684658-1880-Duties-of-the-Officers-of-the-Sup-Court-Correspondence- — Page 6

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 28TH AUGUST, 1880.

647

of the matter with regard to Mr. ALEXANDER, for whom I always had great respect, though, perhaps, not much personal liking. With respect to a man who is dead and unable to defend himself, some of the evidence I would rather should not have appeared in that paper. Now, with regard to the audit, there was originally an audit by the Auditor General, but Mr. RENNIE cut us off and told us we were to audit our own accounts. I found that out just before I left for home, when Mr. HUFFAM told me that Mr. RENNIE had said so. I quite agree with all the recommendations by the Commis- sioners. I cannot say I do concur in all their findings, because that is a matter as to which I have not had sufficient information, but from No. 1 to 13, I don't dissent from anything. They say they are my views, only rather modified. The moment I saw this letter I thought the time had come to make a very respectful application to His Excellency to carry out the views expressed. The way in which His Excellency has met that request certainly calls for my very warmest thanks, because now I do feel that, with the order His Excellency has given, we shall be able to carry out the proper management of the business, and it will be between the auditor and the officers if there is the slightest error in the accounts. I remember telling Mr. PLUNKET when he came here that four times my present salary would not induce me to become Registrar. I would lose the situation within six months certain. I am not an accountant; it is no part of my education to be an accountant. Judge, it has been said, is not called on to know that two and two do not make five. His Excellency has stated in the letter that whatever is now done shall be provisional and experimental only, so that if in the working out of this matter anything is found to go wrong, we shall be able to work without any vested rights or interest created until we come to a very clear understanding of how these things are to be done.-His Honour then went into the details of the new arrangement, only taking exception to the new regulation as to the shroff, who, he thought, was wanted in the Summary Jurisdiction Court.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, BT., M.P., SECRETARY FOR THE COLONIES, TO GOVERNOR J. POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G.

HONGKONG. No. 141.

DOWNING STREET,

30th October, 1879.

A

SIR, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 72 of the 30th May forwarding the report of the Coinmission on the offices of the Supreme Court.

2. I request that you will convey my thanks to Messrs. JACKSON and WOTTON, the Commissioners who have signed this practical and valuable report, for the labour they have bestowed upon the subject, and for the assistance which they have thereby afforded me.

3. I concur in the general principle of their recommendations, on most of which I do not consider it to be necessary to make any remarks; but there are various matters supplementary to their report upon which I have to request that I may receive detailed information. For instance, I am unable to gather from your despatch and enclosures, the actual amount of the salaries now drawn by Mr. BARFF, Mr. SANGSTER and Mr. Mossop, or the number of officials who would form the Staff of the Court.

4. I should have been glad to have received from you some report on the probable financial results of carrying out the recommendations of the Commission, and while conveying my sanction for the continuance of the provisional scheme which you have adopted, until I am in a position to form a definite opinion upon the whole question, I request that I may without delay be informed of its cost, as indicated by a comparative statement showing the numbers and emoluments of the officers of the Supreme Court under the former system, and under the organization proposed by the Commissioners, including all ushers, bailiffs, and other minor officials.

5. The recommendations of the Commission on this head were doubtless framed under the im- pression that Mr. PLUNKET would continue to hold the office of Registrar.

He has, however, been transferred to the Magistracy, and it is my intention to select for the post an English Solicitor with a good professional knowledge of bankruptcy and mercantile business and acquainted with book-keeping, or some gentleman possessing similar qualifications.

6. It appears to me that with a competent head to the office so qualified, it will not be necessary to have so large a staff of superior officers as that suggested, viz.:-a Registrar, Accountant, and two Deputy Registrars; and I propose that the Staff should only consist of the Registrar and two Deputy Registrars,

one of whom should make the accounts of the Court and the Bankruptcy and intestacy valuations and similar matters his special business, though he should be ready to take up such other duties as he may be called upon to perform; while the second should be in lieu of the present Clerk of the Court. The functions of Registrar of Companies would be discharged by the Registrar without special pay

and as part of his ordinary work. The duties hitherto performed by the Appraiser would be discharged by one of the Deputy Registrars, the fees going to the Treasury, and this work being taken into consideration in fixing the salaries of these officers.

7. It has been suggested that if the Staff were increased to Registrar, Accountant and two Deputy Registrars, the duties of the Sheriff might form part of the work of the Registry, and this plan would, no doubt, have the advantage of concentration; but I do not feel able to sanction the increased expense which it would entail, for I cannot think that the work of the Department is such as to find constant occupation for these four principal officers.