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Sec; Inter alia :-
Secy. of State to Governor General No. 38 of 25 March 1857.
No. 12 . 11th Feb 1858.
No. 25. 19 March 1859.
It is with unfeigned reluctance that I feel myself constrained to accept your resignation; for I have derived great advantage in the Executive Council from your able and zealous cooperation, as well as from your long experience of official life, and thorough knowledge of this Country.
But I have no option. The Office of President of the Legislative Council, in which I consider myself very fortunate in having secured your services, upon the resignation of your distinguished predecessor, Sir C. Nicholson, is (as you observe) incompatible, under Responsible Government, with the retention of a voice in the Executive.
Moreover, there are direct instructions on this subject, and to the above purport, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. It has been authoritatively laid down that "outgoing Ministers should resign their seats as Members of the Executive Council;" and that "a body analogous to the Privy Council in England, and liable to be summoned on special occasions, is not required in Colonial Institutions, in which Comparative simplicity should prevail."
I will take this opportunity of mentioning that I shall, by the next mail, recommend that Her Majesty be advised to confer
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The Honble Lieut. Col. O'Connell
&c. &c. &c.
confer on you the dignity of Knight Lord.
Your long and honourable career in the military and Civil service of your country will be appropriately crowned by this mark of the favour of our Sovereign. And, beyond all personal considerations, I think it desirable that some of the highest and most dignified offices in the Colonies should be recognized in ths manner; - especially now that Imperial honors constitute, perhaps, the chief and most graceful links, remaining to unite the MotherCountry to its great dependencies in Australia.
I have &c.
Signed / G.F. Bowen
No. 36
Government House
17th September, 1860
Sir,
At the request of the Leglislative Assembly of Queensland, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the Resolutions unanimously adopted by the House on the 14th instant, thanking you for your "able and successful efforts to "effect the separation of Moreton Bay from New South Wales, and "to found the Colony of Queensland."
I beg further to assure you, on behalf of myself and of my
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Rev J. D. Lang D.D. (John Dunmore Lang) (Doctor of Divinity)
&c. &c. &c.
my Government, of our full and cordial concurrence in the sentiments of the Assembly, as recorded in the enclosed Resolutions.
I have &c.
Sigd / G. F. Bowen
No. 37
Government House,
20th September, 1860.
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of an "Act to regulate the exportation of Warlike Stores" passed by the Legislature of Queensland in its recent session.
2. In my Prorogation Speech, (of which I also enclose a copy,) I alluded to this measure in the following terms:
"Your adoption of an Act to regulate the exportation of Warlike Stores, proposed by my Government with a view to the lamentable outbreak in New Zealand, affords me an opportunity of bearing my testimony to the sympathy existing here, as throughout Australia, with the troubles of our fellow-countrymen in the aforesaid Colony. Queensland has hastened to offer an effective proof of that sympathy, by cheerfully contributing towards the augmentation of the forces at
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His Excellency The Governor of New Zealand
at the seat of war, that proportion of Her Majesty's Troops which had been allotted for the defence of this Colony."
I have &c.
Signed / G. F. Bowen
No. 38
Government House
19th September, 1860
Sir,
I have the honor herewith to transmit a copy of the letter addressed by the Colonial Secretary of Queensland to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, enclosing the Act passed by this Legislature to provide for the adjustment of the outstanding accounts between the two Colonies. I trust that you will bring this subject with all convenient speed, before Your Executive Council.
2. I have the satisfaction of knowing that Your Excellency's opinion and mine entirely agree on this question. In my speech at the recent prorogation, I addressed the Queensland Parliament as follows: "In taking the requisite steps for a settlement of the outstanding accounts between Queensland and New South Wales, Your legislation has been based upon principles which can hardly fail to recommend themselves to the
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His Excellency
Governor General
&c. &c. &c.
the concurrence of the sister Colony, for they are identical with the principles originally adopted by the Executive and sometimes by the Parliament of New South Wales itself, and which have further received the approval of the Imperial Government, I am justified, therefore, in entertaining a well-founded hope that no long time will lapse before this, the last remaining difficulty of Separation, shall be amicably adjusted; and the two great neighbouring Colonies, whose interests are so inseparably united, shall regard each other only with feelings of friendly emulation."
I have &c.
Signed / G.F. Bowen
No. 39
Government House,
25th September, 1860.
