CO129-368 - Acting Governor May - 1910 [8-9] — Page 438

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Enclosure 1.

RECE REGI OCT 10

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Hon. Colonial Secretary,

On the 4th. instant, Mr. Tooker reported

to me that Overseer Morris was absent from duty without leave

and that he had not seen him since Saturday morning (30th.

July. I sent for Morris to come and see me on the following

márning, without fail.

He only came to see me yesterday morning

(9th. instant) and, in response to my enquiries, in which I

indicated that he had been drinking, he denied that he had

been indulging in liquor and stated that he had received such

bad news from home that it quite unhinged him and he had simply

been wandering about the Colony in an aimless fashion, though

in full possession of his senses.

In Mr. Tooker's report of the 4th. instant,

he stated that he had been informed that Morris had been seen in

the Engineers' Institute and in the Hongkong Hotel the worse

for liquor. Mr. Tooker states that ho had to speak to Morris

once on a previous occasion about his having been drinking but

it was out of office hours.

There is nothing on record against Morris. I may mention that I received a letter from his father in March last complaining that he had had no news of his son since

September last and enquiring whether he was still in this

Department, &c. On speaking to Morris about it, ho gave me to

understand that he was not on terms of friendship with his

father but he had kept up a correspondence with a sister.

I do not recommend dismissal as this is the

first xxx offence, but Morris should be severely reprimanded.

(Sd.) W. Chatham,

$2

10th. August, 1910.

D. P. W.