Turner, William

Born:

Clerk of the Bench and Postmaster at Wellington (1838-1846).

Career Highlights

From June 1838, William Turner held jointly the duties of Clerk of the Bench and Postmaster at Wellington, entrusted with the correspondence, the supervision of the constabulary, the regulation of escorts and the collection of fines and duties. In 1841 Turner was largely responsible for the collection of local information for the Census, for which he was paid 13/- per diem. Police Magistrate Barrow recommended his salary be increased given the extent of his duties and the remoteness of his station, but Barrow's sudden departure from the establishment deprived Turner of two months salary. In 1841 Turner's salary was suspended after he failed to submit a quarterly return of fines and fees for the previous year, owing to complications arsing from fines against Mess Boulson and Williams which were misappropriated by the Police Magistrate Barrow. In 1842, the Wellington Bench recommended his salary be increased, but this was refused by Governor Gipps. In December 1846, Turner resigned as Clerk of Petty Sessions and Postmaster and left Wellington Valley. He was replaced by John Symington Arnold (December 1846-1847) and Frederick John Cockburn (from May 1847).