The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 14/8/92. ¶ ¶ When Mr Alex. Purdie brought your kind letter, ¶ dear Sir James, I was engaged in Melbourne at Gov. offices, but I had a visit from him this day, when he came from Kyneton to the metrop...

Document information

Physical location:

Folder 2, box 86, James Hector, correspondence received, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Archives, Wellington. 92.08.14

Plant names

Caleya major
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Caleya minor
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Calochilus campester
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Pittosporum
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to James Hector, 1892-08-14. 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/1890-6/1892/92-08-14-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

14/8/92.

When Mr Alex. Purdie brought your kind letter,

Letter not found. Purdie had written from Kyneton, Vic, to Hector on 4 June 1892, on the letterhead of the Kyneton School of Mines, Arts, and Agriculture, requesting that Hector send him a note of introduction to M (MU 95, box 7 (123/92), Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Archives, Wellington, NZ).

dear Sir James, I was engaged in Melbourne at Gov. offices, but I had a visit from him this day, when he came from Kyneton to the metropolis In a long interview I afforded him various information and advise, and I was much pleased to make his acquaintance.

Let me hope, that you have now fully recovered from your long and severe illness.

Details of Hector's illness have not been found, but M reported that illness prevented his attending the Hobart meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science in January (Mercury (Hobart), 8 January 1892, p. 3). Although Hector carried out engagements and field visits in New Zealand during the year, he apologised for missing events because of indisposition in July 1892; see, for example, New Zealand mail, 28 July 1892, p. 22.

I beg also to express my best thanks for your kindly sending me the new vol. of the Institute,

Vol. 24 of the Transactions and proceedings of the New Zealand Institute had been issued in May 1892.

the issue of which must again have entailed very much work to you. "Inter alia" I notice as highly remarkable that and have been traced to N.Z.

Kirk (1892). Kirk used Caleana minor, of which is a synonym, this being the name under which M listed it in B89.12.03, p. 191, despite reporting that Caleana had priority (1810) over Caleya (1813). Kirk used Calochilus campestris, whereas in B89.12.03, p. 189, M listed it as .

We obtained lately as far West as the Wimmera.

Vic.

The far more frequent C. major would likely also be found yet in NZ Can I send you any particular seeds from here? We in return should be thankful for seeds of any rare of your Islands.

Regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller.