Queensland's Founding Documents

92 Major General Sir T. S. Pratt KCB etc. etc. etc. Melbourne

a similar communication through the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Government of Queensland adhere to the principle laid down in my letter to you of the 18th February ult. Looking to the small size of the detachment of Her Majesty's Troops stationed at Brisbane, and to the fact that the cost of living here is much the same as in the other Australian Colonies, my Responsible Advisers will recommend the Legislature to adapt whatever scale of Colonial Allowances may be adapted, in conformity with the genearl instructions of the Secretary of State, in the neighbouring Colonies of New South Wales and Victoria, and especially in the Colony where the head-quarters of the Regiment furnishing the Brisbane detachment may be quartered. It probably would not be desirable that the Officer and soldiers at Brisbane should be placed on a different footing from that of their comrades of the same Corps at Sydney or Melbourne. I have etc. (Signed) G. F. Bowen

93 No. 13 Government House Brisbane, Queensland July 31 1862

Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on this day of your letter of the 21st inst, informing me that you had assumed the duties of Senior Officer of Her Majesty's Ships on the Australian Station; also of your letter of the 27th instant, respecting our voyage to Cape York. 2. From the Admiralty instructions and other Official Correspondence which your predecessor Commodore Seymour, will have placed in your hands, you will learn what has hitherto been done in this matter. You will see that the selection of the site for the projected settlement near Cape York (to be founded by the joint co-operation of the Imperial and Queensland Governments) is left to the Governor of Queensland and to the Senior Naval Officer in Australia. Lt Heath R.N. now Port Master of this Colony, tells me that our choice will probably fall on "Evan's Bay" (described at Vol II, page 182 of the official "Australian Directory,) where he formerly lay at anchor for several weeks in H.M's Ship "Rattlesnake". Lt Heath also thinks, from his knowledge of these waters, that there would be no difficulty for a ship of the size of the "Orpheus" in proceeding to Cape York by the inner passage inside the Barrier Reef

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To Brigadier General Chute &c &c &c Melbourne.

frequently addressed the Home authorities to a similar effect.

5. My Government have agreed with me in accepting, on behalf of Queensland, the detachment of 3 officers and 88 rank and file proposed in the Duke of Newcastle's Circular despatch of the 26th. June ultimo. A bill will be introduced in the next Session of the Colonial Legislature to sanction the payment of the sum of £40. per man, as required by Her Majesty's Government.

6. The present barracks at Brisbane will hold comfortably only two Officers and 50 men. The Colonial Parliament has voted the funds necessary for the erection of barracks capable of holding the detachment mentioned by the Secretary of State. They will be built with all convenient speed, according to the plans transmitted to me by Sir Thomas Pratt, and on the site selected with the approval of Colonel Hamilton of the 12th. Regiment, who was, at my request, despatched to Brisbane for this purpose in 1862, by the Major General Cummanding in Australia. I have &c (signed) G.F. Bowen

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No 15.

4 December 1863 See despatch Book page.

To Captain Richards R.N. &c &c &c

Government House Brisbane, Queensland, 15. December 1863.

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the chart of "Port Hinchinbrook" with which you have furnished me, and which Lieutenant Heath R.M. the Portmaster of this Colony, will cause to be published for general information.

2. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of the valuable report, (contained in extracts from your journal,) on Rockingham Bay, the proposed settlement near Cape York, and generally on what is known as the "Inner Route" to Torres Straits.

3. I have much pleasure in conveying to you the thanks of myself and of the Government of Queensland for your able and zealous performance, at my request, of a service of great importance to the Commerce of the Australian Colonies and of the Empire at large.

4. I enclose a copy of the Minute on this subject of the Executive Council of this Colony. Another copy has been forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with a request that His Grace will transmit it to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

I have &c (signed) G.F. Bowen

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To George Raff Esq. M.L.A. and the other members of the Deputation.

The Governor is one of the three branches of the Colonial Legislature;- and, - with all due respect for the opinions of any persons who may conscientiously think otherwise, - it is difficult to understand how he can be said to "virtually "restrict the Right of Petition enjoyed "by every British Subject," because he simply adheres to the rules regarding petitions adopted, with universal acquiescence, by the British House of Commons, and by that other branch of the Legislature of Queensland which is composed of the immediate Representatives of the People.

I have &c (signed) G.F. Bowen

No 2.

Government House Brisbane, Queensland 23. February 1864.

Sir

In continuation of my letter to you of the 23rd. September ultimo, I have the honor to acquaint you that I have received a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, transmitting copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty (dated October 16th. ultimo.) respecting the arrangements agreed upon with regard to the Station to be established at Port Albany, near Cape York.

2.

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2. Her Majesty's Steam Ship "Salamander" is to convey the party of Marines to Moreton Bay "in time to enable all "the necessary arrangements to be "made for the departure of the expedition "from Brisbane early in April."

