Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 49
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
The petition referred to in the Secretary of State Despatch does
not appear to be held in State Records; a copy is available at HRA
I, 24, pp.190-95.
Box [4/1321] also contains one despatch relating to the separation
of Port Phillip —
Despatch No. 88 of 22 August 1845: the Secretary of State
acknowledging receipt of the Governor's despatch, No. 49 of
6 March 1845, in which was enclosed a petition from the members
of the Town Council of Melbourne praying for the entire separation
of the District of Port Phillip from New South Wales and to its
erection into a separate and independent Colony; and, referring to
his Despatch of 12 June 1845 (No.58), repeating his request to be
furnished with a "full & distinct" report on the subject of the
separation.
Despatch No.88
NRS 4512,
[4/1326]
1847 Despatches
Box [4/1326] contains the following despatch —
Despatch No. 203 of 31 July 1847: the Secretary of State
communicating the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the
question of the erection of the Port Phillip District into a separate
Colony under a distinct Government and notifying that:
• the necessary Bill will be introduced in the next Session of the
Imperial Parliament;
Despatch No.203
• the new Colony will be called Victoria;
• the Constitution of New South Wales will be altered and some
measures adopted to enable the different Colonies to cooperate
in enacting laws.
The Despatch was laid before the Executive Council on
23 December 1847.
1849 Despatches
Box [4/1331] includes one Despatch relative to the separation of
Port Phillip. This is Despatch No.135 of 18 August 1849: the
Secretary of State expressing regret that the Bill for the better
Government of Her Majesty's Australian Colonies, recently
introduced into the House of Commons, has been withdrawn but
advising that it will be re-introduced with the least possible delay
after the re-assembling of Parliament.
1850 Despatches
Box [4/1333] includes Duplicate Despatch No.74 of 12 June 1850:
the Secretary of State acknowledging receipt of the Governor's
Despatch of 8 January 1850, No.8, with its enclosed petition from
the City Council of Melbourne for an early separation of Port Phillip
from New South Wales.
Box [4/1334] includes Despatch No. 128 of 9 September 1850:
the Secretary of State acknowledging receipt of the Governor's
despatch of 14 February 1850 (No.24), in which three petitions
were enclosed — one by the inhabitants of Geelong and its
vicinity, and the other two "drawn up in consequence of
Resolutions passed at two public meetings convened by the Mayor
48
NRS 4512,
[4/1331]
Despatch No.135
NRS 4512,
[4/1333-34]
Despatch No.74
Despatch No.128
State Records Authority of New South Wales