No. 34, Ecclesiastical

I have the honour to transmit a Memorial to Your Grace from the
Reverend Edward Cridge B.A., District Minister of Victoria, praying
for the fulfilment of the agreement with the Hudson's
Bay Company under which he was appointed District Minister of
Victoria; and also for the conveyance in trust of a portion of about
23 acres of land near the Victoria Church, known as the Church
Reserve.

2. In forwarding these papers, I beg to apprize Your Grace that I
have laid the Memorial before the Attorney General, who is of opinion
that Mr Cridge has no legal rights as against either the Hudson's
Bay Company, or Her Majesty's Government.

3. The Local Legislature in their last Session declined to make any
provision to meet Mr Cridge's Salary, and I am unable to see any
method whereby such provision can be made from any Funds under my
controul. I nevertheless forward the memorial, and trust it may be
within the power of Her Majesty's Government to administer to the
relief of the Memorialist, whose case has excited much sympathy in
this Colony.

4. With regard to the conveyance of the Church Reserve, which
certainly was intended solely as an endowment for the Victoria
Episcopal Church, and will in all probability, become, in due course,
its possession, I would advise Her Majesty's Government not to move
in the question at present; because their interference could not
forward the object in view, and would give rise to dissatisfaction
whatever course may be taken; and I am of opinion that the decision
of the question may be safely left to the local tribunals.