File:Wellington Cricketers Association 1882 (16495982051).jpg

In January 1882 the Wellington Cricket Association played a cricket match against a touring England eleven. As the Wellington teams comprised of public servants, they all had to seek leave from work to play the match. This letter here from the Department of Internal Affairs notes the request for 9 players to be given two days leave. In the same file the response of the Colonial Secretary is noted in favour of granting leave after consultation with the secretaries of the Treasury, Public Works Department, Property Tax and Stamps, Surveyor General and the Colonial Architect.

When the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, the Governor had sole responsibility for the administration of Government. He was responsible only to the British Government to whom he reported and from whom he received his instructions. The Colonial Secretary, as the Governor's chief aide, was the focal point of the administrative structure. He received reports from all Government officials not only about their core business activities, but also regarding their administrative activities. The first Colonial Secretary, appointed by Letters Patent, was Lieutenant Willoughby Shortland from 1841 to 1843.In 19th Century New Zealand, government recordkeeping was based on the annual number system, where each letter was assigned a number based on the order it was received. For example the 18th letter received by the Department on Internal Affairs from 1880 would be given the number 1880/18.

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Reference: ACGO 8333 IA1 467 /4 1882/311 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24374056

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