Copies of letters sent by Lieutenant Governor Foveaux, administering the Colony, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, 4 September 1808 - 7 November 1809, and to Governor Bligh, 28 July 1808 - 5 January 1809, 1 vol, *ARK
All the despatches with their enclosures, are published in the Historical Records, with the exception of the despatch dated 13 October 1809 (concerning the drawing of bills on the Treasury to pay expenses and the forging of same at Norfolk Island) and some enclosures to letters dated 4 September 1808 and 20 February 1809.
All letters in the section of the volume covering the correspondence between Foveaux and Bligh are published in Historical Records with the exception of those on pages 28a to 43a which cover Foveaux' correspondence with Captain William Kent, and enclosures.
Indexes: List of despatches in back of volume; Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825
Item No: [SZ760]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6001 (*ARK), another copy SR Reel 2645

Copies of letters sent and received by Lieutenant Governor Paterson, December 1808 - November 1809, 1 vol, *ARK
This correspondence was conducted mainly with persons within the colony.
At the opposite end of the volume are copies of letters from Paterson addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Indexes: Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825
Item No: [SZ757]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6001 (*ARK), another copy SR Reel 2646

Copies of letters sent: Local and overseas, 28 December 1809 - 28 December 1813, 4 vols, *ARK
Copies of letters addressed to officials, individuals and corporate bodies in and around Sydney, Parramatta, the Hawkesbury etc. There are also a few letters to overseas countries, mainly India. Some of the earlier letters were written by the Governor but most are by his Secretary.
Some of the letters dated 7 November 1812 and later are written on paper watermarked 1824. They were probably copied in 1825 as one of the letters is wrongly dated 24 November 1825, and bound between this date and 7 November 1826 when they are listed as being in the office.
Local letters are continued in NRS 937, overseas letters in NRS 939.
Indexes: Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825
Item Nos: [4/3490B-3491]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6002 (*ARK); other copies of [4/3490B-D] at SR Reel 2288 and City COD223B-D, and of [4/3491] at SR Reel 623 and City COD239A-D
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent to Van Diemen's Land, Newcastle and Norfolk Island, 6 January 1810 - 16 December 1813 , 2 vols, *ARK
Copies of letters written by the Governor and his Secretary to officials and individuals usually residing at, or intending to go to, these settlements.
Letters dated 7 December 1812 - 16 December 1813 were copied from some other record as the paper is watermarked 1823 and 1824. They had been copied by 7 November 1826.
The series is continued in NRS 937.
Indexes: Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825
Item Nos: [4/3490A, 4/3492], microfilm copy SR Reel 6003 (*ARK): other copies of [4/3490A] at SR Reel 2288 and City COD223A, and of [4/3492] at SR Reels 898 and 764
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent within the Colony, 1 January 1814 - 30 January 1827, 29 vols, *ARK (1814-25)
Copies of letters addressed to officials, corporate bodies and individuals in the Colony and its out-settlements. Most of the letters are written by the Private Secretary, or from 1821, the Colonial Secretary, but there are a number written by the Governor. There are some letters here addressed to the Governor by the Colonial Secretary.
Letters to Commandants and others in the out-settlements are entered here to 29 March 1826 with some exceptions. Letters to Van Diemen's land and Newcastle are continued from NRS 936 and those to Port Macquarie are continued in NRS 992 from 28 June 1822. From 30 December 1823 letters to Van Diemen's Land are in NRS 939. From then on it was usual to open separate books for letters to distant settlements and letters to Melville Island are in NRS 981 commencing 14 August 1824 though the first letter is in this present series also. Letters to Moreton Bay beginning 27 August 1824 are in NRS 983 and those to Norfolk Island beginning May 1825 in NRS 988.
From 30 March 1826 the structure of this present series alters. It now includes letters addressed mainly to individuals and private bodies. Letters to magistrates, clergy and minor officials are still entered here until separate series are opened for them on 6 October 1826 (Clergy - NRS 950, Magistrates - NRS 989). and on 4 December 1826 (Miscellaneous establishments, NRS 970). Letters to most of the officials are in a separate series (NRS 941) but letters to some officials may appear in both this series and NRS 941 at different times. It was a period of transition with some slight confusion.
There is a pencil note in the back of the March - July 1826 volume: 'The next to this becomes the private book'. The next volume however, still include some letters to officials until 3 December 1826. The first entirely 'Private book' was commenced on 30 January 1827 (NRS 943).
The volumes contain returns of persons applying to be married (their names do not appear in the indexes) and also the following returns:
a) Lists of applicants for renewal of spirit licences, by town, 1818 [4/3498 pp.62-64]; 1819 [4/3499 pp.318-20].
b) List of Magistrates for the County of Cumberland (name and date of commission), March 1820 [4/3501 pp.305-06].
c) List of convicts in Van Diemen's Land with their times and places of trial and sentence. Extracted from the indents as called for by Lieutenant Governor Sorell in his letter dated 31 July. 10 September 1822 [4/3506 pp.297-99].
d) Lists of convicts sent to Van Diemen's Land, Port Macquarie and Newcastle.
Indexes: In front of volumes. The entry is usually under the name of the individual addressed, rather than official title. Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825
Item Nos: [4/3493-520]; microfilm copy 1814-25 SR Reels 6004-6016 (*ARK), 1814-27 SR Reels 1028-1041 and 2649, another copy of [4/3493] at SR Reel 754
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent outside the Colony, "Foreign", 17 January 1814 - 21 October 1856, 7 vols (part), *ARK (1814-25)
Copies of letters written by the Secretary and a few of a minor nature written by Governor Brisbane. Despatches to the Secretary of State for the Colonies are not entered here.
The letters may be to any foreign place but are addressed principally to officials and individuals in England, to officials in India, the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius and Batavia. The letters to individuals are mainly in reply to enquiries regarding settlers and convicts. From 30 December 1823 letters to Van Diemen's Land are in this series also, most of them being addressed to the Lieutenant Governor, the Colonial Secretary or the Controller of Convicts, and officers at Port Dalrymple. (Before this see NRS 936).
There are a few letters addressed to the Colonial Agent during 1823 and then none till 1826 after which they continue to 30 May 1849. A new book was opened for him on 19 May 1849 (NRS 953).
Letters to New Zealand commence in 1832 beginning with letters to Busby while he was still in Sydney. They continue here until 1839 and then do not reappear until August 1853. NRS 940 covers the period 1840 to July 1853.
There are one or two letters to Port Phillip residents in the books for 1836 and 1837 but from August 1839 letters to Port Phillip are entered in NRS 993. From 21 April 1856 letters to Victoria are again in the present series.
Letters to South Australian officials appear here from 1837.
Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners were appointed in Great Britain in 1840 and from about 1841 letters to these bodies are entered here until May 1849 when a separate series was begun (NRS 968).
Indexes: All volumes are indexed. The index to the 1841-47 volume is a separate piece placed in the volume. The letters for 1814-25 are indexed in the Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825
Item Nos: [4/3521-3527 part]; microfilm copy 1814-25 SR Reels 6018-6019 (*ARK), 1814-56 SR Reels 2649 and 898-901
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent to New Zealand, 15 January 1840 - July 1853, 1 vol (part)
Copies of letters to officials and individuals in New Zealand. The letters are concerned with such matters as mails, postage arrangements etc.
Letters to New Zealand from 1832-39 and from August 1853 are in NRS 939.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: 4/3527 part; microfilm copy SR Reel 901

Copies of letters to officials, 30 March - 4 December 1826, 4 vols
This series includes most of the letters to officials previously entered in NRS 937.
It is continued in the various series of letter books which were opened in the last months of 1826, but particularly in NRS 970.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3528-31]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2915-2916
Item List: see separate list

Register of instructions and information required, 8 May - 28 September 1830, 1 vol
The volume summarizes instructions issued to departmental officers or requests for particular reports.
Indexes: none
Item No: [4/4543]

