Document information

Physical location:

No. 1464, vol. 1886E, VPRS 1168/Pinwardcorrespondence registers, VA 856ChiefSecretary'sOffice, Public Record Office, Victoria. 86.01.14a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Graham Berry, 1886-01-14 [86.01.14a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1880-9/1886/86-01-14a-final.odt>, accessed June 10, 2026

1
Letter not found; item is a register entry only, of a letter dated 14 January 1886.
[That Chief Sec will leave memo suggesting £1000 on 1886/7 Estimates for Geographical Society]
2
M evidently followed up his letter in person a month later. A briefing note 'New Guinea Exploration' prepared by a clerk, '[RNC]', on 13 February 1886 provided a summary of a visit by M to Ebenezer Thomas's office (unit 91, VPRS 1163/P1 inward correspondence files, VA 672 Premier's Office, Public Record Office, Victoria). The note was forwarded to the Premier's Office on 15 February 1886, three days before Duncan Gillies assumed office as Premier and Alfred Deakin became Chief Secretary.
The briefing mentioned progress in preparing a volume dedicated to James Service (B86.08.05). The briefing included the paragraph 'The Baron also wished Mr Service to leave on record a memorandum for his successor recommending favourably the claims of the Geographical Society for a Grant next year'. In addition, M suggested that 'a few hundred pounds' be provided to support a visit to England by the New Guinea explorer Henry Everill to publicize his findings; on this, see also M to G. Berry, 14 February 1886.
The requested grant to the Society was included in the estimates 'ordered to be printed 28 July 1886' (Victoria Parliamentary Paper, 1867 B 7, p. 19).