The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Chief Secretary's Office ¶ Melbourne 2nd May, 1887. ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I beg to request that you will be good enough to furnish me, not later than the 10th instant, with separate Estimates (in duplicate) of R...

Document information

Physical location:

No.1586, pp. 43-4, unit 77, VPRS 1187/P, outward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office of Victoria. 87.05.04b

Preferred Citation:

Thomas Wilson to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1887-05-04 [87.05.04b]. 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/1880-9/1887/87-05-04b-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Document is a circular (p. 44) to the heads of 16 departments (listed p. 43) within the Chief Secretary's Department, with the name of the department inserted as appropriate.

Chief Secretary's Office

Melbourne 2nd May, 1887.

Notwithstanding the date given here, the list of recipient departments is headed '4th May, 1887 | Letters per preceeding page to'; the item is dated accordingly.

Sir

I beg to request that you will be good enough to furnish me, not later than the 10th instant, with separate Estimates (in duplicate) of Revenue and of Expenditure, under Special appropriation and votes for the Government Botanist for the year 1887/8.

In preparation of the Estimates of the Salaries, it is to be observed that the allowances formerly or now paid by one Department to officers of another, for services rendered, are to be reckoned as salary, to which amount, increment, if any, is to be added; in cases where the addition of an increment would increase a salary beyond the maximum, so much only of the increment is to be added, as will keep the amount within the maximum rate.

In order that the composition of a salary may be known, it is desired that a memorandum of the allowances which are reckoned as salary, may be separately furnished with the Estimates, for the Treasurer's information. Only the amount to be paid in cash is to be provided by the Vote.

When quarters and rations are granted, particulars should be shown in foot notes, and the value is to be stated.

The classification of officers classified under the Act No. 160 is to be inserted in the column headed "160", except where an officer has been promoted under Act No. 773.

The classification under Act No. 773 in all cases is to be shown.

In the column headed "Salary fixed" the letter " f " is to be put against the salaries which have been fixed by the Public Service Board.

Amounts placed upon the Estimates, to recoup the Treasurer for Advances made during the current financial year, on account of 1887/8, should be specially marked, and an explanatory foot note attached.

I enclose, for your guidance, a pro forma Estimate of Expenditure, together with a supply of forms, on which it is requested your Estimates may be furnished.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

T. R. Wilson

Under Secretary

P.S.:– It is requested that the probable expenditure under Special Appropriations be arranged under the following headings, viz:–

Civil Service	Act No. 160	New Pensions	£
	Act No. 160	Compensations or Gratuities	£
Public Service	Act No. 773	Pensions	£
	Act No. 773	Compensations or Gratuities	£

The Government Botanist

For reply, see M to A. Deakin, 5 May 1887.