Copies of letters to individuals and organizations, 30 January 1827 - 31 August 1850, 23 vols
Copies of letters to private individuals, including letters to officials as private citizens, to the proprietors of businesses and to the officers of companies, banks, societies, associations and so on.
These volumes are labelled 'Miscellaneous' by the Office and include letters on most subjects. There is however from 2 January 1827 a separate series which includes letters relating to land matters addressed to persons who were not officials, and to officials as private citizens.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3532-54]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2289-2297 and 2650
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to individuals, organizations etc re land, 2 January 1827 - 17 November 1856, 38 vols (part)
Copies of letters relating to requests for land, refusals, grants, intrusion complaints, petitions to survey, licence fees, forfeiture of runs and so on.
From 13 January 1849 to 26 May 1855 letters re land outside the settled districts are in NRS 945.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3555-92]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2298-2313
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent re land outside the settled districts, 13 January 1849 - 26 May 1855, 1 vol (part)
Copies of letters to individuals relating to the occupation of Crown Lands.
From June 1855 letters of this type are entered in NRS 944.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3591 part]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2313

Copies of letters to the Auditor General, 19 February 1849 - 6 June 1856, 11 vols
Because of the nature of his duties the Auditor was kept informed of decisions of government which involved any type of expenditure. He was also informed when authority to expend funds for specific purposes was received.
The office of Colonial Auditor was initially filled by William Lithgow while still Assistant Commissary General of Accounts. In 1827 Darling decided to establish it as a separate office because of increasing public business. Lithgow relinquished the military appointment and took up the new position which subsequently became that of Auditor General.
Letters to the Auditor General prior to February 1849 are in NRS 1004.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3593-603]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2917-2920
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent to Boards, and Circulars, 5 January 1827 - 16 March 1853, 6 vols
Copies or summaries of circulars sent to officials containing instructions, requests for returns, reminders etc. or forwarding copies of acts, orders, and other papers.
Copies of letters to Boards including Boards of Survey, the members of boards (appointments etc), and to other public officers forwarding reports or requests of boards. There are also a few letters to officials and individuals instructing them to appear before boards.
Some circulars will be found in the volume for the departments to which they were addressed.
There are separate books for the Denominational School Board (NRS 964). and the National School Board (NRS 965). Letters addressed to the Board appointed to investigate claims for bounties to immigrants are in NRS 967; and the Board for the management of the Government Printing Office in NRS 974.
From 1852 some of the letters to boards will be found in NRS 970.
Indexes: There is no index to the 1827-30 and 1832-34 volumes. There are lists in the front of the 1830-32 volumes giving précis of a) Circulars, and b) Board letters. There is also a list of Circulars in front of the 1835-41 volume and in this volume the index is loose.
Arrangement of Registration: The circulars and the letters relating to boards are together in chronological order. To 1835 the circular letters have been given a registration number using the annual single number system but the letters to boards etc. are not numbered. From 1836 'board' letters are also numbered in the same system. There are a number of errors in 1836, some letters being unnumbered and some numbers being used two or three times.
Item Nos: [4/3604-09]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2978-2979
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands, 29 December 1848 - 12 November 1856, 4 vols
Until the Chief Commissioner was appointed, the Colonial Secretary corresponded directly with the various Commissioners of Crown Lands outside the Settled Districts (NRS 958). Colonel Barney was appointed Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Middle District from 1 January 1849 and from that date gradually took over that correspondence and control of the Commissioners.
By a public notice dated 26 December 1848 all correspondence from private individuals respecting leases, tenders, and all matters of detail connected with Crown Land beyond the settled districts, was to be addressed to the Chief Commissioner. He was responsible for the application of the law and regulations relating to his particular functions and referred to the Governor, through the Colonial Secretary, only those cases in which he required instruction or some interpretation of the law.
The Chief Commissioner was a member of the Board for the disposal of Tenders for Runs and was the officer responsible for submitting the Board's disputes to the Governor.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3610-13]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2980-2981
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Church and School Corporation etc, 17 January 1828 - 14 September 1836, 1 vol
Copies of letters to the Corporation, its officers and its successors. Earlier letters will be found in NRS 950.
The Corporation of the Trustees of the Clergy and School Lands was established by letters patent of 9 March 1826 for the purposes of 'making provision for the maintenance of religion and the education of youth' in New South Wales. The Corporation was abolished by an Order in Council dated 4 February 1833.
After March 1834 all letters are addressed to the Agent for the lands of the Corporation. The letters are continued in NRS 970.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3614]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2981

Copies of letters to clergy etc, 6 October 1826 - 26 September 1898, 15 vols
Copies of letters to clergy or church representatives of all denominations, particularly the Archdeacon and, later, the Bishop of Australia, and until 24 January 1828 to the Church and School Corporation.
They mostly concern the administration of church affairs and, particularly in the earlier years, schools which were then under church control. They vary in detail from correspondence on grants for church sites and repairs for schools to a reproof for marrying convicts without authority from the Governor. Many of the letters are in reply to representations made by ministers on behalf of members of their flock on any matter in which the intervention of the Governor was desired.
Indexes: There is an index in front of each volume except that for 1833-36. The 1826‑30 volume is indexed under the names of the persons addressed. The volumes for 1830‑33 and 1836-62 are indexed in this way too, but additional entries are made for subjects including places and persons referred to in the letters.
Item Nos: [4/3615-29]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2981-2987
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Collector of Internal Revenue, the Postmaster and the Inspector of Distilleries, 28 April 1827 - 31 December 1844, 4 vols
Copies of letters to the Collector of Internal Revenue to 1836, the Postmaster from 1828 and the Surveyor of Distilleries from 1828-38.
Before 1828 letters to the Postmaster are in NRS 970 and from 1845 in NRS 994. Before February 1828 and from 1840-48 letters to the Surveyor of Distilleries are in NRS 963.
It was the duty of the Collector to receive and pay in periodically to the Colonial Treasury the quit rents on land, and all other rents, proceeds of sales, dues, etc payable to the government, with the exception of those received by the Naval Officer or Customs Department and the fees collected at the several public offices and Courts of Magistracy.
Letters to the Collector of Internal Revenue during 1830-36 notifying him of permission given to individuals to occupy lands and other letters relating to the occupation of land are in NRS 952.
For letters on these subjects subsequent to 1836 see NRS 1004 and NRS 1005.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3630-33]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2798-2799
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Collector of Internal Revenue, the Land Board, and the Commissioners for Apportioning the Territory, 4 January 1830 - 30 December 1836, 4 vols
Mainly copies of letters addressed to the Collector of Internal Revenue relating to land. Earlier letters of this type will be found in NRS 951 together with letters to the Collector in relation to his other functions. For letters subsequent to 1836 see NRS 1005.
There are also copies of letters to the Land Board for the years 1830-31 except those letters relating to the assignment of convict servants which will be found in NRS 962. The Land Board was discontinued with the abolition of free grants. Also in the first volume are copies of a number of letters addressed to the Commissioners for Apportioning the Territory. This Commission was abolished at the end of 1830 and the duties transferred to the Surveyor General. Earlier letters to the Board and the Commissioners will be found in NRS 1001.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3634-37]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2988-2989
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Colonial Agent General, 19 May 1849 - 9 July 1861, 1 vol
Copies or summaries of letters addressed to Edward Barnard who was Agent General for a number of Crown Colonies. Earlier letters appear in NRS 939.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3638]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2989

