CO129-148 - Public Offices & Others - 1870 — Page 606

was under the

of the Postmaster General, and during that time there was no complaint whatever

or vise management, either Official or otherwise

"On the 17th April last, at Yokohama, I received Mr. Mitchell's letter of the 5th of The same mouth, no 745, informing me the His Excellency the Governor necessity of removing me from my post, in obedience to which I

handed over duly the chaye of that Office to my successor.

During my three years manage= =ment of the Yokohama Post-Office, only

by one complaint was made on the.

the Public, and in this instance, the hart of explanation cendered by me to the Postmaster

stated General of Homplong was Officially to be perfectly satisfactory.

May I nove very respectfully call your Lordship's attention to the circumstances two in number, which have led to my removal from my appointment?

(1.). Loss of

h of letters stated to have beew posted at the Yokohama Office,

(2.). The native

of

The explanation given to account for the above loss.

Respecting the loss of

letters, I venture to submit that no proof whatever exists which could connect that loss with the Office at Motohama, and I may mention that when these complaints were made, I was not permitted to obliterate the stamps

f

605

stamps w pow letters posted at my Office intended to be despatched by a British Contract Packets. I will further venture to mention, my Lord, that I had permissing to obliterate Stamps on letters despatched The French Mail Steamers; that in

by

no single instance was any complaint

case,

made as to the now arrival of these letters at their destination. In the latter

the bags were sealed up by me, and not opened till they reached Londow : in the former, they were opened

rened twice besivee Apokohama and London. It litterise happens that when similar complaints were

made at

Shanghae of the loss of letters previous to the obliteration

7 Stamps at that Office, the complaints ceased on permission to obliterate being granted. I cannot but hope that when Your Lordship takes these circumstanced into your

You

is a

consideration,

will be inclined to think there

strong presumption in my favour that the loss of

letters complained of

did not occur at

my Office.

(2.). Respecting the nature of the explanation fiven for the loss before Mentioned, I ask leave to say, my Lord, that the construction put. upon it by the General Boot- Office