on 23 november 1853 the canterbury provincial council discussed campbell's appointment as registrar of deeds. john hall stated campbell was ""even less qualified to be registrar of deeds, an office which particularly required to be filled by a person of business habits."" the council then adopted the following resolutions asking governor grey to remove campbell as registrar of deeds and to combine registration of deeds with that of births, deaths and marriages in the same office under the deputy registrar of the supreme court:""1. that this council has learned with great surprise and regret that lieutenant colonel campbell, after having been removed from the office of commissioner of crown lands, has been appointed as registrar of deeds for this province. 2. that, considering how largely the interest of individuals may be affected by the acts of the registrar, and the extensive evil which may result from incompetence or mal-administration: this council are of opinion that that office ought to be entrusted only to some person possessing the fullest confidence of the public. 3. the council are of opinion that the office of registrar of deeds is one which ought, if possible, be filled by a person having a legal education, and that for the purposes of economy its duties might for the present be most conveniently performed by the deputy registrar of the supreme court..""