Copies of letters to the Colonial Storekeeper, 26 December 1836 - 5 November 1856, 6 vols
Copies of letters to this official who was responsible for the provision for official use of 'stationery, printed forms, clothing and stores' which were paid for from Colonial funds.
The office of Colonial Storekeeper was created as a result of various administrative rearrangements made by Governor Bourke. Bourke wanted the Ordnance Storekeeper who had taken over the Commissariat stores to be responsible for receiving stores from contractors and delivering them to the various government offices. However, the ordnance regulations would not allow this so a system was tried for a year by which departments were supplied direct by contractors and found transport for their stores as best they could. As this proved inefficient and generally unsatisfactory, a store was set up at the dockyard under the charge of a storekeeper.
This series begins with a letter dated 25 December 1836 notifying W W Barrow of Windsor of the Governor's intention to appoint him to the new office. He was placed under the direct control of the Colonial Secretary. Bourke still felt that this kind of service could be handled most effectively by the one authority and finally organized the transfer of custody of colonial stores to Richard Rogers, the Ordnance Storekeeper, on 1 January 1839. The Colonial Store department was, however, not abolished by this arrangement and the letters to it continue until 1856 mostly as instructions for the issue and supply of the stores and printed forms.
Indexes: in front of volumes, except [4/3640] which has a separate index at [4/3644]
Item Nos: [4/3639-44]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2989-2991
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Commissariat, 6 October 1826 - 28 August 1879, 13 vols
This was an Imperial, not a Colonial, department. It was concerned mainly with stores and accounts, particularly those relating to convict and military establishments. These volumes include copies of letters addressed principally to the Deputy Commissary General, but also to the Commissary of Accounts and to other officers of this department. They consist of correspondence and instructions about stores and accounts, particularly of course those connected with the convict and military establishments. From 1874 the paymaster in charge at the naval depot was responsible for expenses on the few remaining Imperial convicts and the later letters are addressed to that officer.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3645-57]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2991-2995
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Commissioners of Claims, appointed under 4 Will. IV no.9, 7 October 1833 - 8 January 1841, 1 vol (part)
Letters sent to Commissioners of Claims appointed under 4 Will. IV no.9, called 'An Act for Appointing and Empowering Commissioners to hear and determine upon Claims to Grants of Lands under the Great Seal of the Colony of New South Wales'.
Many people held land without sufficient legal title. This was a result of the previous practice when orders for land were an everyday occurrence and more often than not the Governor simply issued an order specifying the number of acres, and no other legal record was made of the transaction. This Act, then, was an attempt to clear up the confusion thus created. The Commissioners were apparently appointed for a period of two years, as this was the period covered by the Act. In 1835 a similar Act was passed renewing the 1833 Act with certain alterations and amendments.
From 24 August 1836, a new letter book was commenced, which contained copies of letters to the Commissioners appointed under the 1835 Act (5 Will. IV no.21) (NRS 957). The overlap between the two series is probably because of the work still in hand at the end of the two year period.
The volume is labelled 'Commissioners of Titles'.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/6188] pp.1-232; microfilm copy SR Reel 2996

Copies of letters to Commissioners of Claims, appointed under 5 Will. IV no.21, 24 August 1836 - 13 March 1849, 1 vol
Letters sent to the Commissioners of Claims appointed under 5 Will. IV no.21, entitled 'An Act for appointing and empowering Commissioners to examine and report upon Claims to Grants of Land, under the Great Seal of the Colony of New South Wales'. It was actually an Act renewing with certain alterations and amendments 4 Will. IV no.9 (see NRS 956). However the original (4 Will. IV no.9) was only in force for two years.
The letters relate to applications for deeds, reports to the Commissioners and discussion of policy and points of law, claims to grants of land referred to the Commissioners, and cases where fees were approved.
The numbers in red in the margin relate to Colonial Secretary's papers.
Indexes: in front of volume - by name and subject
Item No: [4/3658]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2920

Copies of letters to Commissioners of Crown Lands, 28 April 1834 - 11 February 1847, 4 vols (part)
Copies of letters mainly addressed to Commissioners of Crown Lands beyond the Boundaries of Location but including some letters to Commissioners within the settled districts who also held some other official position. These latter Commissioners had as their responsibility the protection of crown lands from intrusion, encroachment and trespass.
By Acts of Council in 1836 and 1839 Commissioners of Crown Lands were appointed for the squatting districts and these were the sole officials of Government beyond the Nineteen Counties. As such they had magisterial authority. They exercised control over the grazing properties, settled disputes between run holders, collected fees payable on Depasturing Licences and also the assessment on stock. The letters illustrate some of the difficulties facing the government in the administration of the scheme, including the unsatisfactory conduct of the Border Police set up under the 1839 Act and controlled by the Commissioners. The police were mostly convicts and Gipps finally had to decide against employing any but free settlers for the duty.
Periodic instructions to newly appointed Commissioners present an up to date picture of the situation at the date they were issued and illustrate the rapid extension of squatting in the years after the Squatting Acts were passed.
The Commissioners continued to act for a time even after the Legislative Council refused to renew the 1839 Act in the middle of 1846.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/6188 pp.260-69, 4/3659-61]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2996
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to Commissioners of Crown Lands within the boundaries, 17 March 1849 - 21 October 1856, 2 vols
The letters deal with the appointment of Commissioners, complaints received, leases of land and timber licences, illegal occupation of Crown Land and cutting of timber, erection of pounds at Sydney and Shoalhaven, purchase of land, water reserves and so on.
Letters to the Commissioners of Crown Lands 1834-47 are in NRS 958, to the Chief Commissioner 1848-56 in NRS 948 and to the Commissioners for the Gold Districts 1851-56 in NRS 973.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3662-63]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2997
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Commissioners for Compensation, 10 July - 19 December 1834, 1 vol (part)
The Act 4 Will. IV no.11 (Governor in Council) was an Act to improve the roads of the Colony, and this involved running roads through private land. The question of compensation therefore arose. Section 1 provided that the proposed roads should be gazetted and that anyone with grounds for complaint should submit his reasons to the Secretary of the Executive Council. Section VI stated that once the roads had been determined, anyone who felt aggrieved (ie owners or occupiers) should serve notice on the Colonial Secretary for compensation. Section VII describes the duties of the Commissioners for Assessing Compensation, and their mode of appointment.
On receiving a claim the Governor could appoint five or less Commissioners, and they, or any two of them, could convene a court at the nearest courthouse, call the claimant before them and require him to produce a ?50 bond for costs if the case should go against him. This bond was sent to the Registrar of the Supreme Court. The Commissioners were empowered to issue a warrant on the Chief Constable of the district to produce a jury. There was the right of challenging the jury and the Commissioners could call any witnesses they liked or take the jury to view any relevant land. The jury was to assess the damages and the Commissioners recorded the verdict and the proceedings as well as the court costs involved. This record was sent to the Supreme Court.
These are letters to such Commissioners, mainly appointing them, but also on other related matters.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/6188 pp.400-07]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2996

Copies of letters sent: Confidential, 22 December 1830 - 3 November 1842, 1 vol
This volume includes instructions and circulars of a confidential nature; letters on disciplinary matters such as a long reproof to Thomas Mitchell for his 'neglect of duty and disobedience of orders'; correspondence about irregularities in the sale of town allotments at Port Phillip in 1840; a letter to Captain Sulivan dated 3 November 1842 about occurrences at Tahiti; and instructions in 1834 to police magistrates requiring them to furnish confidential reports on crime, police, convicts and any other matters in their district which it might be useful for the government to know about.
There is also a letter dated 15 March 1836 concerning the Governor's decision to supply seed wheat, as an emergency measure, to the Windsor farmers against their notes of hand to repay at cost price, a policy which was also followed by Gipps in 1839, together with other correspondence on the supply of wheat in the latter year of the drought. There are also various letters to Captain Maconochie about his private 'pecuniary transactions' and some to La Trobe in Port Phillip including one of 17 December 1842 refusing Mr Justice Willis's request to allow an information ex officio to be filed for alleged libels on him and containing the Governor's terse suggestion that the judge 'refrain from such harangues as he is in the habit of delivering from the bench'.
Indexes: none located
Item No: [4/3664]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2997

