CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11] — Page 95

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he has no time left him for the proper carrying on of his own

work; and as a natural consequence no time to assist me when 1

need him. I have had sometimes greatly to my inconvenience and

annoyance, to send for Mr. Seth from the Chief Justice's

Chambers, when his presence has been absolutely necessary in my

office, or I have myself been obliged to go into Court and

consult him about his own work. Is this as it should be ? and

how much longer is this irregularity to be allowed ? The Chief

Justice's Clerk is Mr. Xavier, and not Mr. Seth, and doubtless

some of the unavoidable delays in the Registry might never have

occurred, if Mr. Xavier had attended the Chief Justice instead

of Mr. Seth. The two other clerks Messrs. Almada e Castro and

Suffiad having special work of their own, I do not mention them.

At present I really have no Deputy, because Mr. Xavier's time

is confined principally to the accounts, while the greater part

of the time, Mr. Seth is engaged with the Chief Justice. I can

therefore very easily understand the well deserved tribute paid

by the Chief Justice to my valued Deputy in paragraph 10 of his

letter.

17.

The superintendence of the work under the

circumstances is as efficiently exercised as can be, and I say

so without fear of contradiction and I call upon His Honour the

Chief Justice to prove the contrary. My whole time since my

arrival in the Colony has been devoted to the good and to the

very best interests of the public and the service. The present

thoroughly efficient state of my office, notwithstanding the

adverse criticisms of the Chief Justice at this stage, disproves

the statement that I do not exercise sufficient supervision.

If he had a charge to make why did he not make it a separate

one long ago, instead of waiting till I had informed him of my

intention of applying for leave to enjoy a well-deserved rest ?

His