Document information

Physical location:

Auckland Institute and Museum, Auckland, New Zealand. 90.11.23

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Thomas Cheeseman, 1890-11-23. 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/1890-6/1890/90-11-23-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

23/11/90.
It is very kind of you, dear Mr Cheeseman, to invite me to your hospitable home, when I come with other members of the Austral. Assoc. to N.Z.
1
The 3rd Congress of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science was held in Christchurch, NZ, in January 1991.
; but my stay will be very brief, and I shall not be able to reach Auckland within the time free for me. Early in Febr. the final arrangements will have to be made for the expedition, which through the munificence of Sir Thom. Elder will operate during 1891 in Central Australia,
2
Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition, 1891-2.
and it will start in March, so as to have the whole cool season before it. I trust however that I shall have the happiness of seeing you during my 2 or 3 days stay at Christchurch.
Regardfully
your
Ferd. von Mueller
I hope to be able, to have some few days for a tour to reach Mt Cook,
3
Which he did; see M to J. Hooker, 21 January 1891.
where however I shall stay only one day.
Mr Vogan has a fair prospect to be selected from the numerous applicants for the forthcoming expedition, but final arrangements can only be made, when Sir Th Elder will be back in February.
4
See A. Vogan to J. Duncan, 6 November 1890 (in this edition as M90-11-06). Governor George Grey had provided Vogan with a letter of introduction to Sir Thomas Elder, but when Vogan learnt that Elder was abroad and understood that M was in charge of arrangements, he again contacted Grey and asked him to write to M, requesting that M be asked to assist Vogan in obtaining a place on the Elder Expedition (A. Vogan to G. Grey, H18(5), Grey papers, Auckland Central City Library). Vogan was not a member of the exploration party; see Lindsay (1893), p. 15, for a list of members and their roles. The medical officer was also the photographer, but no artist was included.
I will think of you, when next I receive fresh palm & Bamboo seeds