Copies of letters sent re convicts, 6 October 1826 - 18 May 1855, 30 vols
Copies of letters mainly to the Principal Superintendent of Convicts and to the Land Board in relation to the assignment of convict servants. In 1831 this Board became the Board for the Assignment of Convict Servants and in turn was replaced by a Commissioner for the Assignment of Convict Servants in 1836.
A note in the volume for 1855 refers one to the series Copies of Letters to Penal Establishments (NRS 971) for letters to the Principal Superintendent of Convicts subsequent to 18 May 1855, but this volume has not been located in that series. The office of Principal Superintendent was discontinued in December 1855, his functions being largely taken over by the Convict Branch of the Police Department.
Indexes: In front of volumes, with the exception of [4/3666] and [4/3674-76]; [4/3673] indexes [4/3672], [4/3677] indexes [4/3675] and [4/3690] indexes [4/3689].
Index to letters sent re Convicts (1826-55) compiled by Mrs Joan Reese (copies in State Records' reading room at Fiche 5912-5914 and 5921-5925).
Item Nos: [4/3665-94]; microfilm copy of [4/3665-76] and [4/3678-94] at SR Reels 1041-1055 and 2649-2650
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Collector and Controller of Customs and the Surveyor of Distilleries, 3 January 1827 - 7 September 1855, 6 vols
Copies, summaries or notes of letters principally to the Collector and Controller of Customs and a few to his staff and until December 1828, to the Surveyor of Distilleries. From February 1828 to 1838 letters to this officer are in NRS 951 and from 1849 in NRS 970. From 1840-48 letters addressed to the Inspector or Superintendent of Distilleries are again here.
NRS 997 includes some letters to the Collector re quarantine.
The imposition of customs duties in New South Wales really began in 1800 when Governor Hunter, with the object of raising funds to complete the gaol, levied a charge on liquor imported into the colony. Subsequently Governor King extended the scheme in order to swell his Orphan Fund and the collection of import duties became a regular responsibility of the Naval Officer of the port. By 1826 Darling found the staff performing this duty, consisting of the Naval Officer himself and one Clerk, was hopelessly inadequate, and appointed a Board to investigate.
On 9 April 1827 the first commission as Collector of Customs was issued to the veteran John Thomas Campbell, Captain Rossi being transferred from the Police department and appointed comptroller. (The customs department remained a branch of the imperial customs until 1851 when the establishment was transferred to the colonial government.)
These letters begin when Piper was still Naval Officer but correspondence with him after his dismissal is continued in NRS 943. The letters are mostly on routine business; exemption from or collection of dues, interpretation of regulations, arrangements about landing imported goods and some quarantine matters. Letter 83 of 8 June 1854 is from Elyard, the Colonial Secretary's Chief Clerk, to the Controller of Customs setting out the Governor-General's decision against levying duty at Albury on imported goods on which duty had already been levied in Melbourne.
Indexes: There is a subject index to each volume and also entries for officials, other than the Collector of Customs, addressed.
Item Nos: [4/3695-700]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2855-2856
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Denominational School Board, 4 January 1848 - 29 December 1866, 1 vol
Copies of letters to the Board and its members. The Board consisted of a representative from each of the four principal denominations — Church of England, Presbyterian, Church of Rome (Roman Catholic) and Wesleyan — and was responsible for the conduct and inspection of, and religious instruction in, the various denominational schools.
The volume begins with a letter appointing the Board's members and it continues for the duration of the Board's existence. The letters deal with any matters coming within the Board's province, especially the establishment of schools, the supply of equipment for them and the money to be spent on their maintenance.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3701]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2857

Copies of letters to the National School Board, 4 January 1848 - 27 December 1866, 1 vol
The counterpart of the Denominational School Board, the National School Board or more correctly the Board of Commissioners for National Education was set up under the Act of Council 11 Vic. no.48. Its duties were similar but it was entrusted more specifically with a system of schools to be conducted under 'Lord Stanley's National System of Education' which had been in operation in Ireland since 1831. The Council voted ?2,000 in 1847 towards this object. Plunkett, the Attorney General, was appointed chairman, and Nicholson, the speaker of the Council, and W S Macleay its two members. The Board immediately set about putting the Irish Scheme into effect but while the whole plan represented the first major act in establishing a general education system it remained unsatisfactory largely because of the dual control of the schools.
Most of the letters in the volume are of a fairly routine nature - school sites and buildings, appointment of teaching staff and so on.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3702]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2857

Copies of letters sent to the Council of Education, 4 January 1867 - 9 December 1873, 2 vols
Both the Denominational and National School Boards were dissolved by Parkes' Public Schools Act and their functions were taken over by a Council of Education from the beginning of 1867. This volume consists of letters to this Council from its creation until 1873, although the Council continued to operate until it was abolished by the first Public Instruction Act of 1880 which placed education directly under the control of a minister of the Crown.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3703-04]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2857
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent re Immigration, 10 February 1836 - 31 December 1879, 8 vols
Copies of letters to surgeon superintendents of convict ships and surgeons of the Royal Navy; the Emigrants' Friend Society; the Board appointed for investigating claims to bounties for emigrants; to individuals; to the Superintendent of Emigration; the Emigration and later Immigration Agent, and the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners.
By 1849 almost all the letters were addressed to the Agent for Immigration, and from June 1864 to February 1896 are continued in a separate series (NRS 969).
The letters to the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners are continued in the next series (NRS 968).
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3705-12]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2857-2859
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, 11 May 1849 - 17 November 1875, 2 vols
Copies of letters to the Commissioners who have been appointed in 1840 for the 'management of the sales of land in the British Colonies, and for promoting a well regulated emigration to them'.
A board of commissioners of emigration had been set up in 1831 charged particularly with arranging the emigration of 'unprotected Females'. This work was subsequently done by committees and in April 1837 T F Elliot who had been secretary to the commissioners, was appointed agent general for emigration and made responsible for the general superintendence and control of emigration from Great Britain. In January 1840, Lord John Russell appointed the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners replacing both the Agent General and South Australian colonization commissioners. It was charged with collecting and disseminating accurate information on the colonies, with the sale in Great Britain of colonial waste lands and with the application of the proceeds of these sales to the expenses of emigration.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3713-14]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2860
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Immigration Agent, 3 June 1864 - 13 February 1896, 2 vols
The volumes include instructions to the agent on matters relating to immigration; and letters dealing with appointments, acknowledging notifications of the arrival of immigrant ships, financial matters and so on.
The earlier letters are to the Department of Lands, immigration being one of its functions in the sixties.
Letters to the Agent from 1836-64 are in NRS 967 and those to him on the subject of quarantine, 1837-55, in NRS 997.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3715, 4/4776]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2860
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent to Establishments, 4 December 1826 - 12 March 1839, 1 April 1841 - 27 May 1856, 14 vols
This series contains copies of letters to officials for whom separate books had not been opened and probably continues NRS 941. Most are addressed to the Superintendents etc of the various convict establishments, including the Female Factory but excluding the penal settlements; the Clerk of the Councils; from 1833 the Orphan Schools; from 1841 the Visiting Magistrates and Superintendents of the House of Correction and the various gaols, and from 1836 of Cockatoo Island. The 1852-56 volume includes letters to Boards and to semi-governmental or public bodies also.
Other establishments addressed are:
Australian Museum (1837- )
Benevolent Society (1836- )
Botanical Gardens
H M Botanical Collector
Brigade Major (Dec 1826 only)
Chief Constable Sydney (1838 only)
Church and School Corporation Lands, Agent (1841- )
Collector of Royalty on coal lands in 1854
Commandant, Newcastle (1826)
Commissioners of Claims (1851- )
Committee of the Projected Church of England College (1853)
Editor, Sydney Gazette
Emigration Officer (1854)
Geological and Mineralogical Surveyor (1850)
(Mineral Surveyor 1826)
Government Astronomer
Observatory Parramatta
Government Printer (Printer of the Government Gazette)
Government Emigration Officer (July 1851)
Hyde Park Improvement Committee (1854- )
Inspector of Slaughter Houses
Inspectors of cattle slaughtered at various places
Inspector of Weights and Measures (1854)
Lieutenant Governor (1826)
NSW Savings Bank (1844)
Paris Exhibition Commission (1854- )
Pilot Board (1853)
Postmaster (1827-28)
St Pauls College (1854- )
Shipping Masters (1854- )
Steam Navigation Board (1853)
Superintendent of Dawes Battery
Superintendent of Government Clocks
Superintendent of Government Domain, Parramatta
Superintendent of Iron Gangs (1844)
Superintendent of Lunatic Asylum (1838)
Superintendent of Public Works at various places
Surveyor of Coal Mines (1854- )
Surveyor of Distilleries (1830, 1849- )
Sydney Grammar School (1854- )
Sydney Mint (1854- )
Sydney University (1852- )
This list is only a guide to the offices addressed and is not complete.
Indexes: The index in front of the 1833-34 volume is incomplete and there is a separate index volume [4/3721] for December 1831 - March 1833 [4/3720]. The volume for 30 August 1834 - 30 March 1837 [4/3722] is not indexed.
Item Nos: [4/3716-29]; microfilm copy SR Reels 1055-1061
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent to Penal Establishments, 7 May 1849 - 15 April 1853, 1 vol
Most of the letters in this volume are to the penal establishment at Cockatoo Island which had been proclaimed in 1841 as a place of confinement for male convicts under sentence of transportation, and subsequently became a depot for convicts sentenced to the roads or public works. They concern the convicts on the Island and the use of the underground silos there which Gipps had constructed in 1839 as a store for government grain against future shortages.
Other letters are to the Superintendent of the Breakwater Stockade at Newcastle, which was also a penal settlement, and to the Board for the Classification of Convicts.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3730]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2650

