392 May 1856 mss letter to the Comptroller General’s Office regarding one Charles WHITE: "May I request that you will direct that... [White] be discharged to service north of Oatlands only as I have great reasons to believe that he has very bad connexions on this side of the Island." With a short mss note by Nairn about how he dealt with this suggestion and the CGO receival datestamp. Charles WHITE had arrived in Van Diemen’s Land aboard "Asia" in August 1841. He had been sentenced to 7 years transportation at Winchester Borough Quarter Sessions $200–300 ❖ 393 THE COST OF KEEPING A CONVICT: 10 June 1856 mss letter from the Colonial Secretary’s Office at Hobart, requesting, on behalf of the Governor, that a Board be assembled to look into the possibility of reducing from two shillings and sixpence per day, "the rate charged by the Convict Department for the maintenance of Colonial Convicts....as this amount was fixed when provisions were much higher than at present..." Responses to this vexed question (in 2 other hands) on the final page. $300–500 ❖ 394 LIVING IN A STATE OF ADULTERY: 19 June 1856 mss letter to the Comptroller General, Hobart Town from a very unhappy, abandoned husband. "I have to call your attention to the conduct of a Ticket of Leave holder named Mary PARTING (by the TORY) who has been living in a state of adultery for the last twelve months with a man named John AGAR a Stone Mason in Melville Street near to my house.......she has insinuated herself into an acquaintance with my wife whom she has not only induced to rob me but has persuaded her to leave me taking near all my property with her....After some trouble I induced my wife to return home with me when she confessed that Parting had got £15 from her and had been the instigator of her deserting me.....I therefore hope you will cause her to be removed from Hobart Town....." Further details in the hand of John Symonds, Chief Constable and others include the observation that Mrs Hooper was induced to "take everything she could dispose of to obtain drink" and that "Parting not to be allowed to reside in Hobart Town." Fascinating social history. $800–1,000 395 A PENSION FOR THE CHIEF CLERK at NORFOLK ISLAND: In May 1857 Thomas Jewel OLIVER applied "for a Superannuation Allowance" following his enforced retirement from the Penal & Convict Department after ten years service. Transportation to Tasmania had ended in 1853 and the last convicts on Norfolk Island were removed to Tasmania in 1855. Oliver’s application consists of 16 pages, partially printed, detailing his various positions in Van Diemen’s Land and on Norfolk Island, his rate of pay, his days of absence from his duty and several "Certificates as to the manner in which Mr Oliver has discharged his duties.... appended from the several Commandants at NORFOLK ISLAND and the present Commandant at PORT ARTHUR under whom 395 396 394 60