CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9] — Page 465

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462

Botanical and Afforestation Department,

Hongkong, 13th. September, 1902 C.

September,

43644

Sir,

DeeD

- 02 OCT Co

Mr. Ford, the Superintendent of this Department having left for home on the 6th. ultimo, on four months' vacation leave with the intention of retiring at the end of that time, I have the honour respectfully to request that Ris Excellency the Governor will be pleased to recommend me to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the post which will thus become vacant.

I received my education at the Merchant Ventur- er's (formerly Trade and Mining) School, Bristol, where the late Mr. Just, father of Mr. H.... 1.. Just, C. M. G., of the Colonial Office, was at that time one of the Masters.

I hold 13 Certificates from the Science and Art Department, South Kensington, for various subjects, including Botany, Chemistry and Drawing.

In 1888, I entered the Royal Gardens, Kew, and after a stay of nearly three years, I was appointed on the recom- mendation of the Director, Sir William T.. Thiselton-Dyer, to the post of Assistant Superintendent of this Department, a post which I still hold,

Mr. J.. 3.. Baker, F. R. S., Keeper of the Herbarium, was one of the Lecturers on Botany at Kew, the Lecturer under whom Dr. J.. M.. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer, studied the same subject.

From the date of my arrival nearly 11 years ago, (December 1891) to the present time I have been Acting Superinten- dent of the Department on no less than five occasions:-

In 1893 for 3 months.

The Honourable

In 1894 for 4 months.

In 1897 for 8 months.

In 1900 01 for 18 months.

In 1903 from 7th. August.

It will thus be seen that I have been in charge

of the Department for one-quarter of the time that I have been here, and in every case without any. European assistance.

In 1897 on relinquishing my acting appointment, His Excellency Sir William Robinson in C.S.0. No. 644/1897 stated that I had carried on the work of the Department in a very satis-

-factory

F.. H.. May, C. M. G., Colonial Secretary..