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The only two other officers of the Court are the Interpreter for the Indian Languages and Messenger. Both are good men of ordinary intelligence, and have hitherto given me no ground for complaint or pretext for censure.

I beg now to speak of the Jail of Rivière du Rempart, and of its officers :-

Mr. Gates -The Keeper of the Jail, Mr. Gates, cannot be spoken too highly of. He is an excellent and praiseworthy officer, who has grown grey in the service of Her Majesty ; and I am very happy to add my testimony of his worth to the excellent character given to him by each succeeding magistrate of the district.

The duties of Mr. Gates are numerous. He has the prisoners to watch over and to take care of; all the prison accounts to prepare; the hospital to supervise; and, in a word, all the details of the administration of the jail to look after.

He is aided by two uneducated men, one called the Assistant Jailer, the other an Indian constable, both good men, but who can do little else save to keep ward over the prisoners.

Having exhausted the list of the public servants immediately connected with the Court and Jail of this district, I beg, &c."

(Signed)

JULES L. COLIN.

No. 8.-District Magistrate's Office, Souillac, Savanne.

[By Chas. Telfair, Esq.]

I have the honour of reporting that-1st. The District Clerk, Mr. Smith, is a man able to perform the duties entrusted to him if he chose; but self-sufficient, rude, negligent, and afflicted with such a fearfully bad temper, that I never address him save on matters connected with the service, and even then as briefly as possible.

It is much to be regretted that such a man was ever allowed to enter Government service, and still more so that he was ever promoted.

2. That Mr. La Roche, Assistant District Clerk, though regular in the discharge of

his duty, is, as far as intellect is concerned, far below mediocrity.

3. Mr. H. Reme, Clerk, attached to the Stipendiary Magistracy, is a valuable public servant. He would make a good District Clerk, for he is not only intelligent, but has a good memory and methodical office habits.

District Court, 4. Mr. Englebright, the Interpreter, is by far the best attached to any and is by birth and education an acquisition to Government. Were a vacancy to occur before the Supreme Court, he would be well able to fill it, for he speaks the following languages: English, Hindostanee, Teeloogoo, Tamal, and Orice. Mr. Englebright is the only Interpreter in the island who understands this last language.

:

(Signed) CHAS. R. Telfair,

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greatly obliged to him. I should be failing in my duty did I not plainly tell your Excel- fency what I think and know of Mr. Bolton. I have to render homage to the ability shown by Mr. Bolton in the management of the business of his office, which, notwith- standing the inadequate assistance allowed him, is probably one of the best kept offices of the kind in the colony.

Mr. Byrnes is, I consider, a steady, trustworthy, well-meaning young man, hard- working and attentive to his duties, but he is not bright, and works slowly. He would make an excellent Civil Status Clerk, for which post, I believe, he originally came into this district. His very slowness would then be almost an advantage, as adapting him for the mechanical work of keeping registers of births, deaths, and marriages, at which, I think, the slow but sure will prove to be the best hand. But Mr. Byrne is, at present at least, wholly incompetent to fulfil the duties of the first Assistant Clerk, who should be able. when wanted, to take the place of the District Clerk in all the duties of the office. I must explain that the Civil Status branch of the Clerk's duties, being independent of the District Court, it is advisable, where the Civil Status business is of sufficient consequence, in order to prevent confusion, that the District Clerk should have an Assistant Clerk entirely at his disposal for the Civil Status work. That is a very responsible post, and ought not to be entrusted to too young a man.

I have to express myself very satisfied with Mr. Byrne's conduct.

Mr. Dumée is a quick intelligent lad, said to be eighteen years of age, but who does not look more than fifteen or sixteen. He seems to be attentive and to give satisfaction, but I cannot say much of him from my own knowledge, as he is the Civil Status Clerk, and has done little or nothing for me. I think it a pity that this youth should be employed as he now is. He is learning nothing. Employed at the other work of the office he would soon make himself useful, and would have an opportunity of exercising his abilities: Besides, he is much too young to be trusted with the books of the Civil Status. His age would also prevent him from making an exchange of work with Mr. Byrne, were he other- wise qualified. He could not sit in Court or sign papers in the absence of District Clerks.

