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Q68/17565, unit 750, VPRS 44/P inward registered and unregistered correspondence, VA 538 Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Public Record Office, Victoria. 68.11.03a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to James Grant, 1868-11-03 [68.11.03a]. 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/68-11-03a>, accessed September 11, 2025

Melbourne botan. Garden,
3 Nov. 1868.
Sir
In compliance with your instructions I have the honor in pointing out, what reductions might most advantageously be effected in the expenditure of the botanical Garden and the institutions connected therewith during the coming year, as contrasted with the outlay incurred in former years.
1, Abolishment of the Office of Assistant
1
Carl Wilhelmi.
£350
2
MS marginal annotation by Grant, 28 November 1868: 'Appd'.
This saving for economys sake may well be effected without any injury of the work of the department, in as much as the work hitherto performed by the assistant can be carried out through redistribution of labor by one of the junior employees. In recommending therefore, that the services of the officer alluded to be dispensed with at the end of the year, simply to save the expenditure involved, I beg to solicit, that the full recompensation may be given him, to which under the XVI clause of the Civil Servants Act he becomes entitled. I would further beg leave most respectfully to ask, that in the appointments anew arising by the extension of the Railways or the waterworks or any other Departments you and your honorable Colleagues may be pleased to take the length of time, during which the Assistant was connected with the botanical establishment into most favorable consideration.
3
Wilhelmi left Melbourne in February 1869 and returned to Dresden, where he was elected a member of Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft Isis in Dresden at the meeting of 30 September 1869, having with Theodore Müller been a guest at its meeting on 9 September (Sitzungsberichte und A bhandlungen der Naturwissenschaftlichen G esellschaft Isis in Dresden, Jahr. 1869, pp. 155 and 129 respectively).
2, Savings by a slight reduction of the wages and by diminishing to a small extent the number of the employées
£320
By these means all the branches of the active services may be maintained in unimpaired efficiency.
3, Reduction of the vote for publishing works on plants by
£200
This reduction will not longer admit of the issue of lithographies, but otherwise the publications can be continued.
4, Still farther economizing the forage vote for the carthorses, aviary birds, waterbirds &c
£80
5, Decrease of the vote for stores, building material, fuel, drainpipes, flowerpots &c
£70
This vote cannot possibly be farther reduced as fuel will be required for the constant or frequent working of the engine to raise Yarra water under complete exclusion of the Yan Yean water.
The total reductions would thus amount to
£1020
4
The amounts given here are comparisons with the published estimates for 1868. There had been reductions made during the year; see the estimates in M to J. Grant, 3 November 1868, and notes thereto that record comparisons made by officials between M's 1869 estimates and their record for 1868. Discrepancies between the officials' 1868 cost comparisons and the published 1868 estimates are discussed in the notes.
for 1869. The gradual completion of the drive and other heavy work will admit of still farther reductions in 1870.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller
The honorable
J. M. Grant, M.P. &c &c