Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot. Garden,

29/2/66

1

M mis-dated this letter; the cover on the file notes that it was registered at the Chief Secretary’s Office on 28 February.

Sir

I have the honor to bring under your favourable consideration, how great facilities at this moment are existing through the extraordinary dryness of the season to effect excavations in the dry bed of the lake of the botanic Garden. Thus the project of forming the carriage drive between the river and the lake could be carried out under facilities as may not reoccur for very many years. The readiness to work under such advantages may not exist long. Hence I have the honor to solicit, that you will be pleased to sanction the expenditure of three hundred twenty pounds Sterling (£320 - -) in anticipation of the vote for public works to be carried out during 1866 in the department under my control. This sum might be expended in small weekly contracts under fifty pounds each and for this sum under careful management and if expended in small weekly contracts 7200 cubic yards of earth could be removed from the dry bed of the lake for the completion of the carriage drive. The greater part if not the whole of the work could be carried out before the beginning of April, if the proposition which I have the honor to submit should meet with your favorable consideration and approval.

The honorable the Chief Secretary.

P.S.

The formation of the carriage drive would give access to the bot. Garden for even invalids.

2

McCulloch minuted on 2 [March] 1866: 'There is no objection if the money is provided on the Estimates'. On 12 March the Board of Land and Works sanctioned the expenditure of £320 for the excavation of the lake bed, and on 14 March M was informed of this.