Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne botan Garden,

22/9/69

Dear Mr Fitzgibbon.

To day I heard indirectly but certainly not authentically, that it was under contemplation to remove one of the two men, employed under my direction on the Yarra plantations. I beg of you to do all you can, to prevent this, and I am sure the Gentlemen of the Health committee will allow the man to remain at least through the summer, when they hear how necessary the attention of both men will be for some time yet.

There are now growing on the North Side of the River approximately five thousand Willows, 400 Blue Gums, 400 French Tamarisk. If these young trees are regularly watered and kept free of caterpillars and aphis for the next 7 or 8 months, we may consider them fairly established and a fine show of vegetation will be apparent next spring. But if one man only is to look after such an extensively lot of plants during the summer, we are certain to sustain far greater losses than the amount of Wages for that period.

These men have also to look after the Elms along Princes Bridge. Some of the Blue Gums planted last season are now already eight feet high. But the young Gumtree-plants are requiring much looking after during the first season, and a great lot was only planted this last autumn.

I avail myself of this opportunity to solicit also, that the City Council may kindly extend the time, allotted to me for removing the basalt stones from near Jollimont Road.

1

See M to E. FitzGibbon, 13 June 1869.

My two carts have been incessently employed in the earth work of the dam and cannot commence much before November to draw away the stones; and even if the summer should prove cool, and thus not much water-carting should be needed, I could not manage to get the stones cleared away before the end of the year. Under these circumstances I feel sure the City Council will extend the period for this operation kindly at least to the end of December.

E. G Fitzgibbon Esqr

Townclerk.