Unique IDPE-004527SurnameBellGiven namesFrancisBiographical abstractDates of employment: 1871-1878Biographical noteBiographical details:
Details of previous career "Election of City Engineer" [ref: Empire 26 May 1871]
Francis Bell’s report on water supply for Newcastle [ref: The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser 10 July 1875 p 6 ]; [ref: The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912) 10 July 1875 p 41]
Bell’s proposed sewerage scheme [ref: The Sydney Morning Herald 10 January 1877 p 5]; [ref: Evening News 12 January 1877 p 2]; [ref: Freeman's Journal (Sydney) 13 January 1877 p 16]; [ref: The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser 13 January 1877 p49] [ref: The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser 20 January 1877 p73]
Newspaper reports on suspension of Francis Bell, Alfred Morris and Arthur Payten and dismissal of Morris and Payten – the Black Wattle Creek Sewer: [ref: Evening News 8 November 1876 p 2]; [ref: Sydney Morning Herald 8 November 1876 p 3]; [ref: The Sydney Morning Herald 9 November 1876 p 5]; [ref: The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser 11 November 1876 p 616]
Death Notice: On September 7, at Boulevard, Petersham, Francis Bell, C.E., M.I.C.E., late City Engineer [ref: SMH 8 September 1879]
Obituaries: [ref: SMH 11 September 1879]; [ref: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney) 13 September 1879 p17]; [ref: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Francis_Bell]
Details from contemporary sources:
1871 Appointed 25 May 1871 City Engineer- 31 applicants for position [ref: Council Meeting 25 May 1871]
1872 Salaries of Officers 1872 [ref: 22/13/64/451]
1873 Salaries of Officers 1873, 1st report - request increase [ref: 22/14/52/337]
1874 Protests reduction of forage allowance - works Saturdays & Sundays without pay [ref: 26/130/840]
1875 Staff: Blackwell, Payten, Henson, Robertson - 80 men, 9 carters dismissed - Financial Crisis [ref: SMH 15 Jan 1875]
1876 Requests leave 2 August to 2 October - illness - granted [ref: 26/140/448]
1876 Requests extension of leave - illness - granted - October [ref: 26/141/631]
1876 Suspension by Mayor - confirmed - re Black Wattle Creek work, October-November 1876 [ref: 21/16/31 [159]]
1876 Rebuttal allegations incompetence - December [ref: 26/142/825]
1878 Salaries of Officers: 1878 - £700 pa - request increase [ref: 22/17/711]
1878 Resignation of Thomas A Ellis after conflicts with Bell - May/July [ref: 22/18/34/171]
1878 Reports he has 3 assistants - July 1878 [ref: 22/18/37/191]
1878 Requests leave of absence - October [ref: 26/153/923]
1878 Resignation, ill health, 3 December 1878 [ref: 26/154/1072]GenderMaleSource system IDTPER-000250
