Ferdinand von Mueller

Memor. in reference to the expenditure of £149.8.3 incurred by me for gravelling and other operations at Toorack.

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The residence of the Governor.

The honorable the Commissioner of Lands and Survey having been requested by His Excellency to cause operations for renewal of walks, gravelling, planting &c to be effected at Toorack in anticipation of the visit of H. R. H. the Duke of Edinburgh, a plan was prepared by the Office of Lands and submitted to me on the 7 of August whilst very ill at Queenscliff,

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Vic.

to be carried out under my superintendence. Though extremely weak at the time I lost not a day in returning to Melbourne and submitted the day after an estimate of the approximate cost of these operations (vide copy enclosed marked A.)

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See M to J. Grant, 9 August 1867 (in this edition as 67-08-09a).

amounting to £297.1.4., but advised the Government to limit the work mainly to the renewal of the drives and walks with gravelling &c the season for fair chance in success for planting having passed. The cost of gravelling operations was estimated at £100.7.4. (vide enclosure marked B.)

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See final, supplementary section of M to J. Grant, 9 August 1867 (in this edition as 67-08-09a).

and sanctioned by the honorable J. M. Grant on the 22 August with the verbal concurrence of the honor. G. Verdon (vide enclosure C).

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Enclosure C: 'I send you a note from J. M. Grant authorising the work at Toorak.' M noted: 'With this note was enclosed the first authority given by the Hon. J. M. Grant on the 22 Aug. 1867'. Grant's memorandum of 22 August 1867 stated: 'Dr Mueller is authorised to furnish the gravel required for the Toorack Gardens & grounds'.

On the 16th September, vide letter attached marked D,

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See M to J. Grant, 16 September 1867.

I applied for an additional authority to spend £50.0.0 more, some garden gravelling and minor planting arrangements having been desired by His Excellency. This additional expenditure was sanctioned on the 19th September and carried out accordingly. When the paysheets were subsequently submitted they were referred to the Public Works Department, but I was informed that the fund voted by Parliament, as far as under the control of the honor. the Commission. of Public Works, for arrangements in connection with the visit of H. R. Highness, were exhausted. After some correspondence (vide copies marked E)

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Enclosure E: 'Application for Advance from the honorable the President of the Board of Land & Works 2/10/67 Div. 24. Subdiv. No 5. 1867 To defray expenses of entertainment on the occasion of the visit of H. R. H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Amount required out of the Vote of £15000.0.0. for reception of H. R. H. the Duke of Edinburgh for labor & incidental expenses in improving grounds at Toorack, to be expended under direction of Dr Mueller £150.0.0.' The Estimates, dated 7 August 1867, also included 'the necessary repairs to Toorak' ('Estimates 1867', Victoria Parliamentary Paper 1867 No. B 31); the sum was then included in the consolidated estimates, Parliamentary Paper 1867 No. B 10, p. 20, ordered to be printed 18 August 1867, as one of the 'Inalterable' miscellaneous votes in the Chief Secretary's estimated expenditure.

On 4 October 1867, the Minister of Lands asked the Chief Secretary to counter-sign the application and pass it to Treasury for payment. The Under Secretary, W. Odgers, replied on 7 October: 'The Chief Secretary desires me to say that he is of opinion this work should be charged to the general Account Repairs to Toorack'. On 12 October, W. Wardell, Inspector General of Public Works, noted: 'The grant to this Department in a/c of the works at Toorack is completely exhausted'. The Chief Secretary, J. McCulloch, declared on 15 October: 'There is no money available unless it is in the Publ. Works Departm.'.

The Assistant Commissioner for Crown Lands, C. Hodgkinson, asked on 18 October: 'The Inspector General of Publ. Works is requested to have the goodness to state if there is any money available in the Publ. Works Departm for payment of this account for this work'. Wardell replied on 12 October: 'I had already informed the honor. the Chief Secretary by Minute herein that the grant to this Departm. was quite exhausted'. Odgers noted on 25 October: 'It does not appear why these papers have again been sent to the Chief Secretary.' On 26 October Hodgkinson returned the file to M.

On 4 November Grant instructed: 'Will the honor. the Treasurer be so good as to make provision for the expenditure herein referred to, the amount placed under the control of the Inspector General of Works & Buildings for the purpose in question having been exhausted'. The Under Treasurer, E. Symonds, replied on 2 December: 'Returned by direction of Mr Verdon to the honor. the Commiss of Lands & Survey. Unless the laborers & others have been engaged in the work referred to in the application for advance can obtain the amount due under the Crown Remedies Statute, their claim must remain pending until supplies are available'. M added on 18 December: 'Noted and I herewith forward an application for an advance supported by an Abstract and judgement Certificates'.

On 29 December Symonds remarked: 'The account of judgements which Dr Mueller refers to as enclosed does not appear to have reached the Treasury'. Mueller responded on 31 December: 'The Account of judgements referred to in my Mem. of the 19th inst was transmitted to the Treasury on that day and the sum claimed (£114.1.9) being portion of the total expenditure for improvement of walks at Toorack was paid on the 24th inst. Adjustement of advance appended.'

the honor. the Treasurer referred to the Crown Remedies Statute according to which the claims of the gardeners and laborers employed at the works, amounting to £112.17.0. might be satisfied, £36.11.3 having besides already been prepaid by myself to expedite the work, which amount has not yet been recovered. (Vide copy of particulars marked F.)

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Enclosure F: 'Expenditure for gravelling garden walks and carriage drive at Toorack (vide Copy of Estimate) authorized by the honor. J. M. Grant, as per letter attached hereto dated 22/8/67 £100 Additional Authority to expend for earthwork garden arrangement &c, issued by the honorable J. M. Grant, as per letter attached dated 19/9/67 £50 Total authorized £150 '.

'Charges against the above Authorities. | Wages recovered by judgement Certificates £112.17.0. | Wages advanced by Dr F. Mueller to men discharged during the progress of the work, the total amount of which remains still due 36.11.3 | Balance 11.9 | £150 '.

Thus I solicit that provision may be made on the supplementary estimates for 1867 for a sum of £149.8.3.

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M's letter was referred to the Chief Secretary on 2 July 1868. It was registered in the Chief Secretary's office on 3 July (No. 6105, vol. 1868 R, VPRS 1168, Public Record Office, Victoria). On 10 July the Chief Secretary minuted 'I need not deal with this now'. On 18 August 1868 the Under Secretary, J. Moore, minuted: 'The Honble the Chief Secretary desires me to say that he wishes the Honble the Commissioners of Lands to provide for this account as it has been decided not to charge the expense of any permanent works at Toorak to the vote for the Reception Expenses'. M's letter was returned to the Crown Lands office on 18 August.

29/6/68