33
odd hours with him. As a matter of fact my appointment as
Police Magistrate never lapsed as in September 1892 I was
appointed Registrar of the Supreme Court, on the condition
that my service as Police Magistrate would not count for
pension unless I passed by September 1893. Of course the
Colonial Office was unaware of the duties of the Registrar
or it would have been known that I would have no time to
study Chinese. My reasons are set out in my letter of
October 9th. 1893 to the Secretary of State, (a copy attach
-ed). See also a letter from E. J. Ackroyd Acting Puisne
*
Judge dated June 26th. 1885 to the Acting Colonial
Secretary in which he states inter alias " I beg to report
"for the information of His Excellency the Officer
#
administrating the Government what I have already
"mentioned to His Excellency the Governor viz: that as
"long as Mr. Wise retains the office of Acting Registrar
"it is impossible for him to attend to any Chinese studies.
"I found when holding that Office that all the time I could
possibly spare for or devote to work was taken up by the
#
'duties of the Office". I was also told to study Chinese
at home with Professor Douglas. He however only spoke
Mandarin. However with great trouble I found an English
Missionary and spent a considerable time during six months
of my leave in trying to learn the colloquial, but as my
teacher admitted and as every one who knows anything about
it, knows, it is a farce to suppose that one can learn
colloquial in London.
4. I returned to HongKong in March 1893 and in due
course went up for my examination and failed, though I had
spent my odd hours with a teacher. My past service was then
cancelled, but after several applications, supported I
believe by the Governor, I was deprived of half of my service viz: about 44, and was told by the Secretary of
State that this decision would not be reconsidered.
(2)
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