The Palmerston Clergy-MAN AND HIS SALARY

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 71, 28 February 1883, Page 2

The Palmerston ClergyMAN AND HIS SALARY

ACTION AGAINST THE BISHOP OF WELLINGTON. (Monday's Post.) At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before MrH.S. Wardell, K.M., the Key. Edward Cams- Wilson sued to recover from the Bishop of Wellington the sum of £5 2s lOd, balance of salary due. Mr W. H. Quick appeared for the defendant. Plaintiff conducted his own casp, ani gave evidence to the effect that m July of last year he was ordainsd a clerk m holy orders, and was appointed to thd Palmerston district by his Lordship, at a salary of £150 per annum. Wishing to return to England about the end of last year, he wrote to the Bishop applying for permission to take his departure from the district, and oil the 12th of January received aletter from his Lordship acceding to his request. The communication was dated the 10th of that month. He claimed the sum of £6 as salary due to him from the opening of the year up to the 12th ultimo. Mr Qu ; ck mentioned that a matter of principle was involved m the proceedings, and said the defence was tqat his Lordship w.aa not liable, as he hel i no financial position. Examination continued — Since he had been at Patmerston North he bad received two cheques from the Bishop — one for £37 10a for the quarter ending the 30th September, and the other for a like amount for the December quarter. Ha was engaged by his Lordship's letter sent to Australia, and the amount ot the ! salary was fixed at £150 per annum. By Mr Quick — The document produced was his license. During a part oi his ministrations at Palmerston iNortb, he was a licensed clergyman, the license dating from the 18th July, 1882. He had been paid for two full quarters, £75 m all. He denied that m the course of a conversation which he had had with Mr Lowe he admitted that he was satisfied with the settlement of ao counts between himself and the Bishop; The agreement was that the salary should commence from the Ist of July, and not the 16th or 18th. The Bishop had lent him £15 with which to proceed to Palmerston North, and had also promised that the salary should com. raence from the Ist of J uly, as witnpss had informed him that he was short of funds. [Counsel here placed correspondence before the Couit.] He was not aware that the Diocesan Synod had no control over the funds. He was aware that there was a Church Fund. This was all the evidence adduced. Mr Quick submitted that the wong person had been sued, his Lordship holding no financial position m the matter, and the Court gave judgment for defendant on those grounds.