Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne,

15 March 1889.

T. R. Wilson Esqr,

Under Secretary.

Sir

I have the honor to bring under the consideration of the hon. the Chief Secretary, that it would be very desirable, to engage two youths for three months during four days in the week, to help clearing off accumulated work in the Gov. Botanists Department. In 1888 the heavy litterary work and the extra-duties for the Centennial Exhibition

1

Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888-9.

gave so much additionally to do clerically and in the bot. Museum, that various ordinary engagements in the Department had to be postponed, so that some additional strength to the staff of the employees of the establishment would for a while be highly acceptable.

I would then propose, that Mr George French, son of one of the Assistants,

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Son of Charles French Snr.

now 17 years old, be engaged for the period and days above mentioned. He has been engaged for three years in my private service, but has during all the time helped much in the Department, so that he is already conversant with the duties, which would officially devolve on him On this account, he would be well deserving of 4/ a day as payment.

The second youth, to be engaged, if it meets with the approbation of the hon. the Chief Secretary, would necessarily be uninitiated in the work of the Department; but he would be needed, to lay out paper for the collections in the bot. Museum (Herbarium), to hand up and down the fascicles of plants there, do dusting, run small messages &c, all minor and often manual work, for which now at a considerable rate of payment the ordinary assistants must be employed. For such duties payment of 3/ a day for four days a week, therefore 12/ a week, should be sufficient. I would be able, to recommend for this second engagement a worthy youth in the vicinity, who thus on extra-occasions for duty could readily be reached.

The remaining votes of the finance-year 1888-1889 will admit of the payment for these two youths during April, May and June 1889 from funds in the Gov. Botanists establishment.

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The Chief Secretary, A. Deakin, minuted his approval on 16 March 1889 and the file was forwarded to M on 18 March. M replied with a further minute on 28 March: 'In thankfully acknowledging the hon. the Chief Secretary's approval, I beg to state, that I have selected the lads George French at 4/ a day and Arthur Luehmann at 3/ a day for the months of April, May and June.' H. Moors, for Wilson, forwarded the file to the Commissioners of Audit for their information.

See also M to A. Deakin, 25 June 1889.