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2. The long delay which has intervened in regard to this appointment, since the date of Sir' Julius Vogel's letter above referred to, will be best explained by the letter of the Commissionersln Lunacy, of the 9th September, 1875, of which I forward a copy. The Commissioners had been moved in the matter by the Colonial Office, in consequence of a letter addressed by the Hon. the Premier, during his visit to England, to Mr. Meade, the Assistant Secretary of State ; and had, in consequence, issued the enclosed circular in the month of June of last year. But, for the reasons assigned in the letter of their Secretary already mentioned, the Commissioners found it impossible to obtain a suitable candidate for the appointment. Careful personal inquiries which my predecessor subsequently instituted, but which were, under the circumstances somewhat protracted, resulted iv his selection of Dr. Skae, as was notified to the Government in his telegram of the 23rd of March last. Dr. Skae then gave the requisite notice to the Board of the Stirling Asylum of his resignation of his appointment there, and arranged to proceed to the colony this month. 3. I enclose a duplicate of the articles of agreement under which he holds his appointment, which were duly signed by him and by my predecessor. I understand that Mr. Mackrell found some difficulty in expressing, in definite legal terms, the intimation conveyed in the Hon. the Premier's letter, as quoted in the circular of the Commissioners in Lunacy, that the salary would be " from £600 to £700, with prospective increases up to £800." The salary was, as his telegram already referred to has informed you, finally fixed by my predecessor, subject to your sanction, at £700; and it was his desire that the Government should be further informed that Dr. Skae had been appointed with the additional understanding that his salary should, according to the terms of Sir J. Vogel's letter, and subject to such arrangements as the Government may from time to time appoint, be ultimately raised to £800. Having regard to the term " actual expenses out to New Zealand," in the Hon. the Premier's letter to Mr. Meade, I have, in addition to passages for himself and family to the colony, allowed Dr. Skae travelling expenses and cost of carriage of luggage from Stirling to London, amounting to a sum of about £17. I have, Ac, "W. Tyrone Power, Agent-General.

Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Mr. W. Forbes to the Agent-General. Sic, — General Board of Lunacy, Edinburgh, 14th March, 1876. As the Board understand that Dr. F. Skae, of the Stirling District Asylum, is a candidate for the office of Medical Inspector of Asylums in New Zealand, I am instructed to say that the Commissioners will be glad to answer any inquiries you may think fit to make as to Dr. Skae's fitness for this appointment. I have, &c, "W. Forbes, I. E. Featherston, Esq., Agent-General of New Zealand, Secretary. 7, "Westminster Chambers.

Enclosure 2 in No. 4. List of References and Testimonials in favour of Frederick "W. A. Skae, M.D., St. And., and F.R.C.S.E., Medical Superintendent of the District Asylum for the Counties of Stirling, Dumbarton, Linlithgow, and Clackmannan, at Larbert, Stirlingshire, applicant for the appointment of Medical Inspector of Asylums in New Zealand. I.— References. General Board of Lunacy for Scotland, through William Forbes, Esq., Secretary, Edinburgh, or individually to Sir John Don Wauchope, Bart., Chairman of the Board. Sir James Coxe, M.D., Medical Commissioner. Arthur Mitchell, M.D., Medical Commissioner. ll.— Testimonials. From Chairman and members of the Stirling District Board of Lunacy; from the Secretary to the Board, and the Chaplain to the Asylum:— No. 1. James Johnstone, Esq., of Alva, Chairman of the Board, and member of the Visiting Committee. No. 2. Thomas Chalmers, Esq., of Longcrof t, member of the Visiting Committee. No. 3. Admiral Sir James Hope, G-.C.8., member of the Visiting Committee. No. 4. J. Murray Gartshore, Esq., of Eevelston, formerly of Gartshore, and member of the Visiting Committee. No. 5. H. Fletcher Campbell, Esq., of Boquhan, member of the Visiting Committee, formerly Chairman of the Board. No. 6. T. A. Hog, Esq., of Newliston, member of the Building Committee. No. 7. Bobert Campbell, Esq., Secretary and Treasurer to the Board, and Procurator Fiscal of the County. No. 8. Bey. John McLaren, Chaplain to the Asylum.

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