CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911 — Page 205

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12.

In consequence of the death of Mr Botelho, who was

the last of the old bands, I was left with nobody in the clerical

branch upon whom I could rely for efficiency and loyalty. Mr Chan

Pui, who had been sent to me because he was deficient in knowledge

of English,I could not recommend for promotion to 1st Clerk, be-

-cause of this, and because of indications he had shown of want of

loyalty. The head of no other Department would consent to part

with any of their best clerks, and, as all these were of the Cadet

class, they were upheld, and I had to suggest arrangements less

favourable to my Department. Under these circumstances, the best

I was able to do was to recommend the appointment, as 1st Clerk, of

Mr Mc Iver, Junk Inspector, whose special knowledge of native craft,

and of the Chinese language, rendered him peculiarly suitable for

the charge of the Junk Office, which, being of necessity manned by

Chinese, and dealing exclusively with Chinese, requires constant

and close superintendance; while of his integrity, loyalty, and

devotion to duty, there was no question. Unfortunately, he had no

clerical attainments. Besides this, I managed to get a young and

inexperienced English Clerk from the Colonial Secretary's Office,

whose youth, inexperience, and impulsiveness, are all sgainst him,

but I was satisfied of his honesty of purpose and diligence. This

Officer, Mr Lenfestey, I placed in charge of that branch of the

Department which deals principally with Europeans, while Mr Chan Pui

continued in charge of the accountant and correspondence branch, but

without that supervision and control heretofore exercised over hin

by