CO129-356 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [4-6] — Page 543

1

C O P Y.

Hon. P. M. G.,

-ing explanation.

Enclosure 1.

Jone

شيه

C.O.

24940

529

RECR Rec926 JUL 09)

As directed I beg leave to offer the follow-

I received two keys from the Launch Officer

on the 24th. September to whom they were given to hand to me

but with no instructions or information. There were two safes,

one containing stamps (the second key of which was kept by the

Compradors), the other containing Postal Orders and a small

cash box with money but with nothing to show to what it related.

This safe also contained private papers of Mr. Johnston, which,

on his death, I handed over to Major Jones, R.A.M.C., his

brother-in-law, after satisfying myself that they were not

official.

I subsequently learned that Shipmasters'

gratuities were paid out of the monies in the cash box, but of

what the total sum should have consisted I had no knowledge. I

therefore took it for granted that it would be found correct.

I handed the keys over to you in the same manner on the 23rd.

November and no check was then made.

I understood also that from this money Mr

Johnston had advanced certain monies to meet claims for com-

-pensation and that some vouchers were found in it, and that in

another instance a repayment was recovered but that no voucher

was to be found.

[

Knowing that I was only holding the office

for at the most a few weeks I sincerely regret now that I

followed the usual custom obtaining here of taking over without

a complete check having been made by me or asking that the

Local Auditor should be directed to make a thorough survey under

the circumstances of the death of Mr. Johnston. It is usual

elsewhere so far as I remember for the latter to be done by the

Government where an Officer dies without application from the

temporary holder of the post.

(Sa.) E. Cornewall Lewis.

16.6.09.