NRS-979 | Copies of letters to the Master Attendant, masters of ships, the Harbour Master and the Port Master

Continued from NRS 984, this series includes copies of letters addressed to the Master Attendant, from 1833 to the Harbour Master also, and from 1843 the Port Master only. There are also letters to the masters of ships engaged on government business up to about 1834, the supervision of these ships being one of his most important duties. The Master Attendant was charged with constant attendance in the Dock Yard, muster of convicts employed, custody of the store, equipment of vessels, building of boats, account of the cargoes received and of fittings and materials from convict ships and inspection of the accounts of the masters of colonial vessels for provisions embarked for crews and convicts. He also had the duties of a harbourmaster and control of the boats used to guard against the escape of convicts.The office of Master Attendant was instituted by Macquarie on Bigge's recommendation in January 1821. The object was to relieve the Chief Engineer, a military officer, of duties that Bigge believed were beyond his compass. John Nicholson, R.N., was appointed as Harbour Master, he took over most of the port duties formerly performed by the Naval Officer, who became essentially a customs officer only. His office received statutory recognition by the Shipping Act of 1825. See also NRS 997 for letters to the Master Attendant re quarantine.(4/3778-85; microfilm copy SR Reels 2862-2864). 8 vols. Note:This description is based on Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.

本系列接续NRS 984，包含1833年致港务主管专员（Master Attendant）的信函副本，部分亦致港务长（Harbour Master）；1843年起，信函仅致港务总长（Port Master）。本系列还收录1834年前致执行公务船舶船长的信函，而监管此类船舶亦是该职位的核心职责之一。港务主管专员需常驻船坞，负责清点受雇服刑人员、保管仓库物资、筹备船舶装备、建造小艇、登记流放船所载货物及配件物料，并核查殖民船舶船长为船员与流放人员配备的给养账目。其同时承担港务长职责，并管控用于防范服刑人员越狱的执勤小艇。1821年1月，麦考瑞（Macquarie）根据比格（Bigge）的提议设立港务主管专员一职，旨在免除首席工程师（一名军官）承担的、比格认为超出其职权范围的工作。皇家海军军官约翰·尼科尔森（John Nicholson, R.N.）被任命为港务长，他接管了此前由海军官员履行的大部分港务职责，此后该海军官员仅承担海关相关事务。该职位于1825年《航运法案》（Shipping Act 1825）中获得法定地位。相关致港务主管专员的检疫信函可参阅NRS 997。本系列档案编号为4/3778-85，缩微胶片副本对应SR胶片2862-2864，共计8卷。注：本档案描述基于2000年第三版《新南威尔士州州立档案馆简明指南》（Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000）。