Document information
Physical location:
J87/4173, unit 298, VPRS 3992/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 87.05.05Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Alfred Deakin, 1887-05-05. 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/1880-9/1887/87-05-05-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
1
MS written by Georg Luehmann and signed by M.
Sir
In conformity with your circular No. 1586
I have the honor to submit herewith estimates of expenditure for my department during
1887/8.
2
See T. Wilson to M, 4 May 1887 (in this edition as 87-05-04b).
I may be permitted to observe that, although no direct revenue is received through
my department, yet a considerable amount is paid annually in to the consolidated revenue
by the Govt. Printer for the sale of books published by me.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedient servant
Ferd von Mueller,
Govt. Botanist
No pensions and no gratutities under Acts 160 and 773 in Govt. Botanist's Department.
3
MS annotation in an unknown hand: 'note to Mr Luehmann 6/5'. On 12 May 1887 Luehmann
sent a telegram to James Killen, accountant in the Finance department of the Chief
Secretary's office: 'No Revenue in the Dept of Govt Botanist for 1887'. He sent another telegram on 19
May: 'No Pensions nor Gratuities in Govt Botanists Dept. for 1887.8 [i.e.:1887/8]
as stated in letter'.
The Honorable the Chief Secretary.
4
The file contains a newspaper cutting from the
Argus, 14 October 1887, reporting the parliamentary discussion of the 'vote of £2,748 for
the Government botanist', which was passed. M's valuable contribution to the colony
was extolled and the need for 'a proper botanical museum' was endorsed.
ESTIMATES of Expenditure for the Year ending 30th June,
1888.
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1. — Chief Secretary.
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Years and Numbers
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Classification under Act
—
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Division No 16.
Government Botanist.
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||
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1886-7.
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1887-8.
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160.
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773.
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1887-8.
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1886-7.
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1
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1
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1
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Sc
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Salaries.
Subdivision No 1
Professional Division
Government Botanist
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£
800
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£
800
5
Each of these amounts are marked with a note by Luehmann: 'Salary above maximum'.
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Subdivision No 2
Clerical Division
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|
|
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1
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1
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4
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Clerk
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300
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300
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1
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1
|
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5
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Clerk
6
MS annotation by Luehmann: 'With quarters (one room) valued at £18 per annum.'
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157
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157
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2
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2
|
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|
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457
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457
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1
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1
|
|
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Subdivision No 3
Non-Clerical Division
First Herbarium Assistant
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237
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231
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1
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1
|
|
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Second Herbarium Assistant
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132
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132
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1
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1
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|
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Third Herbarium Assistant
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72
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66
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3
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3
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|
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441
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429
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6
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6
|
|
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Total Salaries
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1698
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1686
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Subdivision No 4
Contingencies
Museum Material, Stationery, and Purchase of Plants
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130
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130
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Collector of Plants for a new edition of the Flora Australiensis and other works
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125
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125
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Publication of Works on Plants including Draftsman's and Lithographer's work
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560
7
370
deleted,
possibly by M.
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370
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|
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Paper for Lithograms
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75
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75
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Books, Instruments, Botanical Collections, Seeds, Freights, Travelling and Incidental
Expenses
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160
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160
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1050
8
860
deleted, possibly by M.
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860
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Total Division No 16
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2748
9
2558
deleted, possibly by M.
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2546
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Memorandum with Estimates
Composition of Salary
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Name
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Office
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Total amount provided on Estimates
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Estimated value of Quarters
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G. Renner
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Clerk
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157
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18
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