Ferdinand von Mueller

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MS written by G. Luehmann and signed by M.

Melbourne Botanic Garden

23/2/71

Sir

I have the honor to point out that a statement in the Argus of Saturday last

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Argus, 18 February 1871, p. 5. The article gave what purported to be comparative figures of annual expenditure on the Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide botanic gardens.

in reference to the cost of the maintenance of the Botanic Garden, calculated by acreage, is made on a totally wrong basis, that I have not had the slightest opportunity afforded me to verify the statement, and that I have not been called to a single meeting of the Commission

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Botanical Garden Enquiry Board.

yet. The calculation, whether authoritative or not, as published in the Argus, is cruelly unjust and the comparisons with the Sydney and Adelaide Gardens are unfair. It is made to appear in the calculations as if neither the extensive plantations in Government House Reserve and the Domain existed, as if no outlay was required for my office, my museum, my literary branch, my laboratory, the aviary and for the distribution of half a million of plants to hospitals, churches, schools &c. The average cost of the actual expenditure in wages for the formation and maintenance of the plantations walks etc within the 338 acres (conservatories included) has been in 1863 £7.13/5d, in 1867 £9. -. -, and 1879 when no new extensive work was going on, and the orphan boys for some months were available, £5.12/4d pr acre. The expenditure per acre for small buildings and repairs, for stores tools, forage, freight and various incidental expenses may be estimated at from £1.10/- to £1. -. -

The three years have been chosen for calculation at random; there was no leisure as yet to extend the calculations over more years.

The Government may be misled by the calculations published and the public prejudiced, hence I send this memorandum.

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On 28 Febraury 1871 the Under Secretary, William Odgers, minuted: 'Referred to the Board by direction of the Chief Secretary'.

The Under Secretary