CO129-203 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [10] — Page 328

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Upon Mr. ALEXANDER's death an arrangement was made with HUFFAM by which, until Mr. ALEXANDER's successor was appointed, HUFFAM was to become Acting Re- gistrar performing the duties of Official Assignee and Official Administrator at $4,800

per annum.

Mr. PLUNKET came to take up the appointment in 1877. It was arranged that he was to get a salary of $4,800 per annum and to perform the duties of Official Assignee and Official Administrator, accounting to the Government for the fees. Nothing, I believe, was arranged with him with regard to the Registrarship of Companies or the appointment of Official Trustee.

After the arrival of Mr. PLUNKET, he was, I believe, appointed Official Trustee, and HUFFAM Registrar of Companies.

Up to the time of Mr. ALEXANDER's decease, he or the Acting Registrar for the time being or the Official Assignee, under Ordinance 15 of 1867, took the fees which were considerable. After Mr. ALEXANDER's death the fees were paid into the Treasury. The work then instead of being personal to the Officer who appropriated the fees became to some extent departmental. Mr. PLUNKET could not be expected to work after office hours in attending to Bankrupt and Intestate accounts as both Mr. ALEXANDER and HUFFAM had done. He was no Accountant and he had to get assistance which for some time he paid for out of his own pocket. A good deal of the work also came into the hands of HUFFAM who had to assist Mr. PLUNKET not only in his duties as Registrar of the Supreme Court but in his duties as Official Assignee and Official Administrator, and Mr. SANGSTER who had up to that time attended almost solely to the requirements of the Summary Court in much the same manner as the Deputy Registrar at Singapore to whom Lord KIMBERLEY refers had to be brought forward to assist both the Registrar and Deputy Registrar in the performance of their

duties.

He The Registrar's income was very much reduced after Mr. ALEXANDER's death. got an increase of $960 in his salary as Registrar, but the salary of the Official Trustee amounting to the same sum was withdrawn, and he received the fees of the Office pending the decision of the Government as to what the salary should be.

From 1877 the Registrar received as salary,

Average amount of fees as Official Trustee during 5 years

ending December, 1881,.

.$4,800.00

176.12

$4,976.12

and he paid into the Treasury amounts which the Registrar had previously received.

Average fees of Official Administrator and Official Trustee during 5 years,

.$1,049.81

and average of interest on Registrar's Balances from 1878,

354.20

$1,404.01