Colonial Secretary Guide - Flipbook - Page 216
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However only one register survives:
Register of Orders and Addresses from the Legislative Council and Assembly 1853-57 (4/431).
There is not always a note in the registers of letters received as to whether the papers were called
for.
"Minutes". Minutes from the Governor and the Executive Council to the Colonial Secretary. They are
separately registered in the form M13672 in one numerical sequence from 1826. There is frequent
cross-referencing between the registers of letters received and the minute registers.
For a shelf list of registers and additional information see Appendix D p.63.
"Minutes registered in the form M163/A". This registration was used from May 1855 to November 1856.
The register has not survived and the difference between these minutes and the ordinary minutes
is not always clear. They seem to be mostly instructions to the Colonial Secretary and other
public officers from the Governor, whereas the ordinary minutes at this time chiefly consist of
extracts of Executive Council minutes and Acts passed by the Legislative Council to be acted
upon, and letters from the Emigration Commissioners and the Agent General in London passed
on to the Colonial Secretary (see Appendix D p.63).
"Minute papers for the Executive Council". Prepared by the Colonial Secretary and other officials, these
were registered separately in the form Ex. Co. 69/415 in the Executive Council series "Registers of
Minute Papers laid before the Executive Council, 1846-1909" (4/1453-512) (see published
Inventory). They are usually re-registered as a Minute from the Governor and Executive Council
(see above) after being laid before the Council and include a summary of the Council's decision,
instructions etc. Hence they mostly can be found in the bundle labelled "Minutes" but
occasionally occur together or in the bundles labelled "Unnoted" or "Miscellaneous".
"On Hand". Bundles so labelled occur 1886-1906. It seems to indicate that a matter had not been
completed in a particular year. The registers are usually noted "on hand" in the final column.
"Petitions". For the period 1833-49 petitions from groups (Eg.. "Inhabitants of", "Residents of", "Settlers
at", "Publicans" etc) are usually to be found in the annual bundle for "Miscellaneous persons I".
"To be destroyed". Papers culled out of the years 1881 to 1885 in the 1940s but not always destroyed.
Those surviving are kept in a separate run following those which it was planned to keep.
"Unnoted". From 1859 to 1891 there is usually an annual bundle called "Unnoted". The meaning of this is
not clear. The papers are mostly ordinary registered letters and the registers do not indicate that
they are "unnoted". However Minute papers for the Executive Council are frequently included
and many of the papers have "submitted" and a date on them.
"Unregistered". The unregistered papers usually consist of semi-private letters to the Colonial Secretary,
office memos etc which it was not thought worthwhile to register. However occasionally
interesting returns and printed papers may be found here. The occasional registered letter is also
included.
