This letter of sympathy is written to the widow of William Ferrier who rescued Captain Mylius and another seaman from the shipwreck, La Bella, at Warrnambool. Leonard Robertson, from Auckland, was II Mate of the La Bella. The letter was written from the Marine Dept. Queensland. Many newspaper accounts narrate the rescue and evidence given at the Marine Court of Inquiry. A book "Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella"/Jack Churchouse was printed. William Ferrier was born in Warrnambool and it is reported that he was a member of the lifeboat crew and served some years in the lighthouse service. During the La Bella rescue Ferrier used his dinghy, as he was an experienced fisherman of 25 years old. Ferrier, moved to Queenscliff at some stage and died at the Geelong hospital after having a seizure at sea. Ferrier's 15 years old son was having his birthday and fishing with him at the time. He was survived by his widow and 13 children. Otto Bayer who had informed Robertson of Ferrier's death was a crew member of the lifeboat. The site of the La Bella wreck lies in Lady Bay Warrnambool, at La Bella Reef - named after the fact. Transcript: Marine Dept Queensland 5.1.38 Dear Mrs Ferrier, Please accept my Sincerest Sympathy with you and your family in the loss of your husband. Mr. Otto Bayer advised me of the sad news and as I was II Mate of the La Bella when she was lost at Warrnambool I feel that I should write this short note and express my deep feelings in your loss. It is now 32 years since the wreck of which your husband was the hero. It is sad to think that we are all fading away and looking back I can see Bill Ferrier out in his boat at the La Bella it brings it all back to my mind as I write. A good man, and sailorman, is gone but never forgotten. Again expressing my deepest sympathy to you all Believe me, Yours Sincerely Leonard Robertson.This item is of historical significance in relation to the La Bella shipwreck as it is written and signed by a survivor and witness of the rescue. It is a single letter to the wife of the hero William 'Bill' Ferrier. The Ferrier family have a long social history with Warrnambool and Ferrier Drive is named in honour of the hero. The letter front is written on a lined and yellowed paper that has been repaired. The repair runs from top to bottom and has been done with cello tape. A small repair runs across the middle a couple of centimetres from the top and for approximately four centimetres down the middle. There are some small tears to the edges, particularly on fold creases. There are small brown age spots to peripheral areas. This is a sympathy letter from Leonard Robertson, II Mate and survivor of the La Bella to the widow of William (Bill) Ferrier rescue hero on his death. Inscribed in blue ink: "OWNER. G. FERRIER / LOANED. TO. BE / PHOTOGRAPHED / 27/4/76"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, leonard robertson, rescue, frank ferrier, la bella reef, otto bayer

Book - dark green card stippled cover, bound with 9 Acts of the Victorian Parliament that involved the MMTB and other tramways. Acts have been sewn into the book with glued end papers. Contains the following Acts: 1. - Act 2920 - Purchase of Goods and Machinery of Materials for Works undertaken or on behalf of certain local authorities - 22/10/1917 - bound all the Trusts and other authorities to purchase items made in the Commonwealth over 250 pounds unless certified by the Minister. 2 - Act 2995 - Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1918 - set up the MMTB - 7/1/1919 3 - Act 3074 - Act to amend the above Act - 28/9/1920 4 - Act 3023 - ditto - 16/12/1919 5 - Act 3243 - construction by the MMTB of an electric tramway from Melbourne to West Brunswick - 21/12/1922. 6 - Act 3247 - relating to the works and undertakings of The North Melbourne Electric Tramways and Lighting Company Limited in the Municipal District of the City of Melbourne and the City of Essendon - 21/12/1922 7 - Act 3308 - Act to amend the MMTB Act - 18/12/1923 8 - Act 3367 - ditto - 15/12/1924 9 - Act 3583 - authorise the construction by the MMTB of an Electric Tramway in Racecourse Road, Melbourne - 21/8/1928 Unknown who made the book - made for an MMTB officer. Binds the original Act's printed by the various Government Printers at the time. See also Reg Item 2121 for other Acts associated with the MMTB.Inside front cover on first page in ink "Mr. J. Cass" and in other locations as well.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, nmetl, west coburg, construction, racecourse rd

Report - 16 pages - "Report from the Committee of Public Accounts of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board", dated 6/11/1958, centre stapled. Gives an outline history of the Board, Commonwealth Grants, Northcote Tramway, earnings invested, the board's submissions, expenditure on cable trams prior to being vested in the Board, accounting practices and the Act, balance sheets, the 1928 Act and suggested changes, conclusions and recommendations. Note: This document is available as a pdf on the Parliament of Victoria website.trams, tramways, tramways, cable trams, finances, conversion, costs

Framed portrait of George Maxwell who was President of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind 1920-1935. It is part of a series of paintings commissioned by the AFB Board to commemorate the work of past presidents of the organisation. Mr Maxwell is turned slightly away from the viewer, and wears a blue suit, white high collared shirt and a blue tie. George Maxwell was President of Vision Australia from 1920 to 1935. After an early teaching career he studied law, was admitted to the Bar and became one of Victoria’s great criminal lawyers and later a Federal Member of Parliament. He took an interest the welfare of blind people from his student days. A detached retina in 1920 led to total blindness nine years later, which gave him a great empathy for those with a similar affliction. Through his contacts he was also instrumental in obtaining the first voting rights for blind Australians. Up until 1902 blind people were unable to vote if they couldn’t write with a pen. George Maxwell was working at that time at the legal firm of Strongman and Crouch one of the partners, Mr. Crouch, was elected as a member of Parliament. When the Commonwealth Electoral Bill was being drafted, Mr. Crouch has a clause added enabling blind people to vote in Federal elections, constituting a world first. But perhaps his greatest achievement was obtaining the pension for legally blind people. Until 1910 only those who met the age and means test criteria were eligible. With the help of his legal and political friends a bill was passed which granted the pension to all persons over 16 years of age who were unable to work due to physical disability or blindness. Until this time these people had to be supported by their families or go to a benevolent institution. This was a world first and gave to blind and vision impaired people a measure of independence which increased both their self reliance and self esteem. 1 art original in gold/brown frameThe plaque at the base of the painting reads 'Honourable George A Maxwell Q.C. / President 1920-1935 / Association for Advancement of the Blind'.association for the advancement of the blind, george maxwell