Letters to various people in Governors letterbooks Volume 1 (ITM17659)

No 21.

Minute dated 8. Nov.ber 1862

His Excellency Governor Sir H. Barkly K.C.B &c &c &c Melbourne Victoria

Government House, Brisbane Queensland November 20, 1862

Sir,

I have the honor to inform you that I have laid before the Executive Council of this Colony, a despatch from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, transmitting, "for "the purpose of being dealt with by the Government of Queensland," a copy of a despatch from your Excellency, forwarding an application from Mr John King, the survivor of the Burke and Wills exploring expedition, for a grant of one thousand (1000) acres of land of the banks of the river Flinders.

2. I enclose copy of the Minute of Council, containing the decision of this Government; in which I concur. Indeed it will be seen from the Attorney General's statement of the law, that there was no other course open except that adopted.

3. These views of my Responsible Advisers will also I think, be in harmony with those of Her Majesty's Government. For, with reference to an application from Mr John Hall of Melbourne for the concession of certain privileges in the territory near the Gulf of Carpentaria, to a projected colonizing association, the Duke of Newcastle has recently addressed me as follows: - "I entirely approve the

111

"the course which your Government "purpose to take in refusing exceptional "privileges in the acquisition of land, "whether to companies or to individuals; "and I am convinced that the soundest "policy is that which they are pursuing, "of so framing their rules as to retain "in the hands of the Government - "the control of Land Sales and of the "Land Revenue; while offering to "all comers without distinction every "facility for the settlement of land "which can be given to them collectively "or individually without risk of "encouraging land-jobbing."

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

112

No 22

Do Lieut. Seymour 12th Regiment Government House Brisbane, Queensland 11. December 1862

Sir,

1. I regret to perceive from your letter of the 9th instant and from the therein encolsed copy of a letter from Sir Edward Lingard of the 22 September ult., that some misunderstanding has occurred at the War Office respecting my despatch to the Duke of Newcastle No28 of 16 June ult.,

2. There was no reference whatsoever to yourself in that despatch, which covered a minute of the Executive Council of this Colony commenting on the refusal of the Civil Government of New South Wales to allow the detachment of the 12th Regiment at Brisbane to be re-inforced by one officer and twenty five men, - on the plea that the re-inforcement applied for, and sanctioned by the Military Authorities, was required to perform what are more properly Police duties on one of the Gold Fields - It had further been contended in New South Wales that the correspondence between the two colonies on thsi question should be carried on, not by the respective Governors, but by the respective Colonial Secretaries. Consequently, I felt it to be my duty to point out that grave inconvenience mighjt arise to the Queen's Service, if the correspondence respecting the distribution of of Her Majesty's Troops, whether local or inter-colonial, were left in the hands of the Ministers for the time being, that is, practically, in the hands of the gentlement who may happen to be temporarily in the ascendant in the Colonial Assemblies.

3. It is only simple justice to yourself that I should take this opportunity of stating my appreciations of your conduct here. Owing to the refusal of the Civil Government of New South Wales to allow the detachment at Brisbane to be increased to two officers and fifty men - the number required to form the nucleus of our local Volunteer Forces, you have now during a period of nearly two years, been in sole charge of a rubalternon's party at a distance of above six hundred miles from the head-quarters of your Regiment. You appear to me to have shown considerable tact and discretion in a somewhat difficult position.

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

114 No 23

Government House Brisbane Queensland 10 December 1862

Sir, I have the honor to inform your Excellency that at a very large and influential public meeting of the inhabitants of this Colony held at Brisbane on the 8th inst., and at which I was requested to take the chair, the following Resolution was adopted unanimously and with every mark of enthusiasm:- "That this meeting "hereby acknowledges, on behalf of the "Colonists of Queensland, the cordial "reception and hospitable treatment "accorded to Mr Landsborough on his "arrival in Victoria, by His Excellency "Sir Henry Barkly, and the inhabitants "of that Colony generally. In expressing "our apprecitation of the interest thus "shown in the success of the Queensland explorer, we would respectfully request "His Excellency Sir G. F. Bowen to convey to the government of Victoria our high sense of the courtesy, attention and liberality manifested towards our fello-colonist, Mr Landsborough." 2. I need scarcely add that I entirely concur with this Resolution, and that I feel much pride and pleasure in communicating it to the Governor

115

To His Excellency Governor Sir H. Barkly K. C. B. &c &c &c Melbourne Victoria.

