NRS-958 | Copies of letters to Commissioners of Crown Lands

Copies of letters mainly addressed to Commissioners of Crown Lands beyond the Boundaries of Location but including some letters to Commissioners within the settled districts who also held some other official position. These latter Commissioners had as their responsibility the protection of crown lands from intrusion, encroachment and trespass. By Acts of Council in 1836 and 1839 Commissioners of Crown Lands were appointed for the squatting districts and these were the sole officials of Government beyond the Nineteen Counties. As such they had magisterial authority. They exercised control over the grazing properties, settled disputes between run holders, collected fees payable on Depasturing Licences and also the assessment on stock. The letters illustrate some of the difficulties facing the government in the administration of the scheme, including the unsatisfactory conduct of the Border Police set up under the 1839 act and controlled by the commissioners. The police were mostly convicts and Gipps finally had to decide against employing any but free settlers for the duty. Periodic instructions to newly appointed commissioners present an up to date picture of the situation at the date they were issued and illustrate the rapid extension of squatting in the years after the Squatting Acts were passed. The Commissioners continued to act for a time after the Legislative Council refused to renew the 1839 Act in the middle of 1846. 28 Apr 1834-9 Nov 1836 (4/6188 part; microfilm copy SR Reel 2996), 20 Feb 1837-11 Feb 1847 (4/3659-61; microfilm copy SR Reel 2996). 4 vols (part). Note:This description is based on Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.