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your despatch No. 34 of 14th February,) should get $930; the Officer in charge of Gunpowder Depôt should get $1,587, the First Lighthouse Keeper $1,749, and the Second Lighthouse Keeper $1,101; but the Signalman at the Peak and the Gunner at the Gunpowder Depôt and the Third Lighthouse Keeper are entitled to no increase since the improved value of their quarters, estimated as above, covers or more than covers a 20 per cent, rise on their gross emoluments in 1875.

I approve the proposals in your despatch No. 34 that the Indian Interpreter in the Harbour Department should have his salary raised from $420 to $504.

14. Botanical and Afforestation Department.--The salary of the Superintendent in 1875 was $1,392, but to this may be added the $600 granted in 1881 forTM afforestation work, as $1,992 may be regarded as what would have been the salary of the combined posts if the afforestation work had existed at the earlier date. Assuming then the value of Quarters in 1875 to be $600 (as given in Enclosure 11) the increase of 35 per cent. on $2,592 would give approximately $3,492, from which subtracting twice the 1875 value of quarters (as in paragraph 13 above) the salary left is $2,292, but in that case Mr. FORD should of course only retain as personal allowance the $360 specially granted to him in 1887. This would give him altogether $2,652 instead of $2,449.

15. Ecclesiastical Department.-1 have already in my Despatch No. 38 of 23rd February explained why I could not have sanctioned the increase proposed to the Colonial Chaplain even if Mr. JENNINGS had not resigned, and for the same reasons I regret that I cannot sanction the proposed increase to the Clerk and Sexton.

16. Medical Department.-I am not prepared to sanction the proposal that the Colonial Surgeon should be given an increase from $4,800 to $6,000 in ad- dition to his house allowance of $1,080. I consider that the present rates are sufficient as the permanent emoluments of the office, but I am willing to approve the grant to Dr. AYRES of a personal allowance of $600 in recognition of his good service. I may mention that Dr. AYRES is mistaken in supposing that the Prin- cipal Civil Medical Officer at Singapore now draws any fees in addition to his salary of $6,000.

17. As regards the Health Officer, I cannot admit that the alleged diminution of private practice, owing to the substitution of steam for sailing vessels which must have taken place before Dr. JORDAN was appointed, viz.: in 1888, in itself forms any ground for the proposed increase of this Officer's salary to $2,700, but I am willing to sanction a smaller increase, viz. : to $2,400.

18. I also approve an increase to $2,400 in the case of the (so-called) Resi- dent Surgeon who ought apparently more appropriately to be styled Surgeon to the Gaol. I presume that Mr. FLEMING was right in saying that this Officer is allowed private practice; if so, the fact should be stated in future Blue Books.

19. As to the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of the Hospital, it appears that the corresponding Medical Officers in the Straits Settlements, though not allowed ordinary private practice, are allowed consulting practice. I am pre- pared to sanction Dr. ATKINSON and Dr. Lowson being given the same privilege if you

think that it can be granted without interference with their public duties; or if this privilege is not given to them, I would approve the grant of an extra $600 to the former and $360 to the latter, which will make the pay of these Officers, when they reach their maxima, respectively $3,600 and $3,000.

20. I cannot sanction so large an increase as is proposed in the case of the Apothecary. I would not, however, object to his being given an increase of $240, if the position of the Medical Officer above him, the Assistant Superintendent of the Hospital, is improved in the manner I have suggested in the preceding para- graph.