Colonial Secretary Guide - Flipbook - Page 348
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69.
Copies of letters to the Surveyor General, the Land Board, Assistant Surveyors and the
Commissioners for Apportioning the Colony, 6 October 1826 - 8 October 1856 32 vols
Principally copies of letters sent to the Surveyor General but there are also copies of those to the
Land Board and to the Commissioners for Apportioning the Colony up to 1830 and a few to
Assistant Surveyors. From 1830 letters to the Land Board and the Commissioners are in series 20.
The functions of the Surveyor General's Office were altered from time to time. He was
principally concerned with the survey and description of Crown lands. During 1830 and from
March 1832 to the end of 1835 he had control over roads and bridges. From March 1832 also he
took over from the Colonial Architect the duty of surveying and describing the allotments in the
town of Sydney and of marking out the Crown lands for enclosure and laying down the
alignment of the streets in the town of Sydney.
At the end of March 1833 control of the Colonial Architect's Department was transferred to the
Surveyor General and from April 1833 to December 1834 letters concerning the functions of the
Colonial Architect are in this series.
In January 1837 the construction and repair of streets in the established parts of Sydney were
transferred to the Town Surveyor (see series 71).
70.
Indexes:
In front of volumes
Location:
4/3903-33, 2/8111; microfilm copy AO Reels 3013-3024
Shelf List:
See Appendix p. 359
Copies of letters to the Surveyors of Roads and Bridges, 3 April 1827 - 31 March 1832
2 vols
Lieutenant E. C. Wilford was appointed Surveyor of Roads and Bridges from 1 April 1827 and
Assistant Surveyors were also appointed on that and subsequent dates. Before April the
Inspector of Roads and Bridges superintended the road parties (see series 63). By a despatch
dated 26 May 1829 the Secretary of State directed that the Department of Roads and Bridges be
discontinued as a distinct department and that it be considered as a branch of the Surveyor
General's Department. The change was made at the end of 1829. During 1830 letters relating to
roads and bridges appear in series 69.
In a letter to the Surveyor General dated 4 December 1830 the Colonial Secretary directed that
even though the Roads Department was part of the Surveyor-General's Department "this branch
of the service will ... be carried on as a distinct department ... Assistant Surveyor Nicholson will
transmit the usual reports direct to the Colonial Secretary with whom he will communicate
whenever he may require instructions".
During December 1830 letters addressed to Nicholson as head of the Roads Department will be
found in the same book as the previous letters to the Surveyor General (series 69). In January
1831 a new book was opened for correspondence with the Roads Department.
In a letter to the Surveyor General from the Colonial Secretary dated 19 March 1832 the Road
Branch was placed under the inspection of the Surveyor General. Letters relating to roads will be
found in series 69 from this date.
Indexes:
In front of volumes
Location:
4/3934-35; microfilm copy AO Reel 3002
Shelf List:
See Appendix p. 359
