Document information

Physical location:

N89/6934, unit 501, VPRS 3992/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 89.05.31

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Thomas Wilson, 1889-05-31. 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/1880-9/1889/89-05-31-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne,
31/5/89
T. R. Wilson Esqr
Under Secretary.
Sir
In reply to your telegram of yesterday
1
Telegram not found.
I have the honor to inform you, that the printing of the Census of Australian plants, 1000 impressions, cost pr. sheet £11. 7 - and corrections 8/6d. Three tenders were enquired for at the time, and Mess Carron, Bird & Coy
2
i.e. McCarron, Bird & Co.
was the lowest; indeed one firm did not wish to enter on the work on account of the latin names and the peculiar difficulty of setting up the types.
3
The Chief Secretary, A. Deakin, minuted his approval on 6 June 1890 and M was informed immediately. He returned the file 'with best thanks' the next day. Wilson promptly referred it to the Commissioners of Audit who replied on 19 June asking him to 'be good enough to inform us how this expenditure of £250 is to be provided for'. Wilson referred the question to M 'for early report'. M replied on 25 June: 'This expenditure will be met out of the vote for "publication of works on plants" Div. 16, subdivis. 4'. Wilson forwarded the file to the Commissioners of Audit the next day along with calculations reaching £250 based on 20 sheets at £11.5.0 = £220, plus corrections at 8/6 [£8.10.0] totalling £228.10.0. This was rounded off: 'Estimates of cost of new Edition £250.0.0'. The Commissioners of Audit replied on 10 July: 'In view of the fact that tenders for the work were not "publicly invited" as required by clause 67 of the Consolidated General Regulations, we consider the approval of the Governor in Council necessary for the expenditure of the money as proposed'.
On 22 July the Chief Secretary wrote: 'It is recommended for the approval of His Excellency the Administrator of the Government in Council that the undermentioned service be performed without Tenders being advertised for the same viz:— Printing one thousand copies of the "Census of Australian Plants" for the Government Botanist.'
In M to O. Tepper, 27 July 1889, reported that the Census (B89.12.03) was going through the press.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller