No. 75

I had the honor to receive when in London a despatch from
the Duke of Newcastle dated the 16th of January 1864, directing
me, when I had been sufficiently long in the Colony to form an
opinion, to report upon the present arrangement by which the
Colonial Secretary succeeds to the Administration of the Government
in the event of the death or absence of the Governor.

2. Having now been eight months in the Colony, I have the
honor to report that not only do I consider the Colonial Secretary
to be the proper officer to succeed to such administration, but
that I likewise think Mr Arthur Birch to be the best man for
the succession.