The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Chief Secretary's Office ¶ Melbourne 5th May 1871. ¶ Sir, ¶ ¶ I have the honor by direction of the Chief Secretary to request that you will be good enough to inform Mr Ferguson of your Department tha...

Document information

Physical location:

No. 1512, p. 700, unit 25, VPRS 1187/P, outward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office,Victoria. 71.05.05a

Preferred Citation:

William Odgers to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1871-05-05 [71.05.05a]. 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/1870-9/1871/71-05-05a-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

Chief Secretary's Office

Melbourne 5th May 1871.

Sir,

I have the honor by direction of the Chief Secretary to request that you will be good enough to inform Mr Ferguson of your Department that the papers in the matter of his being provided with quarters were referred to the Board of Inquiry on the Botanic Gardens who have not yet made any report.

William Ferguson had requested that he be provided with a cottage in the Botanic Garden, and M had been instructed to serve notice on the gardener David Coller to vacate the one he had occupied. The cottage was apparently still occupied by Coller in December 1870 when in M to D. Coller, 29 December 1870, M wrote passing on the Chief Secretary's inquiry about occupancy. There is a minute, probably by the Chief Secretary, with the letter: 'let this matter stand over till the Board on the Botanical Gardens sends in its report'.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant

W. H. Odgers

The Director Botanic Gardens