McCulloch Ministry (second term) to 20 September 1869.

Saturday, 6 February 1869.
Meeting of the Exploration Committee, held at 12.00 pm at the Royal Society's hall.
Present: Stawell (chair), Mueller, Wilkie, McCoy, Watson, Smith.

Related archives:
SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 286. Minutes of a meeting of the EC, 6 February 1869.

SLV MS13071, Box 2081/2a.

• Summary of EC minutes, 27 November 1863-26 February 1870. 7p.

Thursday, 25 February 1869.
Related archive: SLV MS13071 Box 2081/2c.

• Report of the Sub-Committee of the EC, 25 February 1869. 13p.

Friday, 26 February 1869.
Meeting of the Exploration Committee, held at 4.00 pm in the Royal Society's hall.
Present : Stawell (chair), Wilkie, Mueller, Watson, Smith.

Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/1, RSV EFC and RSV EC minute book, 1858-1873. 1 bound volume, ms., 295 numbered pages.

• p. 287. Minutes of a meeting of the EC, 26 February (1869).

Monday, 19 July 1869.
Related archive: SLV MS13071, Box 2088B/5, RSV EC outward correspondence August 1860 to July 1869.

• Letter to Huxley & Parker dated 19 July 1869.

Sunday, 1 August 1869.
Meeting of the Exploration Committee.

20 September 1869 - John Alexander MacPherson appointed as Chief Secretary, replacing the McCulloch Ministry (to 9 April 1870).

Wednesday, 27 October 1869.
(Argus, 29 October 1869, p.6)

On Wednesday a deputation from the Exploration Committee consisting of Dr Wilkie, Mr Gillbee, and the secretary, Mr C Donald, waited upon the Chief Secretary [MacPherson] for the purpose of asking the Government to place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £352, 18s., to reimburse the Committee for interest paid on an overdraft at the National Bank. The Chief Secretary [MacPherson] was reminded that a vote had been passed by the Assembly for the liquidation of the outstanding liabilities of the Committee, which was payable in December 1867, but in consequence of the stoppage of payments it was not available until February 1869. In the meantime interest had accrued on the bank overdraft to the amount asked for.

For this money the members of the Committee were personally liable, and it was urged that it would be very unfair for gentlemen who had undertaken public duties to have to suffer. Mr Macpherson expressed his sympathy with the Committee, but he should not like to reverse any decision which had been arrived at by his predecessor; and Mr M'Culloch, he understood, had always refused to recognise this claim. He promised, however, to bring the matter before his colleagues, and he made the suggestion that the Committee should get some private member to submit their costs to the Assembly.