Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 147
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Riverina movement "originated in the desire of certain wealthy and influential individuals
... to secure to themselves ... the Crown Lands within its boundaries"; questioned the
viability of an inland colony; and pointed out the consequences of Riverina's separation
"a spate of proposals for the further dismemberment of New South Wales". The Secretary
of State, Cardwell, rejected the petitions on the grounds that redress of grievances was
best pursued through "ordinary constitutional methods" and that "a permanent injury
will be inflicted on the Colony if these or other passing inconveniences are allowed to
supply a reason for indefinite subdivision". A refutation of the Cabinet minute was
prepared in mid-1866 but otherwise the agitation for separation died down. But as with
the northeastern districts of New South Wales, agitation for separation would re-appear
later.22
Colonial Secretary, later Chief Secretary
Special bundles
CGS 906
Riverina District — Political representation, population,
justice, 1863-66
CGS 906,
[4/754.2]
This bundle comprises correspondence concerning the
establishment of a separate registry office for deeds in Deniliqu in;
population figures; and, judicial and political representation issues
in the Riverina District. Included is a map showing the location of
electoral boundaries, District Courts, Courts of Petty Sessions,
railways and ordinary roads of communication
Also included, together with a copy of the Colonial Secretary's
Office's reply of 1 September 1863, is a printed copy of the August
1863 petition to the Governor from the inhabitants of the Pastoral
Districts and others interested in that part of the Colony known as
The Riverine District. In this the petitioners prayed for, among
other things, that the district be erected into a separate province
with a Resident Government Superintendent and that a branch of
the Supreme Court and a Registrar's office be established at
Deniliquin.
Proposed formation of the Riverina into a separate colony,
1863-67
These bundles comprise correspondence and papers relating to
constituting the "Riverine" as a separate colony.
CGS 906,
[2/8020.7,
4/809.2]
Bundle [4/809.2] includes
• copy of 1863 printed map of the Riverine District showing the
boundaries of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South
Australia, and Queensland
• Cabinet minute of 14 July 1865 upon the petitions for erecting a
portion of New South Wales into a separate Colony
• Secretary of State Despatch No.87 of 21 December 1865,
topnumbered as M1740/B, in which Cardwell, after
acknowledging receipt of the Governor's Despatches of 21 July
and 21 September 1865 in which were enclosed petitions in
favour of the separation of the Riverine District from the Colony
of New South Wales, and other documents, opines
22
see Frappell, L 0, "The Riverina Separation Agitation, 1856-1866", in Journal of the Royal
Australian Historical Society, (Vol.63, June 1977), pp.1-25 for a detailed history and analysis
State Records Authority of New South Wales
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