VPRS 14331 Register of Inward Correspondence, Hamilton District Land Office

This series consists of the register of inward correspondence maintained at the Hamilton District Land Office. At the District Office, correspondence was received both directly and on reference from the Melbourne Office of the Department of Crown Lands and Survey (VA 538). Details able to be entered in the register are the local office number, the date received, the Head Office number, the name of the correspondent, the subject of the correspondence, any instructions from Head Office for action by the District Land Office and how the correspondence was disposed of.Local registration numbers were given only to correspondence directly received by the District Land Office. The Head Office number given was the registration number allocated when the piece of correspondence was originally received and registered in Melbourne. This number is structured according to the recordkeeping system in use at that time period for the registration of correspondence. Often this correspondence was referred to the District Land Office due to the need for clarification regarding the matter, the need for local knowledge or the need for reference to a Local Land Board or for action and/or investigation by the Crown Lands Bailiff. Once correspondence was dealt with it was usually returned, with appropriate annotations to Head Office in Melbourne where it might have been then placed on a land file or other appropriate file. A notation regarding it and the movement of correspondence between the Head Office and the District Land Office would also be placed on any relevant Register of Applications or later, on the Application and File Management Card.