that they are found of great value locally, form
the substance of the annual Trade reports of all foreign
Consuls, and are utilised all the world over. The U. S.
Consul General, in particular, has made a practise of quoting
me verbatim in his annual trade returns to his Government.
In this connection, I should like to lay emphasis on the fact
that after coming from Hongkong (the largest shipping port in
the world) for duty in the war, I was stationed at St Valery-
sur-Somme as Naval Transport Officer in Charge in 1916-17,
where I was able to more than double the quantity of cargo
landed during the 8 months I remained there, and that on my
departure to another port the quantities immediately declined.
This I was enabled to do by my knowledge of shipping matters,
persistence