VPRS 3265 Federal Council Despatches To And From The Secretary of State

An Act of the British Parliament in 1885 authorised the Australian colonies, with new Zealand and Fiji, to set up a joint body with the authority to legislate on such matters as relations with the Pacific Islands, quarantine and fisheries beyond territorial limits. Each colony was to send two representatives to the Federal Council.This series consists of volumes summarising the Despatches sent by the Council to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The first volume consists of an index to the Despatches summarising the year and number, the date of the despatch, a summary of the subject, to whom it was referred, the response and a space for remarks. The second volume contains copies of the letters which were part of the complete despatch which would have had enclosures.

1885年英国议会通过一项法案，授权澳大利亚各殖民地与新西兰、斐济组建联合机构，有权就太平洋群岛关系、检疫事务及领海以外的渔业活动行使立法权。各殖民地需向该联邦委员会（Federal Council）派遣两名代表。本系列数据集由多卷册构成，旨在汇总联邦委员会致英国殖民事务大臣（Secretary of State for the Colonies）的专函摘要。第一卷为专函索引，涵盖专函的年份与编号、发送日期、主题概要、呈递对象、回复内容及备注填写栏。第二卷则收录完整专函（含附件）所包含的信件副本。