Ferdinand von Mueller

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Report not found. The text given here is from B59.14.03.

THIRD REPORT OF THE "EXPLORATION" COMMITTEE OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF VICTORIA.

Drawn up by Drs. Wilkie, Mueller, and Macadam; adopted by the "Exploration" Committee; and received at the Ordinary Meeting of the Institute, held on the 29th September, 1858.

Your Committee has the honor to report that a meeting was held on the 3rd instant, to take into consideration the appointment of a Committee, at a public meeting held at the Mechanics' Institution, on Tuesday, the 1st instant, on the subject of Australian Exploration, and at which Sir William F. Stawell presided. It was agreed that a deputation, consisting of Mr. R. H. Bland, Dr. Macadam, and the Chairman, should seek an interview with Sir William Stawell, and draw his attention to the existence of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute, and to the present position of the Institute in relation to Australian Exploration.

The deputation was unfortunately unable to meet Sir W. Stawell at the time appointed by him, but, at the subsequent meeting of the Exploration Fund Committee, the following resolution was agreed to: "That while this Committee considers it to be its first duty to raise the sum of £2000 by subscription, in aid of the handsome donation of £1000 promised upon that condition, it is anxious to co-operate with the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute in carrying out the objects which both Committees have at heart, and desires to impress upon the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute the importance of urging upon the Government the necessity of placing a sum of money on the Estimates in aid of the Exploration of the Interior."

Your Committee is of opinion that the time has now arrived when an immediate application should be made to the Hon. the Treasurer to place on the estimates for 1859 the sum of £5000, to enable your Committee to co-operate with the Exploration Fund Committee, according to the terms of its resolution, in adopting the necessary steps to fit out, in Victoria, an expedition for the exploration of the interior, at as early a period as practicable.

Your Committee has every confidence that its application to the Government, on behalf of the Institute, will receive a favourable consideration.

Your Committee has much pleasure in recommending to the earnest attention of the members of the Institute the following circular which has been drawn up by the Exploration Fund Committee,

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See Circular, 15 September 1858.

and which it is intended to circulate largely throughout the colony, and ventures to urge upon the members the great importance of individually exerting themselves in promoting the objects which both Committees have in view.