Wodehouse was appointed to succeed Mr Plunket; he was told the pay of Coroner would be $720. (See draft on W58-81) but when the appointment was reported to the Governor, no pay was specified (draft on WN581) and in consequence, they have continued to pay Mr Wodehouse the exceptional salary given to Mr Plunket instead of the Coroner’s usual salary.
Officially, the matter may be better put by Mr Lucas to duly inform the Governor.
In getting this right, it will be necessary to let Sir J. Hennessy know that Mr Wodehouse has been corresponding with this office & I think the best plan would be to send a copy of the letter as it was addressed to the Private Secretary to Mr Meade and tell him not to call upon Mr W. to refund anything of the late arrangement but in future to pay him at the rate of $720 instead.
The Governor should be informed that Sir J. P. Hennessy wrote to the Colonial Office at length on the matter, and that Mr Wodehouse wrote officially to the same effect, though his letter has no system.
I see he suggests that the matter might be dealt with on the Quarterly Returns. He retained his name to appear in the returns for the June quarter; these could not have reached us yet. I think therefore we...