Document information

Physical location:

P60/5644, unit 749, VPRS 1189/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 60.06.30

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Nicholson, 1860-06-30. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/60-06-30>, accessed September 11, 2025

Melbourne botanic & zoologic Garden,
30 June 60.
Sir
I do myself the honor of submitting for your favorable consideration the estimates of expenditure, considered by me as required for the public service in this establishment during the year 1861.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your most obedient and humble servant
Ferd. Mueller.
The honorable the Chief Secretary.
ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR 1861.
Botanic and zoologic Garden
REMARKS.
AMOUNT BROUGHT FORWARD
...
...
...
Salaries and wages .
1
The initial Treasury estimates submitted to Parliament reduced the total salary and wages vote by £50, but that included a new separate line for 'Head Gardener' at £250 that M did not specify here. It was proposed that his salary be reduced to £500 and that of the assistant to £200 (Estimates of the expenditure of the Government of Victoria for the year 1861, Parliamentary paper 1860/61 B-1, ordered to be printed 11 January 1861, p. 10). The salary cuts were reversed in Additional estimates … ( Parliamentary Paper 1860/61 B-7, ordered to be printed 14 May 1861), p. 5.
Government Botanist and Director of the botanic and zoologic Garden
600
1. The Salary of the Gov. Botanist could scarcely be diminished, as his scientific work involves a heavy outlay for books.
Assistant
300
Curator
300
1200
No augmentation of the salaried officers is required. Any additional aid, be it in the botanical or zoological department, should such even be necessary, can most economically and most effectually be procured by weekly engagements and be defrayed out of the wages fund.
Wages to gardeners, labourers, carters, carpenter, signwriter, botanical collectors, gamekeeper, messenger
4800
Contingencies
2
The estimates for this section were as proposed by M, except that the element for the introduction of salmon was transferred from the list (Paper B-1, p. 13) to a separate budget line under 'Grants' (Paper B-1, p. 15).
Purchase of plants and seeds
150
5. This expenditure will be chiefly incurred for such plants and seeds, as are either not readily obtainable by interchange or such as are required in larger quantities for avenues.
Expense of publishing the works on indigenous plants
320
6. This amount is needed to furnish as in proceeding years principly the lithographic drawings and impressions for Dr. Muellers works. Should a lithographic branch-establishment be formed at the Gov. Printing office, it will still require some means for the execution of the drawings.
Purchase of useful animals and expenses connected with their introduction
500
7. This sum is recommended by the Committee of the zoologic Garden.
Introduction of salmons into the waters of Victoria and arrangements for the protection of the fry
500
Stores, timber, tools, drainmaterial, tanks, fencing-material, flowerpots, labels
620
9. The material for small buildings, cages, frames for plants, garden-bowers, zoological enclosures, gates, repair of the fences, additional extension of existing drains &c are defrayed out of this vote.
Forage for two draft horses, llamas, alpacas, angoras, deer, singing birds emus & other animals of the zoological garden
440
Travelling and incidental expenses and transit expenses for plants &c
160
Towards the formation of the botanic museum
1600
12. For this sum such valuable and extensive collections could be obtained, as to render the Botanists in Victoria for ever independent of extraneous aid for phytological investigations.
AMOUNT CARRIED FORWARD...£
AMOUNT CARRIED FORWARD... ... ... ... £
30/6/60.
Ferd. Mueller.