Copies of letters to Fort Wellington, 19 May 1827 - 23 July 1829, 1 vol
Copies of letters to the Commandant, Captain Smyth, commencing with his instructions and continuing until the settlement was abandoned.
In the back of the volume is a copy of a letter dated 12 May 1829 addressed to Captain Fremantle or the Officer in Command of the New Settlement at Swan River, to which settlement the stores and provisions were transferred.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3731]; microfilm copy SR Reel 703

Copies of letters sent to Chief Commissioner and other Commissioners of Crown Lands for the Gold Districts, 23 May 1851 - 1 October 1856, 2 vols
Most of these copies of letters sent during the period 1851-52 [4/3732] are directed to the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Gold Districts and are concerned with his instructions for organising the affairs of the gold fields. The few letters directed to Assistant Commissioners in this period are concerned with their initial appointments. There are, however, a few copies of letters sent to Edward Hargraves in connection with his work as 'Commissioner of Crown Lands prospecting for Gold' and also to the Reverend W B Clarke concerning his Geological Exploration of the Northern Districts of the colony.
After December 1852 the office of Chief Commissioner was discontinued (letter No. 324, 31 December 1852) and all communications previously directed by the gold commissioners to this officer were to be sent direct to the Colonial Secretary. Thus, for the period 1853-56 [4/3733] most of the letters are to the Commissioners for the Western and Southern Gold Districts and their Assistant Commissioners and are concerned with the general organisation of the gold fields.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3732-33]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2861
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters sent to the Government Printer, 1 July 1841 - 11 February 1856, 1 vol
Copies of letters mainly to the Government Printer and a few letters to the Board for the Management of the Government Printing Office, which had the general superintendence of the establishment. For other letters to this Board see NRS 947.
Before 1841 letters relating to government printing will be found in NRS 970.
Printing for the government, including that of the Government Gazette established by Bourke in 1832, had been done mainly on contract after having been almost a monopoly of the Howes for many years. This system proved unsatisfactory from the difficulty in getting the work done and in January 1841 Gipps reported that having had the opportunity to establish a government printing office he had gladly availed himself of it. There was some opposition from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury but the printing office remained.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3734]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2861

Copies of letters to the Health Officers, 4 March 1839 - 5 October 1859, 1 vol
Copies of letters principally relating to quarantine and from 1846 also to vaccination. There are only a few letters in the years 1842-45. The Health Officer was required to inspect on its arrival in port, every vessel not engaged in the coastal trade or coming from Van Diemen's Land and submit a questionnaire to their masters. He had also to keep himself acquainted with the health of crews of ships in port but not in quarantine and make an annual report of his activities.
He was also responsible for the medical care of emigrants in the Government Buildings in Bent Street when they were no longer cared for by the surgeon of the ship by which they came to the colony.
From December 1846 the Health Officer was responsible for the vaccination of persons in Sydney and the arrangement of vaccinations in various parts of the colony. For other letters re quarantine see NRS 997.
No quarantine restrictions had been applied in New South Wales before a Quarantine Act was passed by the Legislative Council in 1832. The measures adopted by this Act proved inadequate because of the growth of overseas commerce and the consequent increased danger of introducing infectious diseases to the colony. Gipps therefore appointed John Dobie, a naval surgeon, to the newly created office of Health Officer in January 1839. This letter book contains the detailed instructions to Dobie under which he and his successors, A Savage (November 1839) and H G Alleyne (July 1852), worked. In December 1846 detailed instructions were issued to the Health Officer re the new vaccination centre. Health Officers were also appointed at Newcastle and Moreton Bay in 1851, and detailed instructions were given for their guidance. Administration of the Health Officer's establishment was transferred to the Colonial Treasurer in October 1859 and the volume ends with instructions for future correspondence and reports to be addressed to that minister.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3735]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2861

Copies of letters to the Judicial Establishment, the Sheriff and the Coroners, 6 October 1826 - 15 October 1908, 40 vols
Letters to Judges of the Supreme Court and officers of the Court, the Courts of Quarter Sessions, Courts of Requests, Law Officers and Coroners; to July 1828 the Sheriff and to 1829 the Governor of Sydney Gaol.
Letters to the Sheriff after July 1828 are in a separate series (NRS 1000).
Saxe Bannister took up his appointment as Attorney General in April 1824 on much the same basis as his counterpart in England and in the same year John Stephen assumed the Solicitor Generalship as an unpaid adjunct to his office of Commissioner of the Court of Requests. He was to be purely a deputy or assistant for the Attorney General 'not to be officially consulted or employed in any case in which the Attorney General may be able properly to conduct the Public Business without such assistance'. The Solicitor General's was created a separate paid office in 1827 in order to render the Attorney General more efficient assistance and to provide a deputy for him in case of death or absence. For a time while Kinchela was Attorney General most of his work fell upon Plunkett, the Solicitor General, and in 1836 the Solicitor Generalship was abolished upon Kinchela's enforced retirement and Plunkett's elevation to his office. It was reinstituted, however, in 1843 after repeated representation by the Governor, and in 1856 both Attorney General and Solicitor General became ministers of the crown, the latter being superseded in that capacity by a Minister of Justice in 1873.
In 1856 much of the business that was previously handled by the Colonial Secretary, was transferred to the jurisdiction of the new ministers; and the contents of this series of letters books decline in importance until finally the letters are almost entirely devoted to the appointment of Justices of the Peace and the transmission of oaths taken by them.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3736-75]; microfilm copy SR Reels 624-653
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to King George's Sound, 4 November 1826 - 11 January 1831, 1 vol
Copies of letters to the Commandant and other officers in the settlement. The book begins with instructions to Major Lockyer of the 57th Regiment to establish a settlement which continued until handed over to Western Australia in 1831.
In the back of the volume is a list of convicts sent to King George's Sound which shows the name, ship, convictions and sentence, trade, age, native place and personal description of each. Loose in the volume is a 'List of prisoners proceeding in the brig "Governor Phillip" to King George's Sound'.
The settlement arose from fear of French designs upon the Australian mainland — which were fostered by the presence of the Dumont d'Urville expedition — and the consequent desire to establish a British title to the whole continent. The settlement differed from the others of the time in that it became permanent.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3776]; microfilm copy SR Reel 712

