33054-005890

49/9437 - 1/2 Oct 1849.

Surveyor General to Colonial Secretary respecting the survey of a Township at Maryborough. and Leave of Absence to Mr Burnett. Four Enclosures

Surveyor Generals Office Sydney 29th. September 1849 No 49/488.

Sir, 1. With reference to your letter No. 49/484, dated 27th instant, in which you inform me, as instructed by His Excellency the Governor, that unless there is a probability of Mr. Burnett being able to attend to the survey of a township at Maryborough within a reasonable period, it will be desirable that either Mr. Knapp's or Mr. Goodall's tender to perform this work should be accepted and the survey proceeded with forthwith, and request my report on the subject:

2

[marginalia] 9437

Let the Surveyor Genl be authorized to carry into effect the arrangement proposed by him in this letter, both with respect to the survey of Maryborough & Mr Burnetts leave. 3rd/4 Ch FR

49/8920.

Originals enclosed (To be returned.)

Surveyor Genl. Col: Barney 11 Octr 1849

49/11542

2. - I have the honor, therefore to state that as I consider the great expense that would be thus incurred, as not likely to be compensated by the survey of a township in a place so remote, on the verge of a mountainous and inaccessible country, I was about to make arrangements for sending Mr. Burnett to make the survey required forthwith - when I received a letter (which I enclose) containing a medical certificate recommending “a month or six weeks relaxation from duty, and a change of climate" and in which letter, I am accordingly requested to submit to His Excellency the Governor his application to be allowed leave of absence for a month or six weeks -

3. - I have the honor to submit, that a letter dated

[margin] 18th. September 1849

dated one week before (but received with the above) - also contains a certificate to the effect that Mr. Burnett's illness arises merely from a severe cold - and I must observe that it is extremely unfortunate that such leave of absence should be asked or required - at a time when additional assistants, newly appointed, expressly for the purpose of enabling Mr. Burnett to get through the surveys allotted to him in a reasonable time, have just joined him -

4. I would also take leave to add that I can make arrangements for the conduct of these Assistants with hopes that the surveys required would not fall short by the removal of Mr. Burnett; but I am still disposed to - employ

[margin note] 10th September 1849.

employ this Assistant Surveyor in the survey of Maryborough, and to recommend that he may be allowed the leave he requires only upon his proceeding to Wide Bay where the desired change of climate from Drayton is as much as could be found any where else and where, on his recovery, he would be on the spot to proceed in the survey required for the Township - and thus save the extra expense of employing a Contract Surveyor - who might probably consume as much time in going there with an equipment, as would suffice to restore Mr Burnett to health -

I have the honor to be Sir, Your most obedient servant. T. L. Mitchell