Document information

Physical location:

No. 3559, vol. 1870 W, VPRS 1168/P inward correspondence registers, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 70.04.08

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John MacPherson, 1870-04-08. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1870-9/1870/70-04-08-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

1
Letter not found; item is a register entry only, of a letter dated 8 April 1870.
[Director recommends that the Inspr of Forests
2
William Ferguson.
may be placed under the Lands Dept with a view of commencing an inspection of the principal forests of this Colony
3
See notes to W. Odgers to M, 24 March 1870, for the text of an enclosed letter to William Ferguson. The letter from Odgers to Ferguson included 'it would be well for you to hold yourself in readiness to actively engage in the work of Inspection of Forests as soon as suitable weather sets in'. It is probable that M knew the content of the letter and may have acted when the weather at the end of March and the first week of April was generally 'dry and warm' and 'warm and sultry' (Government Astronomers reports, Argus, 4 April 1870, p. 5, and Argus, 11 April 1870, p. 5). M's letter was referred to the Commissioner of Crown Lands on 12 April 1870 and returned to the Chief Secretary's Department on 21 April . The recommendation was not implemented , Ferguson remained at the Botanical Garden until late 1872 . He was, however, ordered to undertake several forest inspections during the intervening period, and was required to file a report as Inspector of Forests; see Victoria Parliamentary P apers 1871 , C 9.
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