CO129-126 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [11-12] — Page 161

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Pyx Pieces.

37.-I deny, both here and in my declaration, ever having said anything of the kind.

38.-I respectfully submit that Mr. Kinder has completely failed to establish both his ac- cusations of untruthfulness, that I have cir- cumstantially proved that he did offer me, the imputation on my honesty, which he denies, and that Mr. Kinder has no grounds for saying that I asserted he had ordered me not to enter the Pyx Pieces.

39.-During the period of my service in the Royal Mint, London, no complaint was ever made against me, and I was rapidly promoted. Shortly before I lef. that service to proceed to Hongkong, the master of the Royal Mint offered me another office, which would have brought me into close and constant relations with himself- the most emphatic testimony he could give to his belief that I did not display in any way au insubordinate spirit. During the whole period of my service in Hongkong I have been repre- sented as habitually obstructive and insubordi-

nate.

40-For nearly two years while performing the duties of my office at the Mint, I have en- dured a state of seige, I have been teased, bar- rasted, and insulted in every possible way,

1 have been continously on my guard against heing betrayed into anything that looked like disrespect or insubordination.

When I have done anything, however slight, that would give colour to such an accusation, that accusation has instantly been hurried be. fore His Excellency. There has been no op- portunity to settle the matter amicably--to apo logise, to make amends, to explain-the instant that it could be done the acensation has been made; the worst possible construction has been put upon what I have done, and every opportu nity to exaggerate it has been taken. Another Mint officer. Mr. F. M. Allen, is notoriously and habitually insubordinate and obstructive (I say nothing that I cannot with a fitting opportuni. ty, prove). Mr. Kinder has told me many times that it seemed to be only necessary that Mr. Allen should do something, for Mr. Allen to obstinately refuse to do it. At the beginning of this present month, Mr. Kinder ordered Mr. Allen, day after day, to make un certain ac- counts, and day after day, Mr. Allen filed to do so.

At last Mr. Kinder bronght them him. self, and told me that he had "had words with Captain Allen," and that Mr. Allen had said he would resign. Since Mr. Kinder made his present acongations against me. I heard him give Mr. Allen an order which Mr. Allen flatly refused to obey. Ithen heard Mr. Kinder try to persuade Mr. Allen to obey his order. but Mr. Allen only displayed his temper, and went away. Eventually the order was obeyed. I do not know by whom. Thus one officer, who has had many years experience of his work. is continually being reported upon slight grounds. for offences more apparent than real, while another, who never had any experience of his work till he came to Hongkong, is invariably excused.

41. Mr. Kinder dislikes me. and Mr. Allen bates me.

Mr. Allen has immense influence over Mr. Kinder. Neither makes any secret of his dislike, neither assigns any reason for it. I have never assailed them in any way.

42.-I respectfully and earnestly beg to re- present that the circumstances to which I have directed attention in the last three paragraphs call for some further explanation than has yet been made, and that, added to the misrepreson. tations which have been inade to support the charges now brought against me, they indicate the presence of some other reason for Mr. Kinder's repeated accusations against me than a desire to maintain discipline. I now direct attention to the 15th clause of my declaration. and earnestly appeal to His Excellency to cause a strict inquiry to he made.

I have the honour to be, Sir.

Your most obedient servant. (Signed) C. LANGDON DAVIES,

Superintendent of the Bullion Office.

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