Document information

Physical location:

Unit 17, p. 180, VPRS 4025/P Town Clerk's letter press copy books, VA 511 Melbourne, Public Record Office, Victoria. 70.12.19

Preferred Citation:

Edmund FitzGibbon to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1870-12-19. 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/70-12-19>, accessed September 11, 2025

Town Hall Melbourne
19th December 1870
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 17th ultimo relative to the depositing of night soil in the Botanical Reserve and in answer to mine of the 16th ultimo on the same subject
1
See E. FitzGibbon to M, 16 November 1870, and M to E. FitzGibbon, 17 November 1870.
I have the honor to again draw your attention to the matter in as much as the Inspector of Nuisances visited the locality on the 24th ultimo and again on the 3rd instant and on both occasions found the work of covering the night soil imperfectly done.
The matter was brought before the Health Committee of the Council of the City of Melbourne on the 6th instant, and an order made that in future the night soil must be covered to the satisfaction of the Inspector of Nuisances who will visit the locality periodically.
As this is complained against as a nuisance I have to request that measures may be taken to have the work perfectly done so as to prevent any complaints being made in future.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedient servant
E. G. FitzGibbon
Town Clerk
Dr Von Mueller
Botanical Gardens
&c&c&c
2
M's letter was read at a meeting of the Melbourne City Council Health Committee on 21 November 1870 and 'referred to Inspector for report.' (Unit 1, p. 167, VPRS 4038, PROV). The minutes of the meeting of the Committee on 5 December 1870 record: 'Letter from Doctor Mueller relative to deposit of night soil from the Industrial Schools and Inspectors report thereon to the effect that the nuisance is not abated. Considered and Town Clerk instructed to inform Dr Mueller that the nuisance must be abated to the satisfaction of the Inspector' (Unit 1, p. 173, VPRS 4038, PROV).
See also M to E. FitzGibbon, 21 December 1870.