Biographical entry: Chester, Henry Majoribanks
Summary
Papers from 1865. Letterbook No.l of the Police Magistrate, Somerset, 28 July 1869-1 October 1871, extracts.
Includes letters from H.M. Chester to Queensland Colonial Secretary, 17 January 187-,
With enclosed report of D'Albertis expedition to the Fly River, New Guinea, December 1875;
Report regarding Boigu Island natives, 31 December 1880;
Report from Captain C. Pennefather to Colonial Secretary and to the Police Magistrate, Thursday Island mainly reporting on a cruise of the Queensland Government schooner Pearl, undertaken to enforce the Pearlshell and Beche de Mer Fisheries Act of 1881.
Typescript copies made by Dr Chester.
To the extracts from Letterbook No.1 is attached a manuscript pencilled covering note, stating that the original volume has since disappeared from Thursday Island Courthouse, which still has Volume 2, 1871-1877. Reverend W.H. MacFarlane (226/1952) states that the original of one of the volumes, presumably No.1 has since been destroyed. Catalogued under: Queensland-Colonial Secretary. MITCHELL: B.1414, 1415.
Typescripts, 'Autobiography, 1906', and 'Parodies: Ode to New South Wales 1868. A Ministerial sketch 1868. The New Land Act 1868'. Copies made for Dr Chester.
Autobiography covers writer's childhood and service in the Navy, 1832-October 1850, and after a short summary of the period December 1865-1867 goes on (p.10) to his residency at Somerset as Police Magistrate, 1869-ca.April 1870. B.1416.
The same, typed in Mitchell Library 1953 from the preceding B.1416.
The same, photostat of manuscript copy made by Charles L. Chester, son of H.M. Chester.
Differs only by two insets and a crossed out part as noted in all copies. A.3803. Includes an account of the punitive expedition undertaken in April 1870, in the frigate Blanche, against the Mount Ernest natives of Prince of Wales Islands, in consequence of their murdering the crew of the Speerweer in about October 1869 (pp.13-15) and a short historical sketch of the settlement states when writer arrived in 1869 and progress to April 1870 (pp.10-16). The subject of a ministerial sketch and of the New Land Act is E.L. Lamb, Queensland Minister for Lands. MITCHELL: B.1416, A.3803.
Papers regarding H.M. Chester.
1. Narrative of an expedition to New Guinea by H.M. Chester.
2. Volume of newspaper cuttings of H.M. Chester.
3. Newspaper cuttings on H.M. Chester.
4. Newspaper cuttings on Reverend N. Neville.
Microfilm, one reel negative, original papers held Queensland Historical Society, Brisbane. MITCHELL: UNCAT.MSS.FM.3/139.