Colonial Secretary Guide - Flipbook - Page 215
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Notes on Bundle Titles and Notations in Registers
"Deputations". Bundles so labelled occur 1901-15 and usually consist of unregistered material presented
by a deputation to the Chief Secretary.
"Despatches". Because the Governor had to lay all numbered despatches before his ministers, many such
despatches or copies thereof may be found in the Colonial Secretary's letters received. These
transferred despatches were registered from 1855 in a separate series of Registers of Despatches,
the registration taking the form M150/B. They were then kept together in the bundle labelled
"Despatches" for each year, the last occurring in 1912. Unfortunately the registers which recorded
the transfer to the Colonial Secretary have not survived. Despatches recorded in these registers
were in many cases connected with other despatches, correspondence and minutes in the same
way as papers registered in the Registers of Governor's and Colonial Secretary's Minutes, which
adds to the difficulty in finding them but may make the effort more worthwhile.
The Governor's Registers of Despatches received from the Secretary of State can be of
considerable assistance in finding this material. The volumes record number or type of despatch,
date of despatch, date of receipt, subject and action (including if sent to the Colonial Secretary).
4/1609
4/1610
4/1611
4/1612
4/1613
6 Sep 1854
1 Jan 1866
31 Aug 1872
30 Sep 1881
7 Feb 1890
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26 Dec 1865
31 Aug 1872
30 Sep 1881
7 Feb 1890
30 Mar 1899
Indexes in front of volumes
A Skeleton Register to these papers has been made in the Archives Office and all the bundles
labelled "Despatches" 1855-1912 have been entered. It also records the original number and date
of the despatch to assist finding them by using the Governor's Registers (4/1609-13).
From 1904 the Colonial Secretary ceased to be the main channel of communication. The Colonial
Treasurer became Premier in June 1904 and despatches were sent to him for distribution to the
relevant ministers and many may be found in his records and only those relating to his office in
the Colonial Secretary's correspondence after first having been received in the Treasury. In 1907 a
separate Premier's Office was established and despatches from then on were first sent there and
then to the relevant department where applicable.
"Estimates". Papers relating to the estimated expenditure of government departments for the following
year, particularly of the Colonial Secretary's department. A file on papers effecting the Estimates
(Eg.. a rise in salary for an official) may also be found here.
"Inhabitants" see "Petitions"
"Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council". Usually consist of requests for papers to be laid before
the House taking the form of an "Order" to the Colonial Secretary or an "Address" to the
Governor. The papers asked for may or may not be included. They were normally printed in
Votes and Proceedings.
The papers were separately registered by annual single number with the prefix LA or LC (eg.
LA66/3 and LC66/2).
