Cover image for Despatches received from the Governors of Other Colonies and States.
Series:
Despatches received from the Governors of Other Colonies and States.
Series Number:
Access:
Open
Start Date:
17 Nov 1862
End Date:
18 Jun 1917
Creating Agency:
01 Jan 1825
Controlling Series:
GO51 Registers of Inward Correspondence.10 Jan 188209 Oct 1907

GO57 Registers of Outward Correspondence.01 Oct 187828 Feb 1902
Series notes:
It was regular practice for the various Governors to communicate direct with each other on matters of common interest to their respective colonies. Some of the matters dealt with in these despatches did not reach the Secretary of State level, and in others the preliminary stages were dealt with here. Correspondence with the Governors of other Australian States is commonest, but many other colonies are represented: Canada, Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, Dominica, Fiji, Madras, Mauritius, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Orange River Colony, Pretoria, Province of Otago, St Helena, Singapore, Trinidad, Western Pacific High Commission. Some of the subjects dealt with are matters of interest to more than one colony, such as defence; the Protectorate of New Guinea, its annexation and the colonies' financial obligations with respect to it; the affairs of the Federal Council; trade relations, treaties and colonial exhibitions; State representation on the Privy Council and at colonial conferences; the affairs of the islands under the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, such as the control of land purchase, trading, sale of arms and liquor, control of fisheries. There is correspondence on matters of exclusive interest to Tasmania, such as casualties and other personnel matters in relation to the Boer war, extradition orders, and requests for information. Many despatches relate to the office of Governor, such as those which notify him of the assumption of duties by other Governors, or acknowledge his communications to a like effect: and those which concern the relations of the Governor, the Governor-General and the Secretary of State. Copies of internal correspondence and of replies are sometimes present. In earlier years similar communications are to be found in the records of the Colonial Secretary and in GO39.

These records are part of the holdings of the Tasmanian Archives
Information Sources:
Guide to the Public Records of Tasmania Section 2, Governors Office Record Group 1816 - 1933 by P R Eldershaw 1958
Items: