Document information

Physical location:

M73/3649, unit 750, VPRS 44/P inward registered and unregistered correspondence, VA 538 Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Public Record Office, Victoria. 73.02.27

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to James Casey, 1873-02-27. 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/1870-9/1873/73-02-27-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

1
MS written by Georg Luehmann and signed by M.
Botanic Garden
Melbourne, 27/2/73
Sir
In reply to your communication of yesterday
2
Letter not found, but its substance was the report prepared by A. R. Wallis on M to D. Gillies, 14 February 1873, to which M is responding here; see notes to that letter.
in regard to the supply of water for the Botanic Garden I have the honor to remark
1st, that when Mr. Wallis paid his official visit to the Garden last week there had been rain for several days in succession and no watering needed; should however dry hot weather prevail for several days running, as is quite probable to happen in the month of March and perhaps April, then the withholding of water for two full days would undoubtedly cause not only great inconvenience but actual losses.
2nd the water is wanted not only for the nurseries and conservatories but also for the general grounds, where a great number of young plants require hand watering; moreover, as the pipes soon run dry, there would be a deficiency of drinking water for visitors.
3rd I do not desire that the engine-driver be employed more than half his time for the service of the Botanic Garden, but only that he may pump for four hours each day, either in the forenoon or afternoon, which can hardly be detrimental in any way to the interests of the Reserve, and would certainly be far more advantageous to the Botanic Garden, than the arrangement of pumping a full day uninterruptedly.
3
MS marginal annotation by Wallis: 'One of the chief objections to the Engine-driver being employed at pumping work during one-half of each day is the waste of fuel which such an arrangement would cause. Moreover, much time would be lost in getting up steam, and in cleaning up after pumping operations had ceased.'
As regards the carting of water from the tank near the Laboratory this would entail a waste of labor which I can ill afford with the small means at the disposal of the establishment; moreover the supply in the tank would soon be exhausted.
Trusting that you will favorably consider my application which is for the benefit of the Garden as well as visitors and hurtful to no one, I have the honor to be
Sir
Your very obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller,
Director Botanic Garden
The Honorable the Minister of Lands
4
Casey instructed on 3 March: 'Let the usual practice continue until further orders'; usual above present deleted.