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NEW SOUTH WALES.

Encl. 2 in No. 2. SIR,

20th August 1853. 17th August 1853.

Enclosure 2 in No. 2.

Treasury Chambers, 17th September 1853. I AM commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, copy of a letter from the Master of the Mint, and of a letter from Captain Ward forwarded therewith, submitting the arrangements made by him, under the directions of this Board, for the construction of the Sydney Mint, together with a copy of their Lordships' Minute of the 9th instant thereon; and I am to request that you will suggest to his Grace to furnish copies of them to the Governor of New South Wales, in order that he may be informed of the progress made in the arrangements for the Mint in question, and of the probable cost of the machinery and implements, and of that portion of the fittings of the building of the Mint which will be prepared in this country.

I am further to state that, when all the proceedings on this subject have been completed, a detailed account will be furnished, for the information of the Colonial Government, of the whole of the expenditure incurred on their behalf; and, in the meantime, it is desirable that such further sum should be remitted, in addition to the 10,000l. already received, as shall make up the total cost ascertained up to this period. Herman Merivale, Esq.,

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I have, &c. (Signed) C. E. TREVELYAN.

Sub-Enclosure 1 to No. 2.

SIR,

Royal Mint, August 20, 1853.

IN continuation of the measures in progress for the establishment of a Branch Mint at Sydney, I have now the honour to enclose a report addressed to me by Captain Ward, detailing his proceedings under the authority given him by their Lordships, in your letter of the 28th June, to invite completing designs and tenders for the Mint machinery proposed by him, and submitting the comparative results in the cases of five several tendering parties, with his reasons for recommending the acceptance of the tender of Messrs. Taylor and Allen, who offer to furnish the several items under that head for 10,3527., including the cost of delivery, and that of superintending the erection of the machinery at Sydney. In these reasons and in this recommendation I entirely concur, and have, therefore, only to suggest, that Captain Ward should be authorized to enter into such engagements with the parties above named as shall be legally binding on both sides for the completion and purchase of the machinery in question, at the time and on the terms proposed.

Captain Ward has also prepared lists, which he has submitted for my approval, of books, printed forms, tools, stores, and other articles not included under the head of Mint machinery, but which are indispensably necessary to the proceedings of the new Mint.

These articles he is authorized by your letter, already cited, to proceed to order; but their expense being considerable, he has thought it advisable, before proceeding to order more than such as are required to be put in immediate forwardness, to include the whole in a general estimate for their Lordships' sanction, as also to offer a distinct estimate for the cost of iron roofs, windows, and other portions of the building, such as being prepared in England will go in diminution of the necessary expense and labour of its erection in the colony.

Captain Ward also annexes copies of the several tenders, as well as block, ground, and roof plans of the building and workshops, with elevations, prepared under his directions. The total of these estimates exceeds the sum remitted by the Government of New South Wales; but it will be borne in mind that a large portion of the amount is for items not properly included in the simple cost of the machinery, but which belonging to the erection of the building, the fitting up therein of the machinery, and its subsequent use, would, at all events, come to be defrayed independently, besides including a guarantee for its delivery and effective erection on the spot. I should, therefore, consider it desirable that these items of expenditure should also receive their Lordships' sanction, and that Captain Ward should be authorized to order the articles enumerated in these supplementary estimates in the mode proposed by him.

I would further suggest that, an account being already opened in the Mint Books between the Master of the Mint and the Sydney Branch Mint, distinct from the Mint expenses, under the authority of their Lordships' letter of June 30th, for the payment of wages from the cash account of the Master of the Mint, I may be authorized to advance such sums as may be necessary to defray the expenses arising on the completion of orders for delivery and shipment in England, and such other autorized current and necessary expenses as may occur, from the same cash account under the same general head, to be hereafter reimbursed in like manner.

Sir C. E. Trevelyan, K.C.B.,
&c.

&c.

&c.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. F. W. HERSCHEL.

SIR,

Sub-Enclosure 2 to No. 2.

Royal Mint, August 17, 1853. HAVING in compliance with the verbal instructions received from the Treasury, and afterwards confirmed by their Lordships' letter of the 22nd June last, called upon the under-mentioned engineers, by the communication, a copy of which is enclosed, for designs and tenders of the machinery required for the proposed Sydney Mint, I have the honour to transmit herewith, for the information of their Lordships, the tenders received from these parties, together with the following remarks and recommendation.

The tenders not having, in the first instance, been framed in accordance with my instructions, and several articles having been omitted in some of them, and others not required having been introduced, I have experienced some difficulty in instituting a comparison, and have been obliged either to add or deduct the value of such items as were not included, or not required, to or from the total amount of each tender, which may be compared as follows, viz. :—

Messrs. Maudslay, Son, and Field's tender amounted to 10,4297., including iron work of two furnaces, machine for cleaning blanks, two wrought and cast iron doors, and three turning lathes not called for in my letter, and omitting the shafting for lathe screw guages, &c., considered desirable, besides declining to offer a price at which they would undertake to deliver and superintend the erection of the machinery at Sydney.