Governor and people of Victoria.

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

No 1.

Government House Brisbane, Queensland Australia 13. February 1863.

My Lord,

1. I have the honor herewith to transmit to your Lordship six printed copies of "An Act to give the force of Law to Regulations for the Introduction and Protection of Labourers from British India", passed by the Legislature of Queensland in its last session and of the Regulations proclaimed in the Government Gazette under the authority of that Act.

2. It has been notified to me by His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, that these Regulations have received the general approval of the Imperial Government; and I understand that a communication to the same effect has been addressed to your Lordship by the Secretary of

116

The Right Honorable The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine - K. G. &c &c &c Government House Calcutta.

of State for India. It only remains, therefore, for me to request, on behalf of the Government of Queensland, that the emigration of labourers from British India to this Colony under the provisions of the approved Regulations, may be sanctioned, by the proper local authorities.

3. As the demand for Indian labout here will probably be very limited, it is proposed at all events, for the present, to appoint an Emigration Agent for Queensland only at Madras, the nearest Presidency to Australia. On this part of the subject I have addressed Governor Sir William Denison, requesting that the existing Agent for Mauritius, (or failing him any other fit person approved by His Excellency,) may be provisionally recognized as acting also for Queensland, until some more permanent arrangement can be effected, subject, of course, to the approval of the Government of British India.

I have &c

signed G. F. Bowen

117

Government House Brisbane, Queensland Australia 13 . February 1863.

Sir,

1. I have the honor herewith to transmit to your Excellency twelve printed copies of "An Act to give the "force of Law to Regulations for the "Introduction and Protection of "Labourers from British India," passed by the Legislature of Queensland in its last session; and of the Regulations proclaimed in the Government Gazette under the authority of that Act.

2. It has been notified to me by His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, that these Regula-tions have received the general approval of the Imperial Govern-ment; and I understand that a communication to the same effect has been addressed to the Government of British India by the Secretary of State for India.

3. I have addressed a dispatch of even date herewith to the Earl of Elgin, to request, on behalf of the Government of Queensland, that the emigration of labourers from British India to this Colony, under the provisions of the approved Regulations, may be sanctioned by the proper local authorities. I added that, since the demand for

118

for Indian labour here will probably be very limited, it is proposed, at all events for the present, to appoint an Emigration Agent for Queensland only at Madras, the nearest Presidency to Australia.

4. I enclose a letter, under flying seal, addressed by the Colonial Secretary of Queensland to the Emigration Agent for Mauritius at Madras, requesting him to act temporarily as Agent also for this Colony, until some more permanent arrangement can be effected; subject, of course, to your Excellency's approval. If there should be any difficulty about this nomination, I trust that your Excellency will cause some other person of whom you may approve, to be recognised provisionally as Agent for Queensland, under Clause 14 of the accompanying Regulations; the salary or fees payable to any such Agent will be provided by the persons introducting immigrants, and not out of the Colonial Revenue.

5. From your long connection, as Governor-General with Australia, and from the interest which you have always taken in advancing the prosperity of this group of Colonies, the Government of Queensland is confident that it may rely on your support and co-operation - I trust that I may be favoured with any suggestions that may occur to you on the general

119

H.E. Sir W. T. Denison K.C.B. &c. &c. &c. Government House Madras.

general subject treated at in this despatch. I have &c (signed) G. F. Bowen

No 3

Government House Brisbane, Queensland 27. February 1863

Sir,

1. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt yesterday of your letter of the 8th instant, informing me that, in consequence of the lamented death of Commodore Burnett, C. B, you have assumed the duties of Senior Naval Officer on the Australian Station; and that you will at all times be ready to afford me such aid and and co-operation for the benefit of the Queen's Service as may be in your power.

2. I deplore the loss of Commodore Burnett, both in personal and on public grounds. During the extended cruize with I made with him to Torres Straits last year in H.M. Ship "Pioneer", I had many opportunities of becoming acquainted with his excellent qualities, as well as with his constant and intelligent zeal for the public service - Moreover, he had formed a very high opinion of