Document information

Physical location:

W70/10298, unit 505, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 70.08.29

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to James McCulloch, 1870-08-29. 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/1870-9/1870/70-08-29-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne botanic Garden
29 Aug. 1870
Sir
In accordance with your instructions
1
See W. Odgers to M, 26 August 1870.
I have the honor of submitting herewith an estimate of expenditure in the botanic Garden during the first half of the year 1871. This estimate might still be further decreased, if it met with your pleasure, to restrict the duties of the Inspector of forests to the surveillance over the woods of the colony, a measure, which I beg to recommend to your favorable consideration, and which would need, that provision should be made for this officer by the Lands Department.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.,
Direct. botan. Garden
The honorable Sir Jam. McCulloch, Kn
Chief Secretary.
Melbourne Botanic Garden
2
Estimate is on a separate sheet, in a different hand.
Estimate of Expenditure for the first 6 months
1871
1, Salaries:
Government Botanist and Director of the Botanic Garden
305
-
-
Inspector of Forests*
125
-
-
430
-
-
2, Contingencies:
Wages of Gardeners, Botanical Collector, Carter, Artisan & Labourers
1345
10
-
Purchase of Plants and Seeds and Expense of publishing Work on Australian Plants
65
3
65 deleted, replaced by 40.
-
-
Stores, Timber, Bricks & Stationery &c.
125
4
125 deleted, replaced by 100.
-
-
Forage for Cart Horse & Food for Birds
42
10
5
42 10 deleted, replaced by 40.
-
Transit & Incidental Expenses
60
6
60 deleted, replaced by 50.
-
-
Travelling Expenses
20
-
-
Contingencies
1658
7
New total of 1595 10 written beside old figure.
-
-
Salaries
430
-
-
Total
2088
-
-
*The item of £125. as salary for the Inspector of Forests is again introduced on this estimate, simply in conformity with last year's schedule, although the director of the Bot. Garden respectfully submits that the support of this officer here entails since last year an expenditure on his department, which perfectly well can be saved to the Garden vote, and the Honorable the Chief Secretary will therefore perhaps be pleased to take into consideration, whether it would not be better to make provision for this officer in the Lands Department, where the increasing forest interests would be certain to absorb all his time and attention.
8
Across this note, McCulloch has written: 'What is the use of Dr Mueller wasting Govt time in writing this minute - he well knows the intention of Govt and Parliament J McC'.