Ferdinand von Mueller

Telegram not found. M also submitted estimates for Public Works for his establishment; see M to to T. Wilson, 12 July 1881 (in this edition as 81-07-12c).

On the same day, M’s herbarium assistant, Carl Groener, wrote to Dr L. L. Smith reporting what M had recommended and saying that he and the clerk, Georg Luehmann, would ‘feel much obliged if you could put in a good word for us’ (U81/7172, unit 1275, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria).

On 9 August 1881, Smith minuted for the Chief Secretary, J. Grant: 'My dear Mr Grant These two assistants to Dr Mueller I really do not know how they live, they have been years in their present billet, & they have an existence & that is all Mr Bosisto & self would be glad if they had a rise no matter how small.'

Later in August, Smith sent a further memo to the Acting Undersecretary, T. Wilson: 'When speaking of a slight increase of salary to the two Gentlemen who are under Dr Baron v. Mueller & who really from their status ought to have treble the screw they have, the Honble Mr Grant referred me to you & told me to tell you to do it, this was some time back & I forgot to do so. I think a small rise say £25 or £50 even might justly & with credit be given to them, the Baron desires [it] also but really is so frightened of being [scr]ubbed that he dares not I believe put it in his report. Please [do not] act on what I say but ask Mr Grant and say that if I did not think it was just I would not recommend it. Mr Bosisto M.P. will bear this out. Their names are Mr Groener, who is going to be married and Mr Luehmann.' On 27 August, Wilson asked to see the previous application and the estimates. A minute in an unknown hand reports: 'C.S. declines to increase votes' (U81/8203, unit 1275, VPRS 3991/P, PROV).

On 9 September 1881, H. F. Eaton of Walsh Street, South Yarra, wrote to Smith: 'May I remind you that the additional Estimates being now in course of preparation this is the time when a further effort should be made to give some advance of salary to our friends Luhemann [sic] and Groener. You are aware that at present the former has £225 and the latter £175. — Even £25 each additional would be important to them and very acceptable in view of domestic responsibilities recently undertaken or projected.'

The file includes a further, undated note by Wilson: 'Govt Botanist | Add £25 each to two Assistants | TW'. The initial estimates provided for £2030 for the Government Botanist's department, the same as in the preceding year (Age (Melbourne) 5 August 1881, p. 3). The final budget agreed to on 4 October 1881 provided a vote of £2080 (Victoria, Hansard, Legislative Assembly, vol 37, p. 238).

See M to J. Patterson, 23 April 1880.