Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne botanic & zoologic Garden

22. June 1861

Sir

In reply to your circular No 201.

1

Circular not found.

I have the honor to inform you, that the only officer of this department, who has been absent on leave for a period exceeding two months has been the Governments Botanist, who obtained leave from his Excellency Sir Charles Hotham to join the North Australian Exploring Expedition, sent out under the auspices of her Majestys home Government in 1855. When joining that expedition as one of the scientific officers I relinquished my salary as Botanist to the Victorian Government, altho' a full set of the botanical specimens collected during the expedition was incorporated into the Governments botanical collection after my return. The duration of my leave was from the first of July 1855 til the end of May 1857. The Salary received during that period was paid by the Home government at the rate of £250 per annum. The Salary attached to the office of Botanist to this Government was at the time of my departure £500 and was raised after my return to £600.- .-.

No officer has retired from the service of this department since 1851.

Mr Undersecretary Moore

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