Copies of letters to the Legislative Council, 7 August 1843 - 9 March 1855, 1 vol
Copies of letters mainly to the Speaker or Clerk of the Council transmitting commissions of nominated members of the Council, writs for elections, resignations of members and official papers to be laid before the Council; and correspondence on the appointment of Returning Officers, prorogation of the Council and other miscellaneous matters affecting the Council or its members.
The elections for the first Legislative Council under the new constitution of 1842 were completed by July 1843 and Gipps opened the first session on 3 August, the month this volume begins.
The first letter concerns the appointment of the Attorney General as a non-elective member of the Council in place of Lieutenant Colonel Barney, resigned.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3777]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2862

Copies of letters to the Master Attendant, masters of ships, the Harbour Master and the Port Master, 11 August 1828 - 28 April 1855, 8 vols
NRS 984, this series includes copies of letters addressed to the Master Attendant, from 1833 to the Harbour Master also, and from 1843 the Port Master only. There are also letters to the masters of ships engaged on government business up to about 1834, the supervision of such ships being one of his most important duties.
The Master Attendant was charged with constant attendance in the Dock Yard, muster of convicts employed, custody of the store, equipment of vessels, building of boats, account of the cargoes received and of fittings and materials from convict ships and inspection of the accounts of the masters of colonial vessels for provisions embarked for crews and convicts. He also had the duties of a harbourmaster and control of the boats used to guard against the escape of convicts.
The office of Master Attendant was instituted by Macquarie on Bigge's recommendation in January 1821. The object was to relieve the Chief Engineer, a military officer, of duties that Bigge believed were beyond his compass. John Nicholson, R N, was appointed as Harbour Master, taking over most of the port duties formerly performed by the Naval Officer, who became essentially a customs officer only. His office received statutory recognition by the Shipping Act of 1825.
See also NRS 997 for letters to the Master Attendant re quarantine.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3778-85]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2862-2864
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to Medical Staff, 4 December 1826 - 27 July 1855, 6 vols
Copies of letters addressed to the officer in charge of the colony's medical department who was known until 1828 as the Principal Surgeon, from that date as the Inspector of Hospitals, from 1836 as the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals and from 1848 as the Medical Adviser to the Government. There are also letters to the President of the Medical Board and to the surgeon superintendents of convict transports.
Most of the letters after 1848 are addressed to the Medical Adviser to the Government. Letters to the Health Office and also letters relating to quarantine are in NRS 975 and NRS 997 respectively.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3786-91]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2864-2866
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to Melville Island, 14 August 1824 - 11 February 1829, 1 vol, *ARK (1824-25)
The volume begins with a letter of instructions dated 14 August 1824 to Captain Morris Barlow commanding the military forces on the expedition to the north west coast of New Holland, which, with the expeditions to King George's Sound and Westernport, was designed to thwart supposed French ambitions. Subsequent letters are addressed to the commandant and other officers of the settlement established. This was not a success and in November 1828 after a good deal of money had been spent on the project, instructions were issued to the commandant to abandon it.
In the back of the volume is a list of convicts showing their names, original convictions, callings, vessels transported by, number and date returned.
Indexes: To the letters - back of volume; to the list of convicts - front of volume
The letters 1824-25 are indexed in the Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825
Item No: [4/3792]; microfilm copy 1824-25 SR Reel 6019 (*ARK), 1824-29 SR Reel 748

Copies of letters to Military Officers, 11 January 1827 - 31 October 1832, 1 vol
Copies of letters to the Brigade Major (before this see NRS 970, for December 1826 only), the Lieutenant Governor, the Barrack Master, the Military Secretary, the Commandants of Mounted Police and other military officers.
Later letters are in NRS 985.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3793]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2869

Copies of letters to Moreton Bay, 27 August 1824 - 5 August 1853, 4 vols, *ARK (1824-25)
Copies of letters to the Commandant and other officers at the penal settlement (to 1842), and later letters to the Police Magistrate, other officials and individuals in the settlement. From April 1853 they are addressed to the Government Resident.
The first volume begins with a letter to Lieutenant H Miller of the 40th Regiment, dated 27 August 1824, notifying him of his appointment as military Commandant of the settlement to be established, mainly to replace Port Macquarie as a penal settlement. The settlement ceased to be used as a penal station in 1839 but the correspondence continues on miscellaneous matters concerning it until August 1853.
Following page 272 in the volume for 1824-31 is a list of convicts transported to Moreton Bay. This shows for each convict his original conviction including when and where he was sentenced; his trade or calling; name; the vessel he came by; the number on the folio; whom he replaced or was replaced by; and his colonial conviction, including where, by whom, when, sentence; ship transported to Moreton Bay by; date returned; remarks. There is an index to this list in the front of the volume.
Indexes: [4/3796] which indexes [4/3795]. Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-25
Item Nos: [4/3794-97]; microfilm copy 1824-25 SR Reel 6019 (*ARK), 1824-53 SR Reels 749-750
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to Naval Officers, 6 October 1826 - 9 August 1828, 1 vol
Copies of letters principally to the Master Attendant, Captain Nicholson, and also to officers of the Navy, and until December 1826 to the Naval Officer and his staff.
It was intended also for letters to the Colonial Marine and for those to naval officers generally, such as the letter of 6 December 1826 to Dumont D'Urville about the dockyard facilities required for his ships.
From 1827 copies of letters to the Collector and Controller of Customs are in NRS 963, and from August 1828 those to the Master Attendant and Masters of Ships, the Harbour Master and Port Master are in NRS 979.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3798]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2869

Copies of letters to Naval and Military Officers, 6 November 1832 - 19 October 1900, 20 vols
Copies of letters to the above which include the Military Secretary, the Major of Brigade, the Aide de Camp, the Commandants of the Mounted Police, the Barrack Master, the Ordnance Storekeeper, the Officer Commanding Royal Engineers (later the Commanding Royal Engineer) to 1839, and to the respective officers of Ordnance. From 1853 letters to Lieutenant Colonel Barney R E again appear in this series and relate to the defences of Port Jackson. For letters to the engineers 1840-46 see also NRS 996.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3799-818]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2870-2877
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Commissioners of Claims, New Zealand land, 30 September 1840 - 30 October 1841, 1 vol
The volume begins with letters appointing commissioners for hearing claims to land grants in New Zealand. There are also letters to the Governor and the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand. The New Zealand Act of August 1840 authorized the Governor of New South Wales to appoint the commissioners in accordance with the Secretary of State's instructions. The Act, however, was disallowed upon the change in policy by the British Government which erected New Zealand into a separate colony. The Commissioners appointed by Gipps were authorized to remain in office only until the appointment of a commissioner from England.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3819]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2878

Copies of letters to officials and individuals re land in New Zealand, 15 June 1840 - 28 October 1841, 1 vol
Copies of letters dealing with New Zealand land matters to persons other than the Commissioners of Claims.
The volume ends in October 1841 with the establishment of a separate government in New Zealand. The Colonial Secretary sent all outstanding claims to the Colonial Secretary there.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No:[4/3820]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2878

