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mate knowledge" of him (Mr Irving) did not refer to social intercourse, but to the knowledge which a very senior officer and one who had acted as Colonial Secretary for considerable periods must necessarily have of other heads of departments.
Mr Thomson gave me, as I desired, his general in- pression and it coincided with your own. I do not propose to ask Mr Thonson for an "explanation of the grounds" on which he based it. It was a con- fidential communication made to me, at my request and in no way a public statement. These personal opinions of the two senior officers in the Civil Service of course carried weight, but (as I stated in some minute) it was the public advantage which was the predominating factor, in the decision to appoint Mr Hallifax as Police Magistrate. Extensive altera- tions in the Educational System, probably including a revision of the Grant Code, were in view. They had been held over at great inconvenience to the public service to enable Mr Irving to take urgent leave. It was already arranged that immediately on his return a Committee on the subject should be formed, and he would probably be Chairman of it. His presence on it was essential and if appointed Police Magistrate he could not serve on it. Mar Hallifax on the other hand could be spared, there was an officer fully qualified to replace him in the New Territories. Practically no inconvenience to the public service would be felt by his acting as Police Magistrate and as he had only recently returned from leave in England, there was much less hardship in recalling him that in recalling Mr Irving it was after considering all those points,- and not Mr Thon- son's impressions of Mr Irving's character only that "I decided after some thought" to appoint Mr Hallifax.
In regard to the permanent appointment to 1st Police Magistrate my minutes shew that I considered that at that time Mr Irving had a superior claim to Mr Hallifa: but I considered that Mr Hazeland's claim was supe- rior to both.
In regard to the appointment of Acting Treasurer during Sir Henry May's absence on leave, Mr Messer was not only exceptionally well qualified, but sc far as I am aware was the only officer who could undertake those duties in addition to his own. Mr Irving was away on leave, and even had he been here, he would as I have said above, have been re- quired for the Education Committee.
In my view the duties and requirements of the per- manent posts held by an officer form a paramount claim on his services, and must take precedence of his personal interests. Since Mr Irving ceased to
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