Their tender corrected for these alterations and omissions, atthe prices named for the same by other contractors, as shown on the accompanying Enclosure marked A, amounts to 12,0297.

Messrs. Rennie and Company's original tender amounts to 9,450l., but when corrected in a similar manner to Messrs. Maudslay's, as shown in the accompanying Enclosure marked B, it is equivalent to 11,3957.

Messrs. Napier and Sons' original tender amounts to 10,1131. Their tender corrected (see Enclosure marked C), to 11,0067.

Messrs. Watt and Co.'s tender to 7,500l.; corrected, as shown in Enclosure marked D, to 10,5451.

Messrs. Taylor and Allen's original tender amounted to 10,8201.; corrected, as before described (see Enclosure marked E), to 10,8057.

The tenders of Messrs. Maudslay and Company, Messrs. Rennie and Company, and Messrs. Watt and Company, I consider inadvisable, inasmuch as these parties have not agreed to undertake the responsibility of delivering the machinery at Sydney, and send a man to superintend its erection at their own risk, conditions which appear to me absolutely

necessary.

Under these circumstances, after having considered the plans submitted, and prepared others modified to the building I considered desirable for the Mint (copies of which are forwarded herewith), and also drawn up a list of every extra article of machinery necessary, I forwarded these to Messrs. Napier and Son, and to Messrs. Taylor and Allen, with a view of their adapting their tenders thereto, and have received from these gentlemen the enclosed extra details (see Enclosures marked F and G). On examination I find that Messrs. Taylor and Allen's offer, amounting to 10,352l., is the lowest, and I beg, therefore, to recommend that their tender be accepted, and authority given for ordering the machinery as soon as the necessary bond, prepared by the Solicitor of the Treasury, has been executed by these parties.

I have also prepared an estimate for tools, weights and scales, turning and other lathes, fireproof safes and doors for the strongholds, pots, &c., for the melting house, and other requisite articles for the establishment (see Enclosure H), and have obtained prices of these articles from the best manufacturers. Weights and scales have been ordered from Mr. Oertling, of Store Street, London, on the authority of the Treasury Letter dated 22nd June last, and are in progress.

During my recent visit to Paris, I have been permitted to see the working of a Balance invented by M. le Baron Segnier, which, by a self-acting process, rejects light and heavy coins with great correctness. I have included two such balances in the above estimate; the labour saved, and the degree of accuracy attained, would fully compensate for their first cost, which would not exceed 3401.

As the manufacturing of the machinery will occupy some time, and taking into consideration the great cost of labour in the colony, I have thought it desirable, in order that no delay should occur in the erection of the building after our arrival in Sydney, to prepare an approximate estimate (see Enclosure I) for procuring roofs, windows, &c., for the manufactory, and the windows, doors, and other fittings for the offices, which I would recommend to be purchased in this country, upon the lowest current prices that can be obtained for good materials and workmanship.

Books and parliamentary papers for reference on questions of currency and political economy have been ordered on the former authority of their Lordships.

It is not easy, at this distance from the colony, to form any just estimate of the extent of the refinery necessary for the efficient working of the Mint, but from every information I can obtain, I do not expect that department will require more space than has been provided in the melting division of the building.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

NEW

I have included in my estimate of materials the cost of such pots furnaces, and acids SOUTH WALES. for the process, as I consider sufficient.

If, on our arrival in the colony, a separate refinery on a larger scale should be considered desirable by the Colonial Government, it will be easy to send home for materials for conducting the same while the building is in process of erection.

In the plans and arrangements of the building and enclosure, it will be seen that I have provided office room only, and not living apartments for any, except the porter and inspector of police, over the lodges of the front entrance, and the party of Royal Sappers and Miners within the enclosure. The latter arrangement I consider to be most desirable for the purpose of preserving the military character and discipline of the detachment, and also as a precaution in case of fire or other contingency.

It seems desirable that arrangements should now be made to enable those officers who are, or may be appointed to the Sydney Mint, to draw such portions of their pay as shall become due, and that when the periods of their embarkation are definitely settled, they may be permitted to have an advance of six months' salary, to defray the expenses of

outfit.

The amount of the several items I have enumerated, including those for which authority to proceed has already been granted, are as follows, viz. :

1. Machinery

2. Materials, which includes weights and scales, "
and balances, tools, fireproof safes, and
doors for the strongholds, requisites for
melting, &c.

3. Roofs, windows, doors, &c.

4. Library and office books, printed forms, &c.
about

L 8. d. 10,352 0 0

3,879 7 3

4,016 0 0

c.}

100 0 0

£18,347 7 3

Encl. 3 in No. 2.

The articles in item 1 will be delivered at Sydney for the price stated, but those contained in items 2, 3, and 4, will require some additional expense of shipment, which cannot be estimated until the extent and dimensions are known.

Sir John Herschel, Bart, &c. &c. &c.,
Master of the Mint.

I have, &c.

(Signed) E. W. WARD,

Captain Royal Engineers.

Enclosure 3 in No. 2.

COPY of TREASURY MINUTE, dated the 9th September 1853.

