Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 73
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Topnumbered as M107/B is Secretary of State Despatch No. 28 of
2 June 1855. In this Despatch the Secretary of State
acknowledges receipt of the Governor's despatch of 23 February
1855, No.16, in which was enclosed an address from 799 electors
and inhabitants of New South Wales against the proposed
Constitution Act of the Colony 17 Vic No.41, and conveys his
approval of the Governor's answer.
M107/8
Topnumbered as M110/B is Secretary of State Despatch No. 32 of
5 June 1855. In this Despatch the Secretary of State
acknowledges receipt of the Governor's despatch of 15 February
1855 (No.8), in which was enclosed a petition by certain
inhabitants of Parramatta praying that the Act 17 Vic No.41 "for
effecting certain changes in the Constitution of the Colony of New
South Wales may not receive Her Majesty's assent, and that the
task of framing a Constitution for the Australian Colonies generally
and for New South Wales in particular may be devolved on the
Imperial Parliament, or on an Assembly to be constituted under
the Authority of Parliament". Despatch No.17 of 24 February
enclosing a similar petition for the inhabitants of the Town of
Kiama is also acknowledged. The covering letter to the Parramatta
petition from J M Gould is included.
M110/B
Topnumbered as M151/B is Secretary of State Despatch No.7 of
8 August 1855. In this despatch the Secretary of State
acknowledges two despatches of Sir Charles FitzRoy's, Nos. 140
and 141 of 10 and 11 November 1853, transmitting a petition
from certain colonists praying that "Her Majesty would withhold
her assent from the Bill for granting a Constitution to New South
Wales, and a letter from the Chairman of the 'New South Wales
Constitution Committee' in relation thereto".
M151/8
The Governor is referred to the despatch transmitting the Act of
Parliament under which the Royal assent was given to the Bill in
question, as well as the report of the debates which took place in
Parliament as amply showing the reasons "which prevailed against
acceding to the prayer of this petition, and the discussion which its
subject underwent". The original petition referred to in the
Despatch can be found in CGS 905, CSIL 53/11354 in [4/3218].
CSIL 55/10138
This in-letter contains papers relating to a draft Bill for alteration
of the electoral rolls required by the new Constitution Act. Included
is a copy of 17 Vic No.41, An Act to confer a Constitution on New
South Wales, and to grant a Civil List to Her Majesty, otherwise
the Constitution Act of 1853, reserved for Her Majesty's approval;
observations relative to the preparation of the electoral rolls under
the new Constitution; and the opinion of the Law Officers, the
Attorney General and the Solicitor General, on the issue.
CGS 905,
CSIL 55/10138
in [4/3492]
The new Constitution Act granted an extended franchise. Once the
Act, as amended, was received in the Colony with the Royal assent
the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly had to be
called together not later than seven months afterwards. The Law
Officers opined that new legislation would be necessary "not only
with reference to the new classes of Electors who will be entitled to
be placed upon the Electoral Rolls - but also with reference to
certain new Electoral divisions or Districts created by the 15th
Section of the new Constitution Act". While the Law Officers
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State Records Authority of New South Wales
