No. 65

On the 10th instant I received a Telegram from Your Lordship as
follows—

Offer Alston appointment of Queen's Advocate at Sierra Leone.
Salary One thousand. Fees average two hundred and private
practice allowed. Wire reply.

On the 13th instant I replied by telegraph—

Alston accepts. When will Union take place?

On the 19th instant I received another Telegram from you in answer—

Date of Union fixed by Order in Council for the 20th July.

2. As I have therefore already reported, Mr Alston gratefully
accepts the appointment offered by Your Lordship. He, however,
besides his Office as Acting Attorney General, holds
appointments as Member of two Commissions established under Acts
of last Session—one "relating to proceedings under the Tax Sale
Repeal Ordinance, 1867," and the other "for compiling and
printing a new Edition of the Laws of the Colony." It is
important that the duties of these Commissions should be
completed before the Union of this Colony with the Dominion and
the services of Mr Alston cannot very well be spared.

It is therefore desirable that he should not leave the Colony
before Union takes place; but he will proceed to England on his
way to "Sierra Leone" by the first Mail Steamer in August going
direct to San Francisco.