Copies of letters to Norfolk Island, May 1825 - 12 June 1851, 4 vols, *ARK (1825)
Copies of letters to the Commandant and later the Superintendent of Norfolk Island and other officers. In front of the 1825-31 volume is an index to a list of convicts which was once in the back of the book. Only one page of this list remains.
The series begins at the second stage of the Island's occupation. Bathurst had written to Brisbane in July 1824 desiring him to reoccupy Norfolk Island, 'upon the principal of a great Hulk or Penitentiary', as a place to receive the worst convicts. The object was to relieve the main colony of many of the inconveniences resulting from their presence in New South Wales as well as to establish a place of secondary punishment. There was some delay from lack of shipping but the reoccupation was finally made on 6 June 1825 under Captain Turton of the 40th Regiment as military commandant.
Indexes: in front of volumes. Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825
Item Nos: [4/3821-24]; microfilm copy 1825 SR Reel 6019 (*ARK), 1825-51 SR Reels 764-766
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to Magistrates, Police, etc., 6 October 1826 - 24 June 1856, 35 vols (part)
Copies of letters addressed to Benches of Magistrates, Police Magistrates, Justices of the Peace and Superintendents of Police. From 1827 to 1846 the Commandants of the Mounted Police are addressed, after which these letters are in a separate series (NRS 991). From 1845 letters to the Commissioner of Police are included. The letters to magistrates beyond the settled districts for the years 1847-55 are in a separate series (NRS 990).
The letters besides being concerned with the police function of apprehending criminals, including bushrangers, contain instructions to magistrates for carrying out the general administrative business of Government.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3825-59]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2807-2818
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to Magistrates beyond the settled districts, 1 January 1847 - 3 July 1855, 4 vols (part)
Copies of letters to Benches of Magistrates and Justices of the Peace and from 1848 to the Commandant of the Native Police.
The letters in the series are concerned with such matters as Aboriginal aggressions and protection; appointment of clerks, constables and other officials; the court house, lock-up and other buildings; and licensing.
The letters to the Commandant of the Native Police deal with supplies of arms, rations etc., to them and various incidents with the Aborigines.
Letters before and after these dates are in NRS 989.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3860-62, 4/3858 part]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2817-2819
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Mounted Police, 21 February 1846 - 26 December 1850, 1 vol
Copies of letters to Commandants of the Mounted Police in the various districts. The letters are concerned with appointments to the force, rations and arms supplied, trouble with Aborigines, escort of prisoners, robberies and bushrangers, and barracks and quarters.
From 1827 to 1846 see NRS 989, NRS 982 and NRS 985 also include letters to the Commandants of the Mounted Police.
The Mounted Police Force was discontinued from 31 December 1850, the Legislative Council having refused to vote any amount for their support.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3863]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2819

Copies of letters to Port Macquarie, 28 June 1822 - 12 June 1834, 3 vols, *ARK (1822-25)
Copies of letters to the Commandant, other officers and prisoners at the settlement. In each volume is a list of convicts sent to Port Macquarie, the first two arranged chronologically and the last alphabetically. There is an index to the first two lists. The lists show for each convict his name, original conviction, calling, vessel transported by, number, whom he replaced or was replaced by, colonial conviction, date of transportation to Port Macquarie and date returned.
Port Macquarie was settled in 1821 as a place of secondary punishment, but settlement expanded so rapidly that within a few years it became useless for this purpose. This was the main reason for the establishment of Moreton Bay as an alternative. A searching inquiry into the state of the settlement was held in 1828 and in July 1830 the commandant was instructed in detail on the procedure for removing the convicts to Norfolk Island. The area was thrown open to private settlement by a proclamation of 30 July 1830 but the command was not transferred to a civil officer until two years later when a magistrate, Benjamin Sullivan, was appointed to take control of the area. By that time the only remaining government establishments were those for convicts awaiting reassignment and for a few female convicts and cripples or invalids, and some government farms and buildings including the watchhouse and lock-up.
Indexes: in front of volumes, except for [4/3864]. Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary, 1788-1825
Item Nos: [4/3864-66]; microfilm copy 1822-25 SR Reel 6019 (*ARK), 1822-34 SR Reels 824-825
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to Port Phillip, 2 August 1839 - 21 April 1856, 10 vols
This series was commenced after La Trobe reached the colony. It includes copies of letters to him while still in Sydney and then letters to officials in Port Phillip and from July 1851, Victoria, most of the letters being addressed to the Superintendent and later the Lieutenant Governor or Colonial Secretary. Other officials addressed include Police Magistrates, the Protector of Aborigines, Clergy and the Sub Treasurer. There are also a few letters to groups such as the Directors of the Port Phillip Bank.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3867-76]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2879-2882
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Postmaster General, 3 January 1845 - 30 November 1854, 1 vol
This continues the letters to the Postmaster General previously found in NRS 970 and NRS 951
The letters deal with such matters as the appointment of postmasters, timetables and routes of mail coaches, post office buildings, postage rates and regulations, arrangements with contractors, staff, and the introduction and printing of postage stamps.
Index: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3877]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2799

Copies of letters to Engineering and Public Works officers, 6 October 1826 - 10 October 1856, 13 vols
Copies of letters mainly to the Civil Engineer and to March 1827 to the Inspector of Roads and Bridges, from November 1828 to the Director of Public Works, and from April 1832 to the Colonial Architect. There are also letters in the early period to the Assistant Inspector of Roads and Bridges, the Town Surveyor, the Mineral Surveyor to 1836, the Superintendent of Works, the Superintendent at Newcastle and at Parramatta, and the Clerk of Public Works, Bathurst.
By the general order of 5 January 1826 the Chief Engineer was to superintend all public works including the construction and maintenance of all public buildings and the making and repairing of streets, wharves, sewers, canals and drains.
The Inspector of Roads and Bridges was in charge of the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, and the general superintendence of road parties and clearing gangs.
Dumaresq acted in both positions from 1826 until a Surveyor of Roads and Bridges was appointed in April 1827 to take charge of that department. Letters to him are in a separate series (NRS 1002).
The position of Director of Public Works was created in 1828 but the office was abolished in March 1832, the Surveyor General being made responsible for surveying and describing Sydney town allotments, of marking out the Crown lands for enclosure, and for laying down the alignment of streets and the repair and construction of the same.
A separate department, the Colonial Architect's Department was created in April 1832 to be responsible for the Public Buildings. At the end of March 1833 control of the Colonial Architect's Department was transferred to the Surveyor General's Department by direction of the Secretary of State. Letters continue to be addressed to Hallen, the Architect, in this series till May 1833. From April 1833 to December 1834 see NRS 1001 for letters re the functions of the Colonial Architect. From 31 December 1834 the Colonial Architect corresponded directly with the Colonial Secretary (Colonial Secretary to Surveyor General 9 December 1834) and copies of the letters are again in this series. (For instructions to the Colonial Architect on his duties see the letter to him from the Colonial Secretary dated 8 January 1835 in this series.)
In January 1836 Captain Barney was appointed Colonial Engineer and had a separate staff for the superintendence of roads, bridges, wharves, quays etc. and this department remained in existence to the end of 1843. (see NRS 954 and 996).
In 1844 the duties of the Colonial Engineer's Department were added to those of the Colonial Architect and his books transferred to that office. On 1 October 1848 the military buildings and works were placed under his charge.
By 1855 the duties of the Colonial Architect's Department comprised: the erection of and repair of buildings, military works, roads, bridges, lighthouses, abattoirs, gaols and lockups, lunatic asylums, wharves, drainage, ironwork, cells, water dams, ship fittings, valuations of land and buildings, and the supply and repair of furniture.
Indexes: in front of volumes, except [4/3882], ie 1831-32, which is in front of [4/3883]
Item Nos: [4/3878-90]; microfilm copy SR Reels 2997-3001
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to officers of the Royal Engineers and the Superintendent of Cockatoo Island, 7 January 1840 - 19 August 1846, 1 vol
Copies of letter principally to the Commanding Royal Engineer and other officers on engineering works. From 1842 letters are also addressed to the Superintendent of Cockatoo Island and from 1844 to the Newcastle Stockade. The Commanding Royal Engineer also acted as Colonial Engineer after 1836. The Colonial Engineer's Department was disbanded at the end of 1843. During this period it superintended roads, bridges, wharves and quays. Its functions were transferred to the Colonial Architect in 1844.
Index: in front of volume (loose)
Item No: [4/3891]; microfilm copy SR Reel 3012

