Guide to the Collections held by the Tyne and Wear Archives Department (as filmed by the AJCP)

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M1831-1833

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: 2019

Collection Summary

Creator
Tyne and Wear Archives Department
Title
Collections held by the Tyne and Wear Archives Department (as filmed by the AJCP)
Date Range
8 December 1835 - 1960
Collection Number
M1831-1833
Extent
52 items
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Australian Joint Copying Project
Sponsor
The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.

Introduction

Scope and Contents

Correspondence 1878-1881 of Stuart Rendel, a partner in the ordnance firm Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co, referring to purchase of guns and gunboats for New South Wales, South Australian, Victorian and Queensland Governments. Correspondents include Sir William Jervois, P. Scratchley and H. Sargood.

Letters 1881-1884 of Elizabeth Spence Watson referring to the emigration of industrial girls to Queensland.

Records 1923-1929 of Guardians of the Poor, Newcastle upon Tyne Union relating to emigration of paupers and children to Australia and Canada.

Papers 1908-1926 of Charles H. Merz and William McLellan relating to the electrification of the railways in Melbourne, including estimates, data files, calculations and a large number of photograph albums.

Papers 1882-1885 of Swan Family relating to the activities of the Edison and Swan United Electric Light Co in Australia and New Zealand.

Letters 1852-1853 of John Miller of Kyneton and Melbourne to his parents referring to his experiences as an emigrant, discovery of gold at Ovens River, prices and wages in Victoria, and his decision to leave the colony in 1853.

Conditions Governing Access

Available for Access.

Conditions Governing Use

Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.

Preferred Citation

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Archival History

Filmed at the Tyne and Wear Archives Department, Newcastle upon Tyne, as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1983. (AJCP reel M1831-1833). Original microfilm digitised as part of the NLA AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.

The Tyne and Wear Archives Department formed part of the Municipal Museum of Science and Industry and was housed in Blandford House, Newcastle upon Tyne from 1978. In 1993 the museum and archive was relaunched as the Discovery museum.

Existence and Location of Originals

Tyne and Wear Archives Department, Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

For more information see the Tyne and Wear Archive. [https://twarchives.org.uk/collection/catalogue]

Existence and Location of Copies

The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn746679] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.

Finding-aid Notes

This finding aid is a revised online version of the original finding aid prepared by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), published by the National Library of Australia in 2019. The original AJCP finding aids were unpublished typescripts or photocopies available from libraries that held copies of the original microfilm.

Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming rather than to the date range of the Series or Files.

Subjects

Armstrong, Sir W.G. and Co; Australia; Board of Guardians; Canada; Edison and Swan United Electric Light Company; Emigration and immigration: children; Emigration and immigration: paupers; Gold and gold mining: Victoria; Great Britain; Jervois, Sir William; Kyneton, Victoria; Manufacturers; McLellan, William; Melbourne, Victoria; Merz, Charles H.; Miller, John (Melbourne); Munitions and munition production; Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England; Ovens River, Victoria; Photographs; Queensland: defence; Queensland: immigration to; Railways: Victoria; Rendel, Stuart, 1st Baron; Sargood, Henry; Scratchley, Sir Peter; Swan Family; Victoria; Victoria: economic conditions; Victoria: immigration to; Wages; Watson, Elizabeth S.

Bibliography

Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 468, p182. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-397322928]

Item Descriptions

Fonds Acc 31. Papers of Stuart Rendel, 1878 - 1881

5 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1831.

Biographical / Historical

Stuart Rendel, (1834-1913) 1st Baron Rendel (created 1894). Associated with the ordnance firm Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co. of Newcastle from the 1860s, eventually a managing partner based in London. M.P. 1880-1894.

Correspondence with Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co., George Rendel, Sir William Jervois and Sir Arthur Blyth, 1878 (File 5884-5894)

Concerning purchase of 10" mounted guns and gunboats for South Australian Government.

Correspondence with Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co., George Rendel, and Colonel P. Scratchley, 1878 - 1880 (File 5895-5926)

Concerning guns, carriages and platforms ordered by the Victorian and N.S.W. Governments including copies.

Correspondence with Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co., P. Scratchley and E.H. Steward, 1880 - 1881 (File 5927-5948)

Concerning guns ordered by N.S.W. and Queensland Governments. Also letters from Scratchley seeking further employment in the British colonial service.

