REPORT OE THE ROYAL MINT COMMITTEE.

13

H.—No. 6,

EETUEN showing the Highest and Lowest Eates of Exchange on Bills on London drawn against produce, which prevailed in Sydney in each year from 1841 to 1869. Lowest. Sighest. Lowest. Sighest. 1841: —5 '§■ cent, discount. Par. 1855:—1 *$■ cent, discount. 3'f cent, premium. 2 5 „ „ 24 '$ cent, premium. 6 14 „ „ 1J „ „ 3 5 „ 34 „ „ 7 Par. 2 4 7* „ „ Par. 8 £ „ „ 4 „ 5 74 „ „ 14 °$ cent, discount. 9 1 „ „ 3 „ „ 6 2 „ 1| „ „ 1860 1 4 „ discount. 7 2 „ „ 2} „ premium. 1 4 „ „ Par. 8 1 „ „ 11 ~ „ 2 i „ „ 1 cent, premium. 9 1 „ „ Par. 3 1 „ „ * 4 14 ~ „ 1 „ discount. 1850 34 „ „ 2 f cent, premium. 5 1 „ „ Par. 1 5* „ „ li „ „ 6 1 „ „ Par. 2 12 „ „ 8 „ discount. 7 1 „ „ iIP cent, discount. 3 8 „ Par. 8 1 „ i 4J,, „ 3 cent, premium. 9 i ~ ~ k „ ~

Enclosure 2 in No. 2. Order in Council constituting a Branch Mint at Melbourne. Whereas there was this day read at the Board a representation from the Commissioners for executing the office of our Lord High Treasurer, in the words following, that is to say : — " The Commissioners of your Majesty's Treasury beg leave to represent to your Majesty, that it appears to your Majesty's said Commissioners to be expedient — "That a branch of the Eoyal Mint be established at or near Melbourne, in Victoria, on such site as the Governor or Officer Administering the Government of the Colony for the time being may approve; that the chief officer thereof, who shall be considered as a Deputy Master of the Eoyal Mint on being appointed by Her Majesty, be authorized and empowered to coin gold and other coin, in accordance with the standard of weight and fineness of the currency of this realm, and of the same design ; and that the Master of the Eoyal Mint be authorized to prepare and transmit dies for such coins, so long as the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury may think necessary, and subject to such regulations as they may prescribe. " That it may be lawful for the Governor, or Officer Administering the Government of the Colony for the time being, with the advice of his Executive Council, to frame regulations under which the Mint shall receive gold bullion, and coin the same. " That the Deputy Master be empowered, subject to the approval of the Governor or Officer Administering the Government of the Colony for the time being, to enter into such contracts, and to establish such regulations for the orderly and convenient performance of the duties of the Mint, as may be found necessary ; and that ho do hold his office during Her Majesty's pleasure : the Governor, or Officer Administering the Government of the Colony, being empowered to appoint a person to perform his duties in the case of his death, or incapacity from any other cause, until the pleasure of Her Majesty is made known. " That' five other principal officers of the Mint be appointed from time to time, by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury; and that the Governor or Officer Administering the Government of the Colony be empowered, on the application of the Deputy Master, to suspend either of them in case of misconduct, and, on the recommendation of the Deputy Master, to appoint a person to perform the duties of either of them, in case of death, sickness, infirmity, resignation, or suspension, subject to the orders of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. " And that the five officers so to be appointed shall be — " Ist. The Superintendent of the Bullion Office, who shall be responsible to the Deputy Master for the receipt of bullion and the delivery of coin by the Mint; the safe custody of the same while in charge of his department; the faithful conduct and accurate record of all transactions with the public, and the Coining Department of the Mint; the general precision of the arrangements and integrity of the operations of the refinery and melting-house ; and for the faithful and zealous discharge of any other duties which the Deputy Master may direct him to perform. " 2nd. The Superintendent of the Coining Department, who will be responsible to the Deputy Master for the bullion delivered into his charge by the Superintendent of the Bullion Office ; for its conversion into coin of the legal weight, properly stamped with the authorized dies ; for the safe custody and legitimate use of the dies ; for the operations of his department being properly and economically conducted ; for the records thereof being kept with care and precision, and for the faithful and zealous discharge of any other duties which the Deputy Master or his representative may direct him to perform. " 3rd. The First Clerk of the Bullion Office, who, under the immediate supervision of the Superintendent of the Bullion Office, will be responsible to the Deputy Master for the skilful and economical direction of the operations of melting and refining ; for the records thereof being kept with care and precision ; and for the faithful and zealous discharge of any other duties which the Deputy Master or his representative may direct him to perform. "4th and sth. Two Assayers, who will be responsible to the Deputy Master for the accurate assaying and reporting of all bullion or coin delivered to them for the purpose ; for the safe custody of the same whilst in their charge; and for the faithful and zealous discharge of any other duties which the Deputy Master of the Mint or his representative may direct them to perform. "And that all such other officers and servants of the Mint as may be necessary, shall be appointed and discharged from time to time by the Deputy Master, on the approval of the Governor or Officer Administering the Government of the Colony. "And the Deputy Master shall faithfully, and without unnecessary delay, after the expiration of each calendar month, transmit to the Master of the Eoyal Mint the following returns: — " Weight of rough gold and weight of gold bullion received from the public by the Bullion Office; " Weight melted previous to assay; 4