Copying Book: Secretary's Letters, 1860 (page 077)

77

explaining the details of operations, and of all [aging?] prejudices, or of
soothing the minds of those who fancy [calculable?] neglect of
their wishes- the presentation to proprietors of the desirable-
ness, and often the necessity of their making provision for
the perpetual care of their lots, and the frequent con-
ferences which ensue before the accomplishment of this in
each case together with the considerable correspondence which
the faithful performance of duty requires is all, consuming
amount of time that would not be supposed by any-
one unless he observed the modus operandi with his own
eyes.

The recent issue of "permits for work” to proprietors
takes very much more time than was anticipated, often
hours in each day. The proper keeping of the Register of
Internment (these are in duplicate, and have to be made out
by one hand, which, I never delegate any further than copying
and then always compare with the original) require much
time each month and several days each year for the index.
Here also, a considerable correspondence becomes necessary for sup-
plying omissions and correcting errors.

The keeping a proper record of the disposition of estates of
dec^d proprietors, so far as relates to their lots, and the passing
to whom they descend or are devised, is one of the most
important duties discharged by the Secretary- one not laid down
in the By-laws, but which he cannot avoid devoting much
time to in order to render the information available to the Corpor-
ation for all time. I have been in the habit, for several years, of
spending some time at the Registries of Probate in the different