Correspondence with H. Sargood, 1881 (File 5949-5950)

Concerning visit of J. Service to Elswick works.

Correspondence with Sir W.G. Armstrong and Co. and P. Scratchley, 1881 (File 5951-5960)

Concerning purchase of gunboat by N.S.W. Government.

Fonds Acc 213. Letters of Mabel Spence Watson, 1881 - 1884

3 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1831.

Biographical / Historical

Mabel Spence Watson (1860-1907), daughter of Robert Spence Watson (1837-1911), a Quaker solicitor, Secretary and President of the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Institution, founder and President of the Newcastle Liberal Association (1874-1897) and President of the National Liberal Federation (1890-1902).

Elizabeth Spence Watson (Gateshead) to Mabel Spence Watson, 1 March 1881 (File 119)

Journey back to Gateshead; account of industrial schoolgirl being fitted out to emigrate to Queensland.

Elizabeth Spence Watson (Gateshead) to Mabel Spence Watson, 9 March 1884 (File 172)

Mabel's impending return from Cambridge; refers to helping some industrial girls to emigrate.

Elizabeth Spence Watson to Mabel Spence Watson, 12 March 1884 (File 173)

Visitors; lecture by father; account of emotional departure of industrial girls on first stage of journey to colonies.

Fonds Acc 359. Records of Guardians of the Poor, Newcastle upon Tyne Union, 1923 - 1929

2 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1831.

Emigration of children from cottage homes, 1923 - 1927 (File Box 2282 File 158)

Papers mainly relating to emigration to Canada and Australia. Includes correspondence with Church Army, British Dominions Emigration Society, Overseas Settlement Office, Catholic Emigration Association and Society of St. Vincent de Paul. There are reports on particular children and letters about the selection of boys for Fairbridge farms in Western Australia. (63ff.)

Migration of workers, paupers etc., 1927 - 1929 (File Box 2310 File 82)

Minutes, financial statements and correspondence of the Newcastle upon Tyne Migration Committee, which aimed to train boys of 14-18 and provide them with outfit prior to emigration to Canada and Australia. Most of the correspondence is between the Committee and the Clerk of the Guardians. (c. 150ff.)

Fonds Acc 429. Papers of William L. Harle, 1835 - 1849

2 items

Letters and cuttings of William L. Harle (1801-1878), lawyer and Deputy Recorder of Newcastle.

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1831.

W. Hutt to W.L. Harle, 8 December 1835 (File 70)

Colonization scheme; inquires if Harle is interested in secretaryship; 'we colonizers go at our work like men who intend to have it done'.

W. Hutt to W.L. Harle, 21 March 1849 (File 81)

Likely election of Harle to Reform Club; unprecedented sales of E.G. Wakefield's book; little too caustic in its treatment of Colonial Secretary.

Fonds Acc 578. Papers of Singers Family of Gateshead, c.1855-1860

3 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1831.

Crossley Bros. to H. Singers, 27 April 1857 (File 517)

Committee of investigation expected to recommend North British Australasian Co. be placed under Limited Liability Act.

Five papers of North British Australasian Company, [c. 1855-1861] (File 1070)

Including 1855 report of Committee of Management (14 p.) and resolutions of 1859 and 1861 annual general meetings.

Three papers of North British Australasian Company, 9 July 1857 - July 1860 (File 1071)

Includes:Letter of John Taylor and Sons resigning as managers, 9 July 1857

Resolutions of 1858 annual general meeting

Half-yearly report, July 1860.

Fonds Acc 671. Records of Merz and McLellan, 1907 - 1922

16 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reels M1831-M1833.

Biographical / Historical

Charles H. Merz (1874-1940) formed a partnership in 1902 with William McLellan (d. 1934) as consulting electrical engineers in Newcastle and later also in London. Merz made frequent trips to Australia, South Africa, Argentina, India, Canada and U.S.A. In 1912 he supervised the electrification of the Melbourne suburban railways.

C.H. Merz. Report upon the application of electric traction to the Melbourne Suburban Railway system. London (73p. + 26 plates), 1908 (File 177)

C.H. Merz. State of Victoria; report upon production and use of electric power. London (48 p.), 1908 (File 180)

Victorian Railways. Preliminary estimates taken to Australia, 1907 (File 181)

Papers sent to Merz by secretary of Victorian Railways, July-September 1907, including track measurements, power required for transportation, traffic estimates, preliminary investigations into electrification proposal, roster for motormen and guards.

