Queensland Colonial Secretary Somerset letter book, 2 September 1868-31 December 1871

DLMSQ 628

fonds

2 September, 1868-31 December, 1871

943300

Microfilm : CY 604, frames 1-140

1 volume of textual material (263 p.) - 35 cm.

The settlement at Somerset at Port Albany on the Cape York Peninsula was established in 1863 as a garrison post, coaling station, harbour of refuge and entrepot for trade. Francis Lascelles Jardine acted as police magistrate, 1868-1869 and 1870-1873. Henry Majorbanks Chester was police magistrate, 1869-1870 and 1875-1877. The settlement was moved to Thursday Island in 1877

Copies of out-letters from the police magistrate, mainly addressed to the Colonial Secretary and the Commissioner of Police, Brisbane. The letters discuss i.a. buildings and stores of the settlement, behaviour of the police constables, shipping in the Torres Strait including beche de mer and pearling ships, shipwrecks, kidnapping of Islanders, the Prince of Wales Islanders' attack on the crew of the Speerweer and Captain John Delargy's account of a visit to New Guinea

The letters bear the registration numbers 26/68 - 91/69 and 2/69 (sic) - 141/71

Cover title: Outgoing Correspondence 2nd September 1868 to 30th December 1871

Bound in vellum

Sir William Dixson's bookplate

Contents list available in the Mitchell Library Reading Room -

Information transferred from Dixson Manuscript Card Catalogue as part of the eRecords Project, 2011-2012.

Typescript and carbon typescript extracts from the letterbook, 28 July 1869-1 October 1871, are filed at DLMSQ 287 and in the Mitchell Library at B 1414 and B 1415

Transferred from DLSPENCER 6