Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot Garden

4/5/73.

Sir

I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of yesterday,

1

Letter not found, but its contents can be inferred from the minute on M to J. Casey, 26 April 1873, of which M was informed on 3 May 1873 by the Secretary for Agriculture, A. R. Wallis.

in which you express an opinion, that in my letter of the 26 inst.

2

ultimo? See M to J. Casey, 26 April 1873.

nothing is adduced to show, that it is desirable to leave to the responsible Director of the botanic Garden some discretionary power in reference to the supply of plants, seeds &c or to effect interchanges. This leaves me under the impression, that you could not have fully perused my letter of that date amidst the many duties surrounding you, and I have therefore the honor to ask, whether I am to understand, that for the supply of any medical herb or root or flowers, suddenly and urgently required (perhaps on a Sunday or holiday) in a fresh state, I must first send to the Lands office to obtain the formal sanction of providing such; or whether, if a few fresh Mulberry leaves are asked for to be used as food for silkworms I am not to supply them until I have communicated with yourself, and if it is forbidden to me as the only one Director of a botanic Garden in the whole globe so placed to exercise in supplies even of such minor concerns my professional judgement.

3

Casey replied on 7 May 1873: 'I did read the Govt Botanists letter and wrote the minute thereon myself. I know of no reason why the Botanic Gardens should be placed in a different position to any other public Dept or why the Govt Botanist should have the power to deal with Governt property without reference to the Minister. The Govt Botanist is requested to see that the regulations are observed.' The Secretary of Agriculture, A. Wallis, forwarded Casey's minute to M on 8 May.

On 9 May, M asked: 'May the Director of the botanic Garden be informed how to act, when plants are suddenly wanted for medicinal use in severe illness or in other urgent cases on Sundays or Holidays or at hours early or late when the Lands Office is closed'. Casey replied in a minute on 10 May: 'In all cases until otherwise directed obtain the previous sanction of the Minister'. Wallis forwarded Casey's minute to M on 10 May and M returned it on 12 May.

In justice to myself I must also be allowed to remark, that the Legislative Assembly as a whole was not aware, that the memorandum of the Assistant Commissioner of Lands in reference to my Department, to which you refer, was submitted without the slightest knowledge of the Director of the botanic Garden, whereas the Assistant Commissioner could not possibly be aware of the requirements of my professional Department.

The Minister of the Lands Department