My Lords have before them Sir John Herschel's letter, dated 20th ult., submitting a letter from Captain Ward, dated 17th ult., reporting the arrangements made by him, under the directions of this Board, for the construction of the Sydney Mint.

My Lords authorize the acceptance of the tender of Messrs. Taylor and Allen, to furnish the Mint machinery according to the prescribed designs and specifications, and to deliver and superintend its erection at Sydney, for a total sum of 10,3521.; and Captain Ward will immediately take the necessary steps to enter into the requisite legal engagements with Messrs. Taylor and Allen.

Captain Ward is also authorized to obtain the various articles required for the different departments of the new Mint according to the list furnished by him, at a total cost of 3,8791., subject only to this condition, that scales, according to the recent invention of Baron Segnier, shall not be purchased for the Sydney Mint until they have been fully tried at the London Mint.

My Lords consider it right that the plans and designs for the building should be settled by the Colonial Government, with the exception of that portion of them which must be determined beforehand in relation to the machinery; and my Lords, therefore, sanction only so much of the plans submitted by Captain Ward as may be necessary for the machinery, leaving the elevation and the other parts of the building to be decided upon by the Colonial Government.

Captain Ward also furnishes an approximate estimate, amounting altogether to 4,016l., for roofs and windows, doors and other fittings, which, he recommends, should be purchased in this country, upon the lowest current prices that can be obtained for good materials and workmanship. My Lords admit the advantage of this arrangement, both out of regard to economy, and with a view to the early completion of the building; and they authorize Captain Ward to procure the fittings required, subject to the limitation that such portion of them as are not immediately connected with the machinery, shall be adaptable to any elevation or design for the building which the colonial authorities may

sanction.

The separate account which has been opened in the Mint Books between the Master of the Mint and the Sydney Branch Mint, may be extended to the payment of all authorized expenditure on account of the Sydney Mint, whether for machinery, implements, or materials, or for the salaries of the officers employed, including such advances of salary previously to embarkation as may be required for the purpose of defraying the expense of outfit.

My Lords consider it advisable that, as soon as the arrangements which have to be made in this country for the commencement of the building have been completed, Mr. Trickett, who will have charge of the works on the part of Captain Ward, should proceed to Sydney in advance of that officer, with some of the sappers and miners employed on this duty, to prepare the building for the reception of the machinery, and Mr. Trickett will, on his arrival in Sydney, submit to the Governor Captain Ward's plans and designs for the Sydney Mint, and will take his directions for proceeding with the building by means of funds and other assistance supplied by the Colonial Government.

Transmit a copy of this Minute to the Master of the Mint for his information and guidance.

Transmit to Mr. Merivale copies of Sir John Herschel's and Captain Ward's letters, and of this minute, and request that he will suggest to the Duke of Newcastle to furnish copies of them to the Governor of New South Wales, in order that he may be informed of the progress made in the arrangements for the Sydney Mint, and of the probable cost. of the machinery and implements, and of that portion of the fittings of the building of the Mint which will be prepared in this country.

Also state that when all the proceedings on this subject have been completed, a detailed account will be furnished, for the information of the Colonial Government, of the whole of the expenditure incurred on their behalf, and, in the meantime, it is desirable that such further sum should be remitted, in addition to the 10,000l. already received, as shall make up the total cost ascertained up to this period.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

No. 3.

. COPY of a DESPATCH from the Duke of NEWCASTLE to Governor-General Sir C. A. FITZROY.

(No. 137.)

SIR,
Downing Street, November 2, 1853.
WITH reference to my Despatch No. 128,* of the 29th September, in which
I communicated to you the arrangements in progress, under the directions of the
Board of Treasury, for the construction of the proposed Mint at Sydney, I have
now to acquaint you that their Lordships have informed me that Mr. Trickett, the
superintendent of the coining departments of the Mint, who will act as clerk of
the works in the erection of the building, has been directed to proceed forthwith
to Sydney, to submit to you the plans and designs for the same, and to take
your instructions for proceeding with the building by means of funds and other
assistance to be supplied by the Colonial Government.

I have addressed you in a separate Despatch, marked "Military," No. 5, with reference to the detachment of sappers and miners, who are to proceed with Mr. Trickett to Sydney.

Governor-General Sir C. A. FitzRoy,

I have, &c.

(Signed)

NEWCASTLE.

*

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COPY of a DESPATCH from the Duke of NEWCASTLE to Governor-General

(No. 5, Military.) SIR,

Sir C. A. FITZROY.

Downing Street, November 2, 1853. WITH reference to the arrangements which Mr. Trickett, the Superintendent of the Coining Department of the Mint at Sydney, has been directed to make, with a view to the erection of the Mint, I have to acquaint you that a detachment of Sappers and Miners, consisting of a Serjeant and nine men, will proceed with Mr. Trickett to Sydney; and you will have the goodness to understand that this detachment is sent to the Colony to be at the disposal of the

No. 3.

Page 59.

NEW

Governor for the duties of the Mint; and that although they are to partake SOUTH WALES. of all advantages of quarters, and other allowances as a military body, they are not to be employed on military duties, except on special occasions, for which your permission is to be obtained.

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I have, &c. (Signed) NEWCASTLE.

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