CO129-299 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [5-6] — Page 241

I's

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including 4 years local experience,

6.

My position is rather a peculiar one, and

had better be set forth here.

7.

Although I believe my appointment dates

anterior to that of any other engineering officer in the

Public Service of the Colony, I am given to understand (0.0.D.

251 of 1899) that I am only employed from month to month,

during the pleasure of the Government.

8.

I joined the Government Service in the

expectation of a permanent appointment, and the position

of affairs at the time of my appointment was such as to

warrant such an expectation.

9. The engineering staff at that time, con-

sisted of Mr.F.A.Cooper, and Mr.0.0.Malsh. Mr.R.F.Drury was

then a hanger-on, having just come out from an Engineering

School, on the chance of obtaining a situation.

10.

It was understood that the engineering

staff was to be strengthened, and that the scale of pay was

to be increased, to compensate, to some extent, for the compara-

tive increase in the cost of living, due to the fall in

Exchange from par to 5/-.

11.