VPRS 1109 Register of Authorities

The Central Roads Board, the first agency concerned with the establishment of main roads and bridges, was abolished on 1 January 1858 and succeeded by the Department of Roads and Bridges (VA 2964) which operated under the statutory control of the Board of Land and Works (VA 744). The Department of Railways and Roads (VA 2875) succeeded the Department of Roads and Bridges (VA 2694) in 1872 when the Secretary of the Department of the Railways also became the Secretary of the Department of Roads and Bridges.This series records the issuing of authorities for the expenditure of funds for the administration of the Department and the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. Each record is divided into two vertical sections with the righthand side giving the source of the funds, the total amount of funds to be allocated and the reasons for the allocation. The lefthand side gives the details of the expenditure of the funds.From 1860 to 1869 there are generally two volumes. The first volume deals with the registration of general authorities. The second volume deals with the registration of authorities granted for the expenditures of the District Road Engineers and for the engagement of professional services and staff. These volumes may be able to be seen as to do with the activities of the Inspector-General of Roads who was responsible for the supervision and oversight of construction and maintenance.In some volumes, particularly later ones in the series are special sections for Special Authorities. These are to do with the allocation of expenditure of funds derived from specific Parliamentary and Treasury Grants and are used for works, for compensation payments and to remedy flood damage. After 1869, a special section of the volumes is devoted to Board Authorities which were allocations which needed to be approved by the Board of Land and Works. (Roads and Bridges). Further details of these may be found in VPRS 1112 Schedule of Authorities and other Correspondence of the Board.The P1 consignment of this series was previously registered as VPRS 1143 unit 13.