3. You will observe from pages 7, 8, and 9 of the printed correspondence forwarded in my letter of the 23rd. September ultimo, that is is agreed that the "Imperial Government, "shall be at the expense of chartering "only one large ship to take the "necessary supplies and stores "of all kinds, the Police Magistrate "and other civil authorities &c - on "the first establishment of the Station "at Cape York." Such vessel should I think, sail from Moreton Bay under the convoy of H.M.S. "Salamander."

4. As your are absent in New Zealand, I would propose with your approval that the chartering the vessel required for this service and the other necessary arrangements connected with it, should be left to Lieutenant George P. Heath, R.N. the Port Master and Marine Surveyor of Queensland, who is resident at Brisbane. I am informed that a vessel of about three hundred (300) tons burthen (or two vessels of about one hundred and fifty (150) tons each) will be required for this purpose, and can be procured at a notice of a month or six weeks, by calling for tenders at Brisbane and Sydney. Some such arrangement as this would appear to be absolutely necessary,

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To Commodore Sir W.S. Wiseman, B.E.R.N. &c &c &c H.M.S. "Coracoa" -New Zealand

necessary, if the expedition is to leave Brisbane at the time proposed by the Admiralty, &c. during the month of April next. You are of course, aware that the favourable season for an operation of this nature at Cape York lasts only from April to October. It is, therefore, very desirable that no time should be lost unnecessarily. If you see no objection to the plan now suggested, - the Government of Queensland will be ready to advance the necessary funds to Lieutenant Heath -, who will practise the strictest economy possible.

5. Hoping that I may be informed of your views on the subject whole sugject by the return of the Mail from New Zealand.

I have &c (signed) G. F. Bowen

No 3.

Government House Brisbane, Queensland 21. March 1864.

Sir

With reference my letter to you on the 23rd. ultimo, I have the honor to acquaint you that I have now received a further despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 22nd January ultimo, enclosing a copy of the Instructions given by the Lords of the Admiralty to the Honorable

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Honorable John Carnegie, Commanding H.M. Ship "Salamander."

As a coy of this document will doubtless have been transmitted to you also, you will perceive that Captain Carnegie is directed on his arrival in Moreton Bay, to consult with me "relative to "taking up freight at the expense "of the Imperial Government for "the conveyance from Brisbane to "Port Albany of the Civilians to be "attached to the settlement, the "framework for the Barracks "for the Marines, and other "stores and supplies &c.

From the date at which H.M's Ship "Salamander" appears to have left England, she cannot, (as I am informed,) be expected to reach Moreton Bay before the latter end of April. If Captain Carnegie should be obliged to call for tenders after his arrival here, a month or six weeks of the most favourable season for the foundation of the settlement at Port Albany, would necessarily be lost. Under these circumstances, and with the advice of the Executive Counsel of this Conoly, I have caused the enclosed notification to be inserted in the Queensland Government Gazette.

It will be seen that it is expressly stated that the decision on the tenders to be received will rest with the Officer commanding H.M.S. "Salamander", and that "the "lowest many tender will not necessarily

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Commander The Honble. J. Carnegie R.N. &c &c &c

inform you of the present rate of freight for vessels lying in Brisbane waters, and whether such vessels as are available would be suitable for the purpose required.

In reply, I beg to state that some weeks ago, in anticipation of your arrival, I caused tenders to be called for at this point; but no suitable vessel was then offered. On the receipt of your letter now under acknowledgment, I again advertised for tenders, and have received the two enclosed tenders, which I now forward for your consideration and decision.

The tendering firms are both of good repute. The vessels offered (the 'Salvina' and the 'Feronia') have recently arrived at Brisbane, and are now moored at the wharves of this city. I yesterday inspected both ships, in company with Lt. G. P. Heath R.N., the Port Master of Queensland, and Mr Jeffery R.N., the Admiralty Surveyor stationed in this Colony. These Officers agree in advising that either the 'Salvia' or the 'Feronia' would suit your purpose very well, and that you cannot do wrong in chartering either of them. You will see that full details are given in the respected tenders.

I request from you to inform me of your decision by the electric telegraph, as the owners of both these vessels are anxious to be made acquainted with it as soon as possible.

I have &c (signed) G.F.Bowen

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No 8. V

James Jeffery Esq R.N. Admiralty Surveyor Queensland Club. Brisbane

Government House Brisbane, Queensland 15. June 1864.

Sir

In reply to your letter of the 14th instant. I have the honor to inform you that I have consulted the Executive Council of this Colony, the members of which concur with me in approving your proporsal to proceed with the survey of Keppel Bay on the completion of your work at Hervey's Bay.

I have &c (signed) G.F. Bowen

No 9. V

Government House Brisbane 7. July 1864.

Sir,

On behalf of the Government of Queensland, I have the honor to request that you will grant a passage in H.M.S. 'Salamander', (if this can be done conveniently on your approaching voyage to Cape York,) to Lieutenant Leefe (late of the Indian Navy), as far as the township of Cardwell in Rockingham Bay; and also to four (4) persons who are to act as policemen under his orders. Mr Leefe has been appointed to