Ferdinand von Mueller

In a file note, W. Odgers to M, 5 May 1871 (in this edition as 71-05-05a), Odgers wrote: 'Ask Dr von Mueller to be good enough to report if he knows anything of the correspondence to which Mr Secretary Palmer refers | W. H. Odgers | 25. 4. 71''. Palmer, Colonial Secretary of Queensland, had written to Victoria's Chief Secretary, J. McCulloch, on 11 April 1871, as follows:

With reference to a correspondence that has taken place on the subject of an Expedition to "the Bellenden Kerr Hills" proposed by Dr Mueller I have the honor to state that on reference to the Surveyor-General it has been recommended that the Expedition should be despatched by a small coasting vessel to a Bay inside Cape Grafton, where there is a fair anchorage, about 25 miles north from the Northern Hill. This is suggested as the most suitable point to start from, as it allows of approach to the western slope of the Hills, which is always the most accessible side of all the high lands of East Australia.

The vessel would have to be guarded, in accordance with the suggestion of the Surveyor-General, by a well armed party in the absence of those engaged in the Expedition, as the aboriginal natives on that part of the coast are of a very hostile character and are well provided with canoes.

The cost of the Expedition would probably not be less than £500 and as the only object likely to be obtained is the acquisition of some new Botanical specimens I am desirous of ascertaining what your Government are willing to contribute towards the cost of the Expedition in the event of this Government undertaking to organise it.

An annotation, probably by McCulloch, says: 'Not any?'.