Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 151
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Order-in-Council of Her Majesty that its affairs should be
administered by the Governor of New South Wales. Since the
year 1856, therefore, the Governor for the time being of New
South Wales has acted as Governor of Norfolk Island - with
power to appoint Judges and other officials and to make laws
for the good government of the Island. Since that date a close
and unbroken association has been continued between New
South Wales and Norfolk Island; and the endeavour at all times
has been to administer the affairs of the settlement with due
regard for the special circumstances surrounding the early
history of the Islanders.
Under arrangements made in 1895-96 the responsibility for the
administration for the Island was to rest with the Government of
New South Wales, but this arrangement was cancelled in view of
the imminence of Federation; the Governor accordingly continued
his administration of Norfolk Island as a Crown colony under the
Order-in-Council of 15 January 1897. Under a subsequent Order in
Council, of 18 October 1900, the Queen ordered that the affairs of
Norfolk Island would be administered by the Governor of the State
of New South Wales. However, following the establishment of the
Commonwealth the Governor approached the Commonwealth
Government about the transfer of Norfolk Island. In August 1902
the Governor wrote that "The present divided authority can never
answer. The Postal arrangements, Customs Tariff, and presumably
the Defence, being worked by one; the administration by the
other".
The bundle comprises papers concerning the reasons for including
Norfolk Island in the Commonwealth territory such as postal
arrangements, defence and the adverse effect of the imposition of
custom duties on Norfolk Island's products entering Australia. Also
includes papers relating to arrangements for the transfer of the
administration of Norfolk Island from New South Wales to the
Commonwealth of Australia.
Included is Secretary of State Despatch No.47 of 3 April 1914
transmitting a copy of an Order of His Majesty in Council of
30 March regarding the transfer of the administration of Norfolk
Island to the Commonwealth of Australia; and a copy of the
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette of 17 June 1914 reproducing
the Order in Council and proclaiming the day that the Norfolk
Island Act 1913 would commence, 1 July 1914.
Other papers include: a petition dated 6 October 1902 signed by
82 male inhabitants of the Island requesting to remain a Crown
Colony; copy of a petition of 14 July 1906 from inhabitants of the
Island that the wishes of the community are to remain a Crown
colony; a copy of a petition dated 14 April 1914 by certain
inhabitants of the Island protesting against the forcible annexation
to the Australian Commonwealth; Norfolk Island (Copies of papers
and correspondence relative to the imposition of duties upon
products imported into New South Wales), printed 1902; report to
the Governor on Norfolk Island affairs, 17 March 1905; copy of the
New South Wales Proclamation of 23 June 1914 in which the
Governor proclaimed that after 30 June 1914 he would cease to
administer the Government of Norfolk Island; copies of 1908 and
1909 Commonwealth bill, the Norfolk Island Bill; and copy of the
Norfolk Island Act 1913, Commonwealth Act No.15 of 1913.
State Records Authority of New South Wales
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