Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot. Garden

25. Febr. 1862.

Dear Sir

I regard it my duty to bring under your notice, that a number of people, keeping cows in Richmond, have since a long while past converted the strip of land between the Yarra and the zoological reserve into a commonage, and that in consequence the Willows, planted there last year by approval of the Gentlemen of the City Council are subjected to partial destruction. May I be permitted to urge the necessity, that some strict measure might be adopted to prevent people from making in future the same free use of the municipalities ground. I fear that the erection of a caution board will not entirely check this evil.

Simultaneously I may take the liberty of bringing under your notice, that in the Domain road our fences are nearly broken down by the customary turning out of cattle, feeding on the Wattles planted there. I feel on the one hand helpless, as I do not exercise control outside of the precincts of the Garden and can therefore not impound such cattle, goats, geese, fowl &c, whilst on the other hand I cannot but regret, that the public property should continually be left unprotected, imposing on my own department the constant tax of repairs.

1

M's letter was read at a meeting of the Melbourne City Council's Health Committee on 26 February 1862 at which 'Instructions given that the Inspector of Nuisances be directed to impound any cattle found trespassing on the road alluded to' (Unit 1, VPRS 4039, Public Record Office, Victoria).

I avail myself also of this opportunity of repeating my solicitation to the City Municipality for deepening the channel on the domainroad, by which means the water, which now right from the punthill flows into the avenues planted in the botanical reserve, would be conveyed down the street in its appropriate channel.

The townclerk &c &c &c

Melbourne