Typescript. 1 volume. (c. 300pp)

Victorian Railways. Data file; information supplied by Railway Commissioners, 1912 (File 188)

Includes list of lines to be electrified; average schedule speed; traffic statistics; heating of cars; prices of materials; price of coal; poles for overhead electric traction; site for powerhouse at Yarraville; Trawool water storage scheme; railway and postal wires within suburban area; electrification beyond suburban area.

Typescript. 1 volume (279p.)

Victorian Railways. Calculations and justification of figures in connection with traction report; memorandum on country lines; and power report (File 189)

Contents:- 1. Suburban lines-capital cost. 2. Suburban lines-annual cost of operation. 3. Country lines-Melbourne-Woodend-Bendigo-capital cost. 4. Country lines-annual cost of operation. 5. Country lines-3000 volts. 6. Country lines-Melbourne-Wallan-Seymour-1500 volts. 7. Power-capital cost. 8. Power-annual cost of operation. 9. Power-Gas Corporation's estimates. 10. Miscellaneous. 11. Technical memorandum.

Typescript. 1 volume. (200p.)

Merz and McLellan. New Zealand railways; report on electrification. London (51p.), 1925 (File 236)

Justification. Typescript. 1 vol. (216pp)

Contents:-pp. 11-84 Auckland. pp. 85-154 Wellington pp. 155-189 Christchurch pp. 190-216 Dunedin.

Photograph album. Perth Power Station, 1913 - 1917 (File 460)

Photographs of construction of power station (1913-1915) and of interior views. (59p.)

Photograph album. Perth Power Station, 1922 (File 461)

Photographs of trams, tramlines, generator, converter, turbo-alternator. (25p.)

Photograph album. Victorian Railways, 1913 - 1914 (File 462)

Photographs of Newport Power Station and construction of Jolimont Workshops. (58p.)

Photograph album. Victorian Railways, 1914 - 1915 (File 463)

Photographs of Newport Power Station and Jolimont Substation. (55p.)

Photograph album. Victorian Railways, 1915 - 1916 (File 464)

Photographs of Newport Power Station, Jolimont Substation, Jolimont car shed, Flemington railway, laying cables in Spencer Street. (57p.)

Photograph album. Victorian Railways, 1916 - 1917 (File 465)

Photographs of Newport Power Station, Newmarket Substation, Spencer Street railway yard, Flemington railway, laying cables in Flinders Street. (59p.)

Photograph album. Victorian Railways, 1919 - 1922 (File 466)

Photographs of Middle Brighton Substation, Caulfield Substation, Newport Power Station, Melbourne railway line, Lygon Street tramway crossing. (60p.)

Photograph album. Victorian Railways, 1921 - 1922 (File 467)

Photographs of Seaford Substation, Eltham line, rotary converters (23p.)

Photograph album. Victorian Railways, c. 1922 (File 468)

Photographs of stator, rotary converter and other machinery. (25p.)

Photograph album. Machinery breakdowns, c. 1921 (File 495)

Mostly photographs of Victorian Railways machinery, including stator and turbo-alternator. (27p.)

Fonds Acc 780. Records of Merz and McLellan, 1908 - 1926

2 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1833.

Copy agreement with State Electricity Commission of Victoria, 7 July 1926 (File 1339)

Appointing Merz and McLellan as inspecting engineers of machinery and plant to be shipped to Australia Typescript. (9p.)

Victorian Railways. Report, including review and comments of the Victorian Railways Commissioners in connection with the report of Charles H. Merz on the application of electric traction to the Melbourne suburban railway system (65p.), 16 November 1908 (File 1710)

Fonds Acc 1101. Papers of Swan Family of Newcastle, 1882 - 1885

9 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1833.

Biographical / Historical

Sir Joseph Swan (1828-1914) established a chemical business and in 1879 he gave the first public demonstration of the incandescent electric light. In 1882 the film of Edison and Swan United Electric Light Company was formed and the family moved from Newcastle to Bromley.

Agreement between J.W. Swan of Newcastle and J.S. Sellon of Sydenham, Kent, 14 April 1882 (File 478)

Concerning sale of patents and other privileges for use in Australia and New Zealand (2p.)

Agreement between J.W. Swan and Australian Electric Co. Ltd. of Melbourne, 20 December 1882 (File 484)

Concerning sale of patent rights for incandescent lamps in Australian colonies (4p.)

