Ferdinand von Mueller

Letters A-K added by the Secretary for Agriculture, A Wallis, and discussed in a minute as follows: 'A. I consider the existing facilities of obtaining plants indigenous to the other colonies by means of exchange with the Botanical Gardens of such colonies render the services of a Travelling Collector unnecessary. B. As the stoppage of the distribution of arboreal trees, &c, from the Botanical Garden will materially lessen the work of the custodian of seeds I venture to express my belief that the services of one man will no longer be required for this branch of the Botanical Garden. C. Half the Engine-driver's wages is charged on the votes for Govt House Domain: hence £62.12. only will require to be placed on the estimates of the Botanical Garden for that purpose. D. The services of one man cannot be required to attend to the consignments, to act as messenger, and to take charge of the stores. These duties, I think, might be performed by the clerk. E. Repairs which need the intervention of a carpenter could be charged against the vote for repairs in the Public Works Dept, or the material could be obtained out of the store vote and the wages of a carpenter for an occasional day charged on the vote for incidental expenses. The animals, I think, should be transferred to the Gardens of the Acclimatisation and Zoological Society, whereas the gates might be kept by the gardeners who reside in the cottages near to such gates. F. Painting, glazing, and sign writing could also be charged on the vote for repairs in Dept of Public Works, or paid for, in the same manner as small jobs of carpentry, out of the votes for the Botanical Garden. G. As I have recommended that an Agricl Chemist of recognised ability, who could be free to do whatever might be required of him should be engaged in connection with the Department of Agriculture, I think the services of the Laboratory Operator might be dispensed with. H. I consider three labourers together with five skilled gardeners, a carter, and a number of boys (about 20) of the Industrial School amply sufficient to keep the Botanical Garden in good order. G. [sic] The item "Sunday Watchman" should, I think, be separate and distinct from every other. It is most essential that order be maintained in the Botanical Garden on Sundays, and the plants protected against injury from whatever source. In order, therefore, to give the watchmen additional power I would recommend that they wear some distinctive badge.'

On 28 April Casey instructed: ' urgent I want full particulars that will shew the necessity for those items that I have marked', i.e. those marked with a tick.

MS marginal annotation by Wallis: 'If the birds and other animals now in the Botanical Garden be transferred to the Gardens of the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society, this item should be proportionately reduced.'

MS marginal annotation by Wallis: 'This work which is issued in London, is written by Mr Bentham and the Govt Botanist. Should any portion of the cost of publication be paid for out of public funds of this colony?' The amount was not included in the vote for the Government Botanist passed by Parliament on 11 June 1873, but was approved in the additional estimates, debated on 29 October 1873 (Victoria, Votes and p r oceedings of the Legislative Assembly session 1873, vol. 1, p. 227; see also M to G. Bentham, 1 December 1873 (in this edition as 73-12-01a)).