CO129-185 - Acting Governor Marsh Governor Hennessy - 1879 [6-12] — Page 643

641

direction.

Year 1858

the

I have been now in the Colonial Secretary's Department in another bolony since the ļ and have served under seven different Governors or administrators. I entered the Department as Chief blerk and consequently have had considerable : experience of the duties. It has been always pradice as far my experience goes.

not only for the Colonial Secretary but also for the Assistant Colonial decretary to minute papers passing | through their hands, and it has been distinctly considered to be part of their duty to do so. It

is evident that it can

be

of

no use

for

the

on

Colonial Secretary to minute his opinion papers after the Governor has given his decision and such a proceeding might be looked upon

as an

improper criticism of the Governor's decision: hot only do I consider it to be the duty of the Colonial Secretary to record observations that he may have

them to the

any

to make on papers, in forwarding Governor, but I fully believe that the Secretary of State for the Colonies expects the Colonial Secretary

to do this.

If this be not the case may I respectfully are the duties that

ask Your Excellency what the Colonial Secretary has to perform? He will

if your minute is carried out have little more

embodying

the

to do than to

letters

sign Lovernors instructions and that could easily be

done by the Chief blerk.

I have endeavoured since I have been in this Colony to give.

as much assistance as is in

my power to the Governor by minuting on papers a reference to what has been done on previous occasions; to precedents in analagous cases; or to the law or

regulations

the subject; together

with an

on

opinion as to how far they bear on- the case in point, with the view of pulling all the facts before the Governor in order that he might have the

means of forming

+ an

opinion and I giving directions at once:

If I have not done so in more cases it is because

such a large number of official papers belonging

to

my Department have been sent to Governm t