Letter by H C Russell, 16 May 1868

Government Observatory
Sydney

May 16 [18]68

My Dear Sir

I received your second telegram about the keys this morning and have sought in vain for another bunch. I went to the dining room and looked myself and Annie told me she had looked upstairs and felt your pockets without finding any.

One of the bunches I forwarded on Thursday was tied with string and Annie found it on the dining room mantelpiece. I have looked twice in your room also in the Magnet House and other places to no purpose. I sent a telegram to you this morning Goulburn but finding I could not save any time and would spend 30 shillings to forward it to Boro, I cancelled it and have written for today’s post.

Believe me
Yours very truly
H C Russell

G R Smalley Esquire
Government Astronomer

Letter by G R Smalley, 7 May 1869

17

Government Observatory

May 7th 1869

Sir

I have the honor to enclose Voucher in Support of the last advance for Magnetic Survey, and request a further advance of £25 for the same purpose.

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
George R Smalley

The Under Secretary for Finance & Trade

Letter by G R Smalley, 5 May 1870

68

Royal Observatory
May 5 1870

Sir

I have the honor to request that the Colonial Secretary will be pleased to approve of my disposing of the annual vote of £120 for the purpose of taking Meteorological Observations in different parts of the Colony in such proportions and in such places as I may think it expedient for the Publick [sic] benefit without limitation for a first scale of remuneration for each individual observer Voucher for each payment with details being returned to the Treasury as usual.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
George R Smalley

The Principal Under Secretary

Letter by G R Smalley, 19 March 1869

13

Government Observatory
March 19th 1869

Sir

I have the honor to Enclose Vouchers in Support of the last advance for Base Line Measurement and request a further advance of £49”10”9 for the same purpose.

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
George R Smalley

The Under Secretary for Finance & Trade

Letter by G R Smalley, 9 March 1869

11

Government Observatory
March 9th 1869

Sir
I have the honor to enclose Voucher in Support of the last advance of £10 for Incidental Expenses, and request a further advance of £9”12”8 (the unexpended balance of Vote for 1868) to defray Incidental Expenses incurred during that year.

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
George R Smalley
Govt Astronomer

The Under Secretary
for Finance & Trade

Letter by G R Smalley, 8 March 1869

10

Government Observatory
March 8 1869

Sir
I have the honor to enclose Voucher in Support of the last advance of £18.7.6 for Magnetic Survey (1868) and Request a further Advance of £18.7.6 for the Same purpose.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
George R Smalley
Govt Astr-

The Under Secretary
for Finance & Trade

1

Government Observatory

February 1st 1869

Sir

I have the honor to Submit for the consideration of the Colonial Secretary some further explanations in Reference to My Communication of the 11th ??.

Previous to these communications I was not aware that it was the rule to obtain Special Authority for the Remuneration of persons employed in the Public Service, for overtime work. I therefore believed that I was quite justified in Remunerating my Computer and Meteorological Assistant for extra labour performed day after day, at the Very ?? rate of one Shilling an hour, net of Votes above granted by Parliament for Incidental?? work.

The Principal Under Secretary

[Unsigned but appears to be written in Smalley’s hand-writing]