VPRS 4666 Stock Account Book and Papers for Executive Authority (Roads and Bridges branch)

The Public Works Department (VA 669) had wide-ranging responsibilities for all public works and buildings, including construction, maintenance and fitting out of these buildings. Other major responsibilities included roads and bridges, ports and harbours, local government and water supply. The roads and bridges Branch assumed responsibility for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges in 1877 and with it, the administration of the Local Government Act.The first series contained in this volume consists of a series of pages listed with the names of places in East Gippsland used as storage depots for the construction of roads, particularly that to Woods Point. Beneath each depot name is listed the stores of tools and equipment held by that depot from 1876 to 1878.The second series contained in this volume records the Orders-In Council presented by that Branch of the Public Works Department to the Executive Council for ratification. Most of these Orders arose from the provisions of the Local Government Act regarding municipal boundaries and elections and from the requirement that the Governor-in Council was the authority for the proclamation of roads as public highways. Each Order has been given an annual single number. Other details are the name of the municipality or authority to which the Order relates, the date of its approval and a summary of the subject matter of the Order-in Council.