Ferdinand von Mueller

The Belfast gazette reported on 28 July 1876 that the Belfast Borough Council had received a letter from the Under Secretary, W. Odgers, reporting that the Chief Secretary had forwarded 'a large quantity of grass and other seeds suitable for binding moving masses of sand, to the address of the Town Clerk, Warrnambool. These seeds are the gift of the Government, and are to belong in equal proportions to the Boroughs of Belfast and Warrnambool. Mr. MacPherson hopes that by carefully cultivating them under the advice of the Government Botanist, (who will render every assistance in his power if called on by the Borough Councils to give his advice), they will be found to supply an effectual and at the same time an inexpensive remedy for checking the devastation caused by the incursions of the sand along the coast, during the prevalence of southerly winds, with the fertile soil situated inland which has for some time given rise to many apprehensions of a serious result. The seeds are sea lyme-grass (Elymus Arenarius), Moram or bent grass (Psamma Arenaria), sand lupin (Lupinus Arboreus and Lupinus albiflorus).'

The Council 'resolved that application be made to the Town Clerk of Warrnambool for the portion of the seeds belonging to Belfast', and deferred consideration of M's request, (which he had also made to the Warrnambool Council; see M to H. Read, July 1876 (in this edition as 76-07-00b)), and also a request from the Town Clerk of Portland for some of the seeds, until the seeds had been received.