Queensland's Founding Documents

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His Grace The Duke of Newcastle &c. &c. &c.

and Civilization has been pushed forward by some two hundred miles.

I have &c. Signed / G.F. Bowen.

No 91.

Enclosure (Ex. Council Office.)

Government House, Brisbane, Queensland. 5th December, 1860.

My Lord Duke,

I have the honor to report that, with the advice of my Executive Council, I have appointed Mr. Matthew Henry Marsh, M.P. for Salisbury in the House of Commons, to be Honorary-General and authorised Representative of the Colony of Queensland in the United Kingdom. I enclose a copy of the Minute of Council on this appointment.

2. My Government have already felt the necessity of authorizing a gentleman of ability and position resident in England to act as the Representative of Queensland at Statistical Congresses, at Industrial Exhibitions, in negotiations respecting Electric Telegraphs, postal and steam communication, and, generally, in all affairs affecting the interests of this Colony. Mr. Marsh has passed many years of

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of his life, and still possesses large property, in this part of Australia, he zealously and ably assisted the inhabitants of the new Colony in their long and arduous struggle for Separation from New South Wales, he has now offered to act fraternitously as its Representative in the mother-country; and it is generally felt here that there is no other individual on whom that Office could be so appropriately conferred - Mr. Marsh will receive instructions, from time to time, on all matters in which his assistance is desired.

3. The most pressing need of Queensland is an accession of population to develop the rich and varied resources and capabilities of our vast territory. For the purpose of procuring population, it is obviously above all things necessary that those resources and capabilities should be made known in the parent State. For this purpose, I have appointed, with the advice of my Executive Council, Mr. Henry Jordan, late Member of the first Legislative Assembly of Queensland, to be our Emigration Agent at home. Mr. Jordan hopes to reach England in April next; and it will be his principal duty to diffuse information respecting this Colony by delivering lectures and otherwise, in

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in all parts of the United Kingdom. His efforts are intended to be subsidiary to those of Her Majestys' Emigration Commissioners; who will be furnished with instructions and funds by my Government for the shipment of such approved Emigrants as may select Queensland for their future home. On behalf of my Government I venture to solicit Your Grace to recommend Mr. Jordan to the Good Offices of the Emigration Board, and of their Agents.

4. The above arrangements will not, of course, interfere with the previous appointment (reported in my despatch No. 15 of 1st. February, ult.) of Messrs. J. Maugles & Co. of London, to be the Commercial Agents for the supply of stores &c. to this Colony. Messrs. Maugles have been desired to conform to the rules laid down in the "Treasury Instructions for the Guidance of the Agents General for Crown Colonies," issued on 5th March, 1860.

His Grace The Duke of Newcastle &c. &c. &c.

I have &c. Signed/ G. F. Bowen

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No. 92 SM.

Government House, Brisbane, Queensland 8.th December, 1860.

My Lord Duke,

No 3. 28 Nov 1859 21. 16 Feb. 1860 29. 4 April._ 34. 12 _ _ 38. 20 _ _ 51. 25 June. _ 54. 10 July _ 62 10 Aug. _

12 Copies of Reports with annual Charts.

Referring to my previous correspondence on the same and kindred subjects, I have now the honor to transmit (under separate cover,) a number of printed copies of the Reports of the Expedition recently equipped by the Queensland Government for the purpose of discovering the mouths of the great river Burdekin, and of examining a considerable portion of the north eastern coast of this Colony. I annex also copies of the Charts prepared by Mr. J. W. Smith R. G., late of H. M. Ship "Herald," commanding the Expedition: - and of an Essay on the plants collected, by D. F. Mueller the Government Botanist for the Colony of Victoria.

It will be seen from a perrusal of these enclosures (copies of which will doubtless be forwarded by Your Grace's direction to the Royal Geographical, and other learned Societies,) that the result of the Expedition has been a valuable and interesting addition to our stock of scientific and topographical knowledge.

3. My Government has lost no time in vigorously carrying out

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No. 13

Government House, Brisbane, Queensland, 11th. March, 1861.

My Lord Duke,

I have the honor to report that, with the advice of my Executive council, I have appointed the following gentlemen connected with this Colony, to be the London Commissioners, representing Queensland at the Exhibition of 1862: —

Matthew Henry Marsh Esq. (Chairman) Alfred Denison Esq. Arthur Hodgson Esq.

2. Mr. Henry Jordan, our Emigration Agent in England, will act as Secretary to the above Commissioners.

3. The Local Commission in the Colony are making every exertion to secure for the production of Queensland an adequate representation in the Exhibition.

I have &c. Signed / G. F. Bowen

His Grace The Duke of Newcastle &c. &c. &c.

No. 14

Government House, Brisbane, Queensland, 12th. March, 1861.

My Lord Duke,

I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter which has just reached me from

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Enclosure (Wide Papers in priv. Sec's office.)

Sir G. Bowen to the Duke of Newcastle No. 26 of 14 March 1860 38 __ 26 April ____

from Captain Denham R.N. Commanding Her Majesty's Surveying Ship "Herald", in which that Officer gives a brief statement of the results of his soundings on the line of the proposed submarine telegraph between North Australia and Java.

2. Captain Denham will no doubt submit a more detailed report, on his arrival in England, to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. In the meantime I have only to repeat what I have already reported in former despatches; viz. that the natural and most easy line for the proposed Indo Australian telegraph would be from a point on the shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, — which will be, in the course of a few months from the present time, in immediate communicataion by electric wires with Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. It is proposed to extend forthwith the electric telegraph from Brisbane across the settled districts of this Colony to Rockhampton, — whence it is only about eight hundred (800) miles overland to the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria. A firm in Sydney has already offered to contract with my Government for the completion of this latter portion of the line, — extending for the most part over a territory as yet unoccupied, — at