Government House.
24 September 1906
My Lord,
I have the honour to inform your Lordship that Sir Henry Spencer BerkeleyKC, has attained the age of 55 on the 6th September last, requested on the 5th instant to allow him to retire at once on the pension due to his service. He proposes to practise privately at the bar in this Colony and stated that he would be willing to act as Attorney General on half pay, after his retirement, pending the appointment of his successor.
2. As it did not seem advisable to me that the work of the Attorney General, which normally occupies the whole of one man's time, should be combined with private practice, if such an arrangement could be avoided, I am appointing Mr. Meighan, Puisne Judge, to act as Attorney General, Mr. G. H. Kemp, at present acting as First Magistrate, to act as Puisne Judge, and Mr. Haselwood, Senior Police Magistrate, to act as Police Magistrate. Mr. C. Bellingham, First Clerk in the Magistracy, to act as Senior Police Magistrate.
3. Mr. Seccombe Smith, who for the last 14 months has served with much ability as Colonial Secretary, and whose former appointment is that of Assistant Colonial Secretary, has asked me to bring his name before your Lordship for consideration in connection with the filling of the vacancy in the office of Attorney General. Mr. Smith's qualifications for a legal post were communicated to Mr. Lyttelton in my Confidential Despatch of 10th December 1904,4 to which I beg to refer your Lordship. To what I then said, I can now add from my intimate personal acquaintance with the applicant that he possesses great energy and decision of character and combines with general ability a good knowledge of law, which by constant study he keeps well up to date.
4. I am aware that the post of Attorney General is not one of those crowned ... to Civil Service, but as Senior posts reserved for this Colony have unavoidably been filled from outside, it would be appreciable if on this occasion of a competent officer being available in the service, the post of Attorney General could be given to him.
5. Should, however, your Lordship not see fit to give effect to this recommendation, I trust that it will be found possible to select a practising barrister of good standing in England to take charge of the office of Attorney General.
6. I shall be obliged if your Lordship's decision in the matter can be communicated to me by telegram.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
Matthew Nathan,
Governor.
The Right Honourable
The Earl of Elgin K.G.
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Government House.
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9 October 1906
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My ord
I have the honour to inform your dotship this Sir Henry Spencer AcckeyK*KC, hasuis tracked the age of 55 on the 6th Septembn last, requested the ou the 5th instant to allow him to retire af once ou au pension due to his service. He proposito pradice privately al tu bar in this Colony and stala thaa hi would be withing to act no Atiomcy Quest où half pay, after kis tehiemcut, pouding the offeintimans of his vacupor.
2. As it did not seen advisable to me thus the cook of the Attorney Genual which normally occupio la whole of one man's tumm2 should be combuted witų, private pradice, if vush al arrangement would be avoided, I am sppointing M'AQW6s, Puism, fudge, to act as Ativiney Genual, A'AHAJ. Gomperty, at prised acting as First Magistute, to act as fuithe fidge A 7. A Hazeland, Scions Poliu. Majis hats, & ad a Pint Police Vraqisheli «ACBMelling First Clerk as the Magishery to set an
Steous Polie Maqishatz.
3. MT. Scrconde Shritt who for the laid 14 mouths has Sawvað moił ofilinithy Glonial Sceridary, and whose formanŝut appointmend is that
ui lui appori timent
of Aret Poliu Maqio hate has aokis me to plan his hame befor your doctohip for couneduction of
in connection with the filling of the vacancy in an office of Attorney Genual. It Smith's qualifications for a legal post cour communicated to Mlhyttelton in my Contidulial Despatch tan 10th December 1904, 4 which I beg to refer your Lordship. To what I then O4, 5 said I can now ado from my inteniste porsónul aquanitance with the applicant that
no poprses great suurgy and decision of character and comburice with qeneral ability
for members
A good Knowhöge of law which by constant study he keeps weh up to date.
4. Jam aware that the port of Altonicy Genual is not one of those crowd
tu Caser Civil Sewicɛ but as Sconet pork & reserved us this Coloury have unavoidably been filled from outcidé, il coould be appreciaba ly that sowice 4 I'm Alioma Qinhals hip on Ctus occasion of a competent officer bang available
wo the
given
& c.
5. Should however your dirbhip no su fit te qive offed to this icommisidations I trust thus it wil he found popible to seled a practicity barrister of good standung
in England to take change of
uituoka t il Aliorney Gunel .
vny múprtant interests of this Colony and are
6. ↓ shah be obtigo &f you dinalafír decision in the matin can be Communicho to me by telepeph,
The Rigas Honor
The Earl of Elgin K.9.
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V havithi honom libe
My dad
Your douchip's mous obetimd
humble suco au
Whatten.
Govoure
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