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Y71/11336, unit 576, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 71.08.30Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Charles Gavan Duffy, 1871-08-30. 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/1870-9/1871/71-08-30-final.odt>, accessed August 17, 2026
Melbourne bot. Garden,
30 Aug. 1871.
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 25. August
I have the honor to state, that I am most anxious to continue the service of a collector
of plants for the botanic Garden after the demise of Mr. Dallachy, as such service
is of the utmost importance to a botanic Garden in the real sense of the word.
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W. Odgers to M, 25 August 1871 (in this edition as 71-08-25a).
But I beg to draw attention to the circumstance that Gardener W. Smith continues still
employed in the botanic Garden, although in the reduction of the wages vote for this
financial year he was not provided for, as stated in my letter when the reduced estimates
were submitted.
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M to C. Dufy, 8 July 1870 (in this edition as 71-07-08b).
If therefore this employees service could be transferred (perhaps to the forests or
to other crown-land parks)
then the needful fund for the desired collector would become available,
whereas otherwise provision would require to be made specially on the estimates.
The sum granted to the collector was £3. -. - for the week, which remuneration had
to cover also his travelling expenses, and I do not think that an efficient collector
could be secured at an annual pay of less than £150. -. -.
Should you be pleased to renew the Office of collector, I would recommend that he
be sent to West Australia, where he will have at present the best field for his exertions
as well to promote the horticultural interests of the establishment here, as also
to augment our Museum material of plants for interchanges and literary work.
In conclusion I beg to observe, that it will require a good Bushman and Horseman,
who has likewise been trained to collecting and who is extensively acquainted with
Australian plants, to do justice to the collectors Office, and I may be allowed to
add, that among the best competent persons for such a purpose Mr Edw. Bowman of Gainsford,
Queensland, stands foremost.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.
Director of the bot. Garden
The honorable Ch. Gav. Duffy, M.L.A.,
Chief Secretary
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