CO129-278 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1897 [11-12] — Page 39

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convinced that his locum tenens endeavoured to raise difficulties unnecessarily. He states that it was unnecessary for Mr. Plummer to call attention to the absence of correspondence, which Dr. Doberck had clearly explained to him he must take away with him; but with regard to this, the Committee can well believe that Mr. Plummer had no idea that the fact of correspondence having been taken to England by the Director would have been regarded by Government as of any great importance. He may have simply intended to refer to it in explanation of certain facts, and have been as surprised as Dr. Doberck to find it charged against the Director as a grave offence. We may mention that Dr. Doberck states that as the correspondence with other observatories, &c., and departmental correspondence with the Government are bound together in books, it was impossible to take part and leave part. For the future, a better system will be adopted.

In further support of C and also in support of D, Dr. Doberck refers (a) to a report made by Mr. Plummer against Miss Doberck with reference to the temporary disappearance of a book; (b) to the fact that Mr. Plummer presented typhoon reports as the result of his own instead of Mr. Figg's labour; and (c) to the following letter, which Dr. Doberck considers insulting to Mr. Figg (in view of the fact that meteorology is the forte of that gentleman and not of Mr. Plummer) and which we consider impertinent towards Dr. Doberck.