J.H. Ivory to J.W. Swan and Co., 22 February 1883 (File 491)

Agrees to proposals to supply lamps to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

J.W. Swan to J. Payne (Newcastle), 24 November 1883 (File 494)

Payment of tax due on Australian patent.

Lauchland, Mackay and Baker (London) to J.W. Swan and Co., 22 November 1883 (File 495)

Payment of tax on Australian patent.

J.W. Swan to J. Payne, 6 November 1884 (File 515)

Shipment of lamps to Australia.

Bill of costs from Ashurst, Morris, Crisp and Co., November 1882 - November 1883 (File 519)

For expenses incurred in connection with sale of patent rights to Melbourne Electric Light Co. (8p.)

G.H. Swan (Napier) to J.W. Swan and Co., 5 December 1885 (File 532-539)

Sale of lamps and plant; recommends R.E. Fletcher of Dunedin be sole agents for lamp in New Zealand; cheapness of other lamps available in market.

Enclosures: 2 letters from R.E. Fletcher to G. Swan and publicity material of R.E. Fletcher and Co., including account of electric light at Mosgiel Woollen Factory, Dunedin, 3 October 1885.

J.W. Swan to G.H. Swan, n.d. (File 542)

Approves of sale of lamps; declines to appoint R.E. Fletcher and Co. sale agents in New Zealand. (draft)

Fonds Acc 1325. Records of Merz and McLellan, c.1890-1960

2 items

Filmed selectively.

Photograph album, c. 1890-1920 (File 812 ff. 51-58.)

Select pp. 51-58. Photographs of Melbourne electrified railways, Newport Power Station, Jolimont Substation, stator, Perth Power Station, Western Australian electric shunting locomotives.

Photograph album on railway electrification projects, c. 1951-1960 (File 845)

Photographs of Victorian Railways (Co-Co locomotive, motor generator set, air compressor set, motorized bogie, locomotives, Gippsland electrification).

Photographs of N.Z. Railways (Oitra Tunnel section)

(12pp)

Fonds Acc 1341. Photographs of J.E. Williamson, n.d.

2 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1833.

Photograph of iron railway and highway bridge over Shoalhaven River at Nowra, N.S.W., completed 25 July 1881, n.d. (File 2)

Photograph of railway and highway bridge over Bunberra Creek, Nowra, N.S.W, opened 1 August 1881, n.d. (File 3)

Designed and built by J.E. Williamson.

Fonds Acc 1386. Correspondence, 1912

1 item

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1833.

T. Marston (Auckland) to J. Longstaff, 3 January 1912 (File 3)

Voyage to New Zealand; wages and rent; visit of Japanese battleships; narrow-minded colonists.

Fonds Acc 44-50. Papers of John Miller of North Shields, 1852 - 1853

5 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP Reel M1833.Also listed as being originally held at the Tyne and Wear Archives Department, North Shields branch in the Local Studies Centre, Howard Street, North Shields, England.

J. Miller (Melbourne) to parents, 23 October 1852 (File Acc 46)

Cheating and deception on emigrant ships; arrival in Melbourne; high prices and wages; plans to go to diggings; arrival of Great Britain and Marco Polo; advises emigrants not to bring fine clothes. (4p.)

Enclosures: Diary of voyage on Gambier and description of Port Phillip Bay. (4p.)

J. Miller (Callao) to parents, 26 May 1853 (File Acc 47)

Reasons for leaving Melbourne; work as bullock driver, cook and labourer; seaman on voyage to South America on Argo. (3p.)

J. Miller (Kyneton) to parents, 27 December 1852 (File Acc 48)

Dullness of Kyneton; prices; drunkeness; discovery of gold at Ovens River; decline of diggings; work as storekeeper. (10p.)

J. Miller (Kyneton) to parents, 1 February 1853 (File Acc 49)

Lack of success of Newcastle men at diggings; plans to leave colony; no amusements or society; news of Shields friends in Australia; prices and wages; 'uncomfortable colony for any Englishman of sensibility'; heat, dust, flies, locusts, snakes; birds. (7p.)

J. Miller (Melbourne) to parents, 24 November 1852 (File Acc 50)

Lack of success at Bendigo diggings; high cost of provisions; best places completely riddled; wages in Melbourne. (4p.)


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