Copies of letters sent re Quarantine, 26 February 1837 - 8 March 1855, 2 vols
Copies of letters principally to the Master Attendant, the Superintendent of Quarantine, Surgeons and also to other officials and individuals including the Military Secretary, the Controller of Customs, the Inspector General of Hospitals and the Immigration Agent.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3892-93]; microfilm copy SR Reel 3012
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Railway Companies and Commissioners of Railways, 2 July 1850 - 4 November 1856, 1 vol
Copies of letters to the Sydney Railway Company, the Hunter River Railway Company and from 1855 to the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners of Railways. The letters deal with all aspects of the establishment of the railways including the appointment of the commissioners and other officials, financial matters, station and line surveying and construction, and the proposed construction of electric telegraph line to Parramatta.
The Sydney Railway Company was incorporated by Act of Parliament on 10 October 1849, and its first undertaking, the linking of Sydney and Goulburn, was begun on 3 July 1850. The company was unsuccessful and the Government, in September 1855, was compelled to acquire its assets and personnel.
The Hunter River Railway Company was incorporated in October 1853 to establish a line from Newcastle to Maitland and beyond. It also experienced difficulties and the Government took over its assets in July 1855 and put the work under the control of the Railway Commissioners.
Index: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3894]; microfilm copy SR Reel 3013

Copies of letters to the Registrar General, 2 July 1845 - 28 April 1865, 1 vol
Copies of letters mainly relating to the transmittal of title deeds for enrolment at the Registrar General's Department and to the administration of that office. Governor King's general orders of 13 November 1800 and 26 February 1802 provided for the voluntary registration of certain legal documents in the Judge Advocate's Office. As a result of the precedent thus established the Registrar of the Supreme Court subsequently acted in practice as registrar for the colony. An Act in 1843 established a formal Registrar for the colony, William Carter being appointed. The Registrar General's Department was discontinued at the end of 1849 and its functions transferred to the Office of the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court (see NRS 976). With the passing of the Registration Act (19 Vic. No.34) the Registrar General's Office was reconstructed and correspondence begins again on 15 December 1855.
Index: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3895]; microfilm copy SR Reel 3013

Copies of letters to the Sheriff, 5 July 1828 - 31 December 1850, 7 vols
The letters relate to prisoners, gaols, juries and other matters which were under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff. For letters before this date see NRS 976.
The office of Sheriff was created in 1823 as part of the general reorganization of the administration of justice in the colony replacing the older office of Provost Marshal.
Indexes: in front of each volume
Index to NSW Colonial Secretary's Office Letters sent to Sheriff (1828-50) published by the Convict Connections group of the Genealogical Society of Queensland (copies in State Records' reading room at Fiche 6415-6423).
Item Nos: [4/3896-902]; microfilm copy SR Reels 1062-1065, another copy of [4/3897-98] at SR Reels 760-761
Item List: see separate list

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 NRS 952.
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 NRS 1003).
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3903-33, 2/8111]; microfilm copy SR Reels 3013-3024
Item List: see separate list

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 NRS 995). 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 NRS 1001.
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 (NRS 1001). 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 NRS 1001 from this date.
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3934-35]; microfilm copy SR Reel 3002
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Town Surveyor, 4 January 1837 - 21 July 1842, 1 vol
Copies of letters addressed mainly to the Town Surveyor and from 1840 to the District Surveyor.
In January 1837 it was directed that the construction and repair of streets in the established parts of the town of Sydney would be transferred from the Surveyor General to the Town Surveyor, the latter being made responsible direct to the Colonial Secretary. Before this date see NRS 1001.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3936]; microfilm copy SR Reel 3002

Copies of letters to the Auditor and the Colonial Treasurer, 9 October 1826 - 19 February 1849, 22 vols
These officers were responsible for receiving and accounting for colonial revenues.
This series does not include letters relating to the collection of quit rents for lands and these will be found in NRS 952 to 1836 and NRS 1005 to 1849. Letters to the Colonial Treasurer from 1849 to 1856 are in NRS 1006. Those to the Auditor General 1849 to 1855 are in NRS 946.
Indexes: in front of volumes, except [4/3938] January - December 1828
Item Nos: [4/3937-58]; microfilm copy SR Reels 3002-3009
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Colonial Treasurer re land, 6 January 1837 - 31 October 1849, 3 vols
This series which mainly includes letters informing the Treasurer that land has been occupied, continued NRS 952 for the period after the position of Collector of Internal Revenue had been abolished. Letters after this date concerning land are in NRS 1006.
Indexes: in front of volumes, except for [4/3959] where it is in the back of the volume
Item Nos: [4/3959-61]; microfilm copy SR Reels 3009-3010
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to the Colonial Treasurer, 17 February 1849 - 7 April 1856, 4 vols
The series appears to include letters on all subjects relating to the Treasurer's duties, including the sale of Crown Land. Other subjects include appointments of various officials; accounts and allowances; and gold, depasturing, publicans' and other licences.
These volumes continue NRS 951 (1827-36) and NRS 1004 (1826-49); and on matters relating to land revenue, NRS 1001 (1826-29), 952 (1830-36) and 1005 (1837-49).
Indexes: in front of volumes
Item Nos: [4/3962-65]; microfilm copy SR Reels 3010-3011
Item List: see separate list

Copies of letters to Western Port, 4 November 1826 - 23 January 1828, 1 vol
Copies of letters to the Commandant, beginning with instructions to Captain Wright, dated 4 November 1826, to establish a settlement. At the back of this volume are copies of letters received from the Commandant from his first report of 26 December 1826 to his last dated 12 November 1827 after which the settlement was abandoned.
Index: none located
Item No: [4/3966]; microfilm copy SR Reel 2649

Copies of telegrams to and from the Agent General for New South Wales in London, 11 August 1873 - 21 June 1881, 31 January 1882 - 24 January 1908, 17 vols
Copies of telegrams sent and received, in the early period together, and later kept separately. Occasionally other official telegrams between Sydney and London are included, ie in [4/3973-74] and [4/3983]. The registered number of an acknowledging letter is noted where applicable. From about 1885 some of the telegrams are coded and translations are attached.
The telegrams deal with a wide variety of matters reflecting the Agent General's duties — raising of loans, purchase of various goods, and immigration.
Telegraphic communication between New South Wales and the other Australian colonies was not effected until after self government, and overseas contact was not made until 1872.
Indexes: in front of [4/3978-82] and [4/3986-88]
Item Nos: [4/3973-89]
Item List: see separate list

Telegraphic cipher codes, 1880, 1886, 1891, 4 vols
a) The Telegraph Code by G Ager. 3rd Edition. London 1880. Compiled from the languages sanctioned at the London Telegraph Convention, 1879. The volume is arranged alphabetically by the code word and translates it back into normal English.
eg.
Basthut: War is imminent between —— and ——.
b) NSW Government Telegraph Cipher Code by H A Unwin. Sydney 1886. The volume is arranged alphabetically by words to be coded.
eg.
Voyage .....
Days of voyage    subalbum
During voyage     subamaro
On the voyage     subarant, etc.
As the code words are used in strict alphabetical order, the volume can be used to translate back into normal English. There are some handwritten additions
c) NSW Government Telegraph Cipher Code by H A Unwin. Sydney 1891 (2 copies). Arranged similarly to 1st Edition. One copy has handwritten additions.
There are telegraph codes for 1888, 1890 and 1892 among the records of the Treasury.
Item Nos: [4/3992-95]
Item List: see separate list

Copies of telegrams sent, 15 March 1887 - 25 June 1888, 1 vol
Copies of telegrams sent to the Colonial Secretaries and individuals in the other Australian colonies and New Zealand, and to officials on Thursday Island and Suva.
This volume is an archival estray.
Indexes: none located
Item No: [4/7626]

Copies of telegrams to and from overseas government offices, 26 March 1886 - 26 October 1909, 1 vol
Copies, with translations attached, of telegrams to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Secretary of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition and many other officials, consuls, and premiers. They deal with a wide variety of matters, not necessarily of much importance, and were usually acknowledged by letter.
Indexes: none located
Item No: [4/3991]

Copies of telegrams to and from overseas commercial agents, 29 August 1902 - 21 May 1907, 1 vol
Copies of telegrams, with translations attached, to and from commercial agents in various parts of the world, eg London, New York, Ottawa, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Singapore etc. They deal with requests for quotations and samples of various goods, trade exhibitions, and the shipment of cargoes.
The telegrams are usually acknowledged by a letter.
Indexes: in front of volume
Item No: [4/3990]