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he should be appointed a District Officer.
It would probably
be best to give him a few months training in Hongkong, after
which he should be capable of discharging minor duties in
Weihaiwei, while studying for his examinations.
Another Cadet should be appointed three years
hence by which time the first should have passed his examinations and be able to replace one of the temporary
District Officers.
Such an arrangement will provide for the
future but it will of course be some years before it is in
working order, during which time the present hand-to-mouth procedure will have to be continued.
I am afraid that this proposal will be
regarded as extravagant but unless it or something like it is adopted I cannot see how the administration is to be
carried on satisfactorily or with any degree of continuity.
61.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
I think that it is very desirable to appoint
a technical officer to take charge of Public Works; if the developments to which I refer later are undertaken it will
be unavoidable.
The appointment need not, I think, be objected to on the ground of expense as it will probably cost in the end not much more than the present system of borrowing officers from Hongkong to advise on special questions, such as water-supply and harbour works. There would, I believe, be no difficulty in arranging with Hongkong for the loan of a series of Assistant Engineers, each man staying in
Weihaiwei for a year or two.
62.
FORESTRY.
I have already referred to the desirability
Possibly an
of appointing a trained Forest Officer. officer could be found who had some knowledge of entomology: if not, the appointment of an Entomologist would also be
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