Sir,
I had the honor to receive on the 23rd inst. and laid before my Executive Council on the following morning, Your Excellency's Despatch (with ensclosure) of the 12th instant, respecting the new arrangements entered into with the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the conveyance of the mails via Point de Galle and Suez.
2. I enclose copy of the minute
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His Excellency,
Governor General
Minute of Council, recording the decision of the Government of Queensland on this subject. In compliance with Your Excellency's suggestion, I will forward by the October mail another copy of this Minute to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
I have &c.
Signed / G.F. Bowen
No. 40
Government House,
26th September, 1860
Sir,
I had the honor to receive on the 23rd Instant and have laid before my Executive Council, Your Excellency's despatch of the 19th inst., respecting a proposed nautical survery of the coasts of Australia.
2. I enclose copy of the Minute of Council, recording the decision of the Government of Queensland on this subject; and I hope that Your Excellency will, as you propose, urge on the Imperial Government the speedy realization of the project, respecting which you are in correspondence with the Hydrographer of the Admiralty. This Colony will gladly contribute an equitable share of the expense to be incurred, on the conditions and
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His Excellency Governor General Sir W. T. Denison, K.C.B. etc. etc. etc.
No 41
and to the extent explained in the enclosed Minute. I have to. Singed / G.F. Bowen.
Government House, Brisbane, Queensland, 23rd November, 1860.
Sir, Your Excellency's despatch of the 2nd October ult., with its enclosures, arrived here during my absence on an official tour of inspection in the northern districts of this Colony. Immediately on my return, I laid it before my Executive Council, and I have now the honor to state that it is the intention of the Government of Queensland to propose, in the Session of the Legislature for 1861, a measure to regulate transfers, and other dealings with real property, upon principles similar to those already adopted in South Australia.
I shall feel additionally obliged, if Your Excellency will communicate to me any further information which you may consider likely to be useful to the end in view, before the meeting of the next Session of the Queensland Parliament. Which will
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His Excellency Sir R. G. MacDonnell C.B. etc. etc. etc.
No 42.
His Excellency Sir W. T. Denison K.C.B. etc. etc. etc. Sydney.
will not take place before the close of the ensuing month of April. I have to. Signed / G. F. Bowen.
Government House, Brisbane, Queensland, 24th November, 1860
Sir, Your Excellency's despatch of the 24th Oct ult. arrived during my abscence from the seat of Government on an official tour in the Northern Districts of this Colony. Immediately on my return, I laid it before my Executive Council; and I have now the honor to transmit the decision of the Government of Queensland on this subject. We should have preferred a different arrangement, but under all the circumstances of the case, acquiesce in that proposed by the Government of New South Wales. I have to. Signed / G. F. Bowen.
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No 43.
Enclosure 1 Enclosure 2
M.H. Marsh Esq. M.P. 45 Rutland Gate Hyde Park London.
Government House Brisbane Queensland, 6th December, 1860
Sir, I have much pleasure in informing you that I have acquainted the Executive Council of this Colony with your offer to act gratuitously as Hononary Agent General and Representative of Queensland in the United Kingdom; and that, with their advice, I have appointed you to that office. I enclose copy of the Minute of Council on this appointment; and of the despatch in which I have reported it to the Secretary of State.
2. The Government of Queensland desire to take this oppportunity of expressing, through me, their sense of the zeal and ability with which you co-operated with this Colony in its' long and arduous struggle for separation from New South Wales; and their confidence that it will continue to derive great advantages from Your exertions on behalf of its' interests I cordially concur in these sentiments. I have to. Signed / G. F. Bowen.
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No 44.
His Excellency Sir R. G. MacDonnell C.B. etc. etc. etc.
Government House Brisbane, Queensland 10th December, 1860
Sir, Your despatch of 17th September, ult., arrived during my absence from Brisbane on an official tour to the northern districts of this Colony.
2. I was not previously aware of the facts recorded in your enclosures; but before the receipt of these documents, the Government of Queensland had already agreed (as stated in my letter to Your Excellency of 21st August ult.) to follow the advice of the Secretary of State respecting the river henceforward to be know as the Barcoo.
3. I learn from Sir W. Denison that the Government of New South Wales have also signified their adherence to the opinion of the Duke of Newcastle; and I trust that the Government of South Australia will see reason to pursue a similar course. I have to. Signed / G.F. Bowen
No 45.
Government House Brisbane, Queensland 19th December, 1860.
Sir, Referring to previous correspondence with the Major-General Commanding H.