Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne, 21st August 1876

1

Letter-copy annotated at head by M: 'Substituted for the former letter'. This refers to an earlier draft in the letter-book, dated 19 August 1876, which is annotated: 'This letter was not sent but the following one substituted in its stead'. For reply see W. H. Archer to M, 13 September 1876.

Sir

I have the honor to inform you that your letter of the 8th inst.

2

See W. H. Archer to A. Le Souef, 8 August 1876 (in this edition as M76-08-08), in which it was stated that the Minister intended permanently to reserve land for Royal Park and for a zoo, and to issue separate Crown Grants to the Trustees for the two parcels of land involved.

containing the proposal of the Honorable the Minister of Lands in reference to the permanent reservation of the Royal Park was submitted to a meeting of the Trustees held on the 18th inst.

My colleagues have desired me to inform you that they concur in the propositions of the Hon. the Minister, but I am instructed to state that in surrendering the 20 acres of land in the South East corner of the Park, and which it is intended to hand over to the National Agricultural Society, the Trustees understand that the Crown-grant to the Park will be issued to them prior or simultaneously to the issue of the Grant to the National Agricultural Society. It is also desired that in case the N. A. Soc. should at any time cease to exist or fail to carry out its objects the 20 acres now ceded be not otherwise disposed of but again become an integral portion of the Park.

A desire was also expressed by the meeting that the number of Trustees should be limited to 15, so that new appointments should only be made on the occasion of vacancies occurring.

The Trustees request that the fencing of the above 20 acres should be effected by the new occupiers of that area, also that the present external fence, which is the property of the Trustees, may not be alienated from them but held at their disposal for Park purposes, the same to be removed at the expense of the N. A. Society.

With regard to the Powder Magazine near the Flemington road

3

Archer in his letter to Le Souef had indicated that before the Minister's intentions were put into effect, it would be necessary to decide whether the powder magazine should remain where it was or be sold for removal.

my colleagues desire me to state that they have had it examined by a competent person, and we are informed that it would realize merely a nominal figure if sold (it having been previously removed from Batman's Hill), and that the damage which would be done to the Park by its removal would be very great. The Trustees are therefore of opinion that it should be allowed to remain, and are perfectly willing that the Government should continue to use it ad interim for its present purposes, but they would desire that when no longer required for such present uses it should revert to them, as it would be extremely useful for various purposes connected with the Park.

W. H. Archer Esq

Secretary for Lands

4

See also W. H. Archer to M, 13 September 1876.