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V70/8810, unit 468, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 70.04.23aPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to James McCulloch, 1870-04-23 [70.04.23a]. 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/1870-9/1870/70-04-23a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
Melbourne botanic Garden,
23 Apr. 1870.
Sir
In compliance with your request I have the honor of transmitting to you herewith a
revised schedule of estimates, in which the expenditure with the most rigorous economy
is reduced as much as at present possible, unless one or more branches of the services
of the botanical establishment were abandoned.
While so largely reducing the expenditure of the establishment, I venture to express
an hope, that my authority, which by recent arrangements became very much impaired,
will be fully upheld, in order that I may unembarrassed dispose of the employees left
under my commands to the best advantage of the public service.
I may be permitted to remark, that the savings, proposed to be effected, would suffice
to form a forest establishment, such as I understand it is intended to create at Ballarat.
Direct cash-revenue is not raised in the botanic Garden under existing arrangements
but the plants, supplied to churches, schools, cemeteries &c gratuitously, have averaged
annually in value at a low estimation at £2000.- (two thousand pounds). To this must
be added as a further return of the outlay not only the increasing value of the property
of the establishment, but also the professional information afforded verbally or by
correspondence or through my works.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.
Direct. botan. Garden.
The hon. the Chief
Secretary & & &
Estimate of reduced expenditure in the botanic Garden and the scientific branches
connected therewith during 1870.
|
Salary of Director of the botanic Garden and Governments Botanist (inclusive allowance
for books, journals, instruments, office light &c) forage, conveyance,
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£610
|
|
Salary and wages to Office Clerk, operator in Laboratory, Travelling Collector, Custodian
of Museum, Gardeners, Carpenter, Carters, Engine Driver, Painter, Labourers, Gardenboys
&c
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£3590
|
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Purchase of such plants and seeds as are not available for interchange (partly for
Museum)
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£135
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Expense connected with publications of Australian plants and on industrial objects
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£105
|
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Stores, Tools, Timbers, Bricks, Labels, Stationery, Coals, Waterpipes, Drainpipes
&c
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£285
|
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Forage for carthorses, waterbirds, singing birds &c
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£105
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Transit and incidental expenses, freights and small repairs, farrier work &c
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£120
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Travelling expenses
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£40
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Total
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£4990
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List of employees of the botanic Establishment, whose services it is proposed to retain
at present and under previous rate of wages
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J. G. Luehmann,
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Office Assistant and Custodian of the phytol. Museum. pr day
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9/
|
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Chr. Hoffmann,
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Operator in phytochem. Laboratory. Has extra evening Duties, unremunerated.
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11/
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J. Dallachy,
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Botanic Traveller. Pays his own travelling expenses
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10/
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H. Petersen,
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Carpenter. Finds his own tools
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9/
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J. Walters,
1
i.e. Watters.
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Gardener in charge of Class ground, Araucaria Slope, Greenhouse, also timekeeper
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8/
|
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G. Schneider,
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Gardener in charge of Pine- & Oak Nursery and Victoria House
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8/
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R. Kimpten,
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Gardener in charge of general Nursery and adjoining lawns
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8/
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E. Soues,
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Gardener for roadmaking and waterworks
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8/
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C. Schlipalius,
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Gardener in charge of Seed magazine and experimental Ground
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8/
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W. Lumsden,
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Gardener in charge of Conservatory and adjoining Arboretum.
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8/
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D. Coller,
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Gardener in charge of forcing pits and florist flowers
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8/
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J. Hinze,
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Gardener in charge of nursery for industrial and select plants
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8/
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T. Morrison,
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Gardener in charge of western Ground with chiefly American plants
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8/
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T. Bourke,
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Gardener in charge of middle Ground with chiefly African plants
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8/
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R. Morrison,
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Gardener in charge of eastern Ground with chiefly Asiatic plants
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8/
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H. Hendrick,
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Gardener in charge of North Ground with chiefly Australian plants
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8/
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C. French,
2
Charles French Snr.
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Gardener in charge of old Domain
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7/
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T. Gulliver,
3
Thomas A. Gulliver (1807-73).
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Gardener in charge of Gov. House Reserve
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7/6
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J. Sullivan,
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Senior Carter, has sunday duties unpaid
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8/
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D. O'Leary,
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Junior Carter has sunday duties unpaid
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7/
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D. Manzie,
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General Garden Labourer.
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7/
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A. Neate,
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Messenger and assistant in clerical work
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7/
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S. Cottrell,
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Garden labourer and in charge of Aviary and waterbirds
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6/
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T. Gulliver, jun.,
4
Thomas A. Gulliver (1848-1931).
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Garden labourer in Gov. House Reserve
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6/
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H. Moran,
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Junior Gardener, assisting in select culture
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5/
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T. Mehan,
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Junior Gardener, in Pine Plantations and Nurseries
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4/
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T. Davies,
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Junior Gardener, in soil depot and general Garden
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4/
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W. Chisholm,
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Junior worker in the Laboratory
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4/
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G. Smith,
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Junior worker in forcing pits
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3/6
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T. Bates,
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Junior worker on Yarra Ground
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3/6
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C. Richards,
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Junior worker in the Museum
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3/6
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T. Rutherford,
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Gardenboy
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2/6
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E. Bourke,
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Gardenboy
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2/6
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J. Pitcher,
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Gardenboy
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2/6
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Remarks: 8 Hours Work; 5 Holydays, no Sunday pay; no pay in illness, unless through
accident, cottage allowance only in lieu of pay for Sunday duties.