I should wish to see a little more punctuality in the attendance of the Clerks at office in the morning. I think the District Clerk is the person to blame, for not keeping up the discipline of his office. The time at which the Clerks arrive is 10 o'clock, sometimes half- past, or later; whereas, it ought to be 9. This makes a considerable difference in the day's work.

It is very true that these gentlemen sometimes remain late at office. I have much pleasure in expressing my entire satisfaction of Mr. Chinniah Naidoo's interpreting. My predecessor spoke to me most favourably of him, and he has my good opinion. I have also the pleasure of reporting that I have had every reason to be satisfied with the Ushers Rollo and Assarassin, who have always shown themselves particularly attentive to my orders.

(Signed) W. G. BAKER,

Acting District Magistrate, Pamplemousses.

District Magistrate.

No. 9.--District Magistrate's Office, PamplemouSSES.

[By W. Baker, Esq.]

The Staff of the District Clerk's Office consisted of :—Mr. W. D. Bolton, District Clerk; Mr. Byrnes, Second Assistant Clerk, since appointed to the vacant first Assistant Clerkship; Mr. Dumée, Supernumerary, since appointed second Assistant Clerk.

Besides which persons there were attached to the Court, one Indian Interpreter, Chinnish Naidoo; two ushers, Rollo and Assarapin; and one messenger.

diversity of useful Mr. Bolton I consider to be a clever, shrewd man, possessing a information. He is industrious and hard-working, and would be a very valuable public servant but for his propensity to gossip, mix himself up with other people's concerns and make mischief: owing to this propensity, I do not think it safe to entrust him with the knowledge of anything that I would not wish to be published at the first opportunity; and so far from being able to rely upon him for any assistance, beyond what he is obliged to give in the ordinary exercise of his duties, I am continually on my guard against being purposely led into error by him. In order to obtain possession of secrets, and learn any- thing to talk about, Mr. Bolton is not particular as to the means he employs, but will have recourse to the most ungentlemanly practices. It would seam that Mr. Bolton does not confine his inquisitiveness to what passes in my chambers, but extends it to the Colonial Office, whence he certainly manages to obtain much information. He has frequently boasted to me of knowing things that he ought not to have known, and on the occasion of my sending in remarks upon the increase of salary questions, Mr. Bolton, who doubtless felt interested in the matter, went to town, and, as he said at least, read my remarks. My predecessor in office cautioned me against Mr. Bolton, for which I feel

• I have made careful inquiry into this statement, but have not yet traced the source of the alleged information of Mr. Bolton. I have, however, my suspicious, and the suspected party has been directed to be carefully watched.-W. 8.

No. 10. Stipendiary Magistrate's Office, Mahébourg.

[By J. D. De Charmoy.]

1. The District Clerk, Mr. G. D. Mac Millan, acts as Clerk to the Magistrate, is

in charge of the Records of the Court, of all civil deposits and Government moneys, &c., and he is besides the officer of the Civil Status for the district.

I have always found Mr. G. D. Mac Millan regular and steady, honest and intelli- gent. I believe him quite fit for his numerous and important duties, but, at the same time, having not made a longer trial of him, I cannot pretend to say whether he has superior qualifications for other duties.

2. The Assistant District Clerk, Mr. Edwin Palmer, replaces the Clerk during his absences from sickness or other motives, and helps the Clerk in all his divers duties.

Mr. Edwin Palmer is a steady and honest young man, as far as I am able to judge. He can manage, under a practical District Clerk, to discharge pretty satisfactorily his duties, but I believe that he is qualified for no higher duties.

3. Mr. John Cannon is the Interpreter of the Court, for the Hindustanee and Tamal languages. He also interprets for the Indians, when they bring either civil suits or crimi- nal plaints. He further helps, as a volunteer, authorised by Governmont, the District Clerk in his numerous duties.

Mr. Cannon has intelligence enough to fill a higher situation; but I have not known him long enough to speak of his morality.

4. Amode Noura, messenger to the Court, was steady and quiet. He has been trans-、 ferred to the district of Plaines Wilhema, and is replaced by Cassien, whom I find to be still more steady, quiet, and sober.

There are three public servants attached to the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court, and

a volunteer of about three year's standing:

1. Mr. Rock Charles Bultié, junior, who is Clerk to the Magistrate, who copies out the weekly reports of cases, receiving and entering all complaints and summonses, &c.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

TILTIC.O. 882

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