Ferdinand von Mueller

The Surveryor-General, C. Ligar, looked over M's estimates on 13 August 1867 and concluded: 'Including the gravel the cost for each tree & shrub when planted will be as near as possible two pounds each Excluding the gravel the cost for each tree & shrub when planted will be about £1 5s 4d per tree.⅔ I would suggest that the matter be again referred to Dr Mueller to see if some less expensive arrangement could not be made.' M responded to Ligar's comments on 14 August: 'After deducting the expenditure for gravelling garden walks & carriage drives (£100.7.4) there remains £196.14.0 for effecting the plantations as desired, including the cost of purchasing a portion of the shrubs & trees. The total number of plants required and for which provision is made in my estimate is 295; the cost of each shrub & tree when planted will thus be 13/4 but not £1/5/4. But even including the expenses of raising, screening, carting and spreading 562 loads of gravel, which are quite distinct from those for planting, each shrub and tree will cost £1.0.1⅔. In computing the above average prices for each plant the total number of them has been taken into account, not only the portion intended to be purchased, as the expenses for lifting packing, carting planting &c will also have to be incurred for any plants to be removed from this establishment'.

The Assistant Commissioner of Lands and Survey, C. Hodgkinson, also had criticisms of M's figures: 'After looking over the attached estimate I beg to state that the experience obtained in the Treasury Reserve with reference to the present cost of planting operations, and gravelling roads, induces me to concur in the opinion expressed by the Surveyor General that the estimate is unnecessarily high, and admits of being considerably reduced. For instance the services of excellent labourers can be obtained for 5/ per diem instead of 6/ as in estimate. Well horsed drays driven by experienced carters can be hired for 11/ per diem instead of for 13/ or 17/6 as in estimate. It has been found in the Treasury Reserve that two men can spread, water, and roll 50 loads of gravel per diem, which circumstance would justify the estimated cost of this work being reduced to less than ⅔rd of the specified amount. In lifting at Mr H Glass very large shrubs with large balls attached to their roots, it was found that three men could raise and pack 12 shrubs per day instead of 8 as specified in estimate. The amounts set down for services of water cart, levelling and clearing ground, and extra wages to foreman and gardeners might be reduced. The average cost of trees and shrubs (7/6) is excessive, as the average cost of trees and shrubs procured by purchase for the Treasury Reserve, and including a very large number of Araucaria was only about 1/4. It is only fair to the compiler of this estimate that I should state that the prices of plants labour and cartage have never been so low as during the last four or five months.'

M's attention was drawn to Hodgkinson's comments on 26 August 1867 and he responded to them on 29 August: 'I have already pointed out, that the hurriedly prepared estimate could only be approximation and that due economy would be exercised in the performance of this work. The price of plants depends largely on their size & the rate of wages on the nature of labor. The estimate was purposely kept high, as planting operations cannot be performed late in the season with advantage and thus involve extra expenses and extra precaution. If such work is once entrusted to a special department the head should exercise unimpeded his discretionary power for the details of arra[nging]. My wages are less than those paid by the contractor now [...] the Garden bridge'.

Hodgkinson defended his alleged interference on 7 September: 'Having been originally requested to prepare a design for some improvements at Toorak I submitted a plan of proposed improvement and, in my accompanying report thereon, I made the suggestion that the planting and gravelling indicated on that plan be carried out under the general direction of Dr Mueller. I do not therefore wish to interfere with such directions, or with Dr Muellers arrangements. I gave an opinion with regard to the amount specified on the estimate received from Dr Mueller, because, prior to receipt of that estimate, I had verbally stated that the improvements shewn on my plan could be executed for a sum considerably less than that arrived at in the estimate in question'.

See also M to D. Gillies, 29 June 1868.