on 5 october 1853 alfred domett, who was at that time civil secretary for central government, told campbell that he was relieved of his commissionerships and that he was to hand over his records to william guise brittan, who had been appointed in his place (brittan was already commissioner within the canterbury block so this effectively amalgamated the two canterbury land offices). campbell was instead appointed as ""registrar of deeds for the provence of canterbury"", replacing brittan in this role.