PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
דיייי
C.O.
Reference :-
8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
"The appli- sury with the following endorsement: "cant has discharged his duties with diligence "and fidelity to my satisfaction, but I think it to add that within the last few months necessary " he has addressed letters to me on the subject of "his position and claims, which, after making every allowance for the strong feeling by which
#
<<
" he was evidently influenced when writing on the subject, are not such as should have been ad- "dressed by an officer in the public service to the "head of his department.”
In the meantime the Treasury, having learned Treasury. Mr. Woods' intention to present a Petition of 15828/79. Right, intimated their intention of suspending further proceedings with reference to his pension until the result of the petition should be ascer tained, and this decision was communicated to Mr. Woods.
On the 13th November 1879, Mr. Woods notified
W.
*
5
Lord Cairns' letter was communicated to the Solicitor of the Treasury, and it appeared probable that Mr. Woods' case might now be settled without any further difficulty occurring in the matter. On 12788/80. the 19th of August be wrote, however, to Lord Kim- berley, intimating "with much regret that he had been compelled by the unprecedented proceedings on the part of the Treasury to decline proceeding "further with the arbitration;" and it would appear from a summary of correspondence with his solicitor, which he enclosed, that he had come to this decision owing to the Treasury Solicitor having declined to allow certain of his letters and personal statements to be included in the case for submission to the arbitrator. Mr. Woods' letter was acknowledged (21 August) and communicated to the Solicitor to the Treasury.
W.
W.
that he had that day presented his petition of right, 17862/79. and the Treasury, on the 21st of November 1879, Treasury. repeated that all proceedings respecting his pension 18298/79. were suspended.
On the 3rd December 1879, Mr. Woods requested to be allowed to remain on the establishment of the Colonial Office pending the result of his Peti- tion of Right and suspension of his pension, but it was thought undesirable to retain him at the Colonial Office after the 81st of December, the date originally settled for his retirement, and the Trea- sury was pressed to allow his pension to be paid to him notwithstanding his Petition of Right.
To this the Treasury agreed, and Mr. Woods' connexion with this office ceased on the 31st of December 1879, since which date he has received pension of 4841., his actual salary at the date of his retirement having been 5807.
W.
19016/79.
W.
19016/79.
6859/80.
In May 1880 the Queen, on the Report of the Treasury. Attorney-General, was pleased to fiat Mr. Woods' Petition of Right, which he had revised on the 12th February, and the prayer of which is that Her Majesty will be graciously pleased to direct that the sum of 1,9001., [being the difference between the salary appertaining to the office of librarian and the salary paid to him since Mr. Halksworth's retirement], with interest thereon at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum be paid to him, and that such other relief as inay be necessary may be afforded him.
In July 1880 Mr. Woods visited the Colonial Treasury. Office, and in the course of a conversation stated 10283/80. that he continued to prefer arbitration to legal pro- ceedings, and would gladly abide by the decision of either Earl Cairns or Lord Selborne, suggesting the former as preferable, because unconnected with the Government. He confirmed this in writing (10th July), and a case was submitted by his solicitor and agreed to by the Solicitor to the Treasury.
Treasury.
On the 4th of August, Lord Kimberley wrote privately to Lord Cairns asking him to undertake 10283/80. to arbitrate on the case. And on the 6th August Lord Cairns agreed to do his best between the Government and Mr. Woods if both parties agreed
by a proper submission to accept his decision, and to concur in a statement of the case.
On the 3rd of September, Mr. Woods wrote 13869/80. requesting to be allowed to withdraw his letter of 19th August, and enclosing a statement of his case, by which he was prepared to abide, if Her Majesty's Government would allow it to be sub- mitted to the arbitrator. This letter was acknow- ledged (8th September) and communicated to the Treasury Solicitor.
W.
15394/80.
On the 5th of October, after communication with the Treasury Solicitor, Mr. Woods was informed that the submission to arbitration in his case could not be accepted in a form dissimilar from that in which it was finally approved by the Lords Comi- missioners of the Treasury on the 16th of August.
To this Mr. Woods replied, 6th October, that he 16678/10. could not accept arbitration in the form approved by the Treasury, and that he had therefore with much regret instructed his Solicitor to prepare for the approaching trial.
W.
Treasury.
Mr. Woods' letter was communicated (8th Octo- 16788/80. ber) to the Solicitor to the Treasury, and its receipt
acknowledged on the 13th October.
It has been agreed between Mr. Woods' Solicitor and the Solicitor to the Treasury that the case shall not be put on the notice paper before the 15th of November. It may, therefore, come on for hearing directly after that date, but most probably not until between the 20th and the 25th of November.
Colonial Office,
November 12, 1880.
Q 3886.
B