Ferdinand von Mueller

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Crown Lands' Office,

Perth, March 2nd 1878.

Memorandum

The Hon: The Colonial Secretary.

Baron von Mueller bought 2000 acres of land from Mr. E. Giles the Explorer, such land being a gift to him by the Earl of Carnarvon for services rendered in Exploration.

Baron Mueller through his agent applied for the land near Bunbury, but about a month after the Selection arrived himself in the colony & was not at all pleased with the selection & stated so to Mr Fraser & myself. — — He has several times written & telegraphed to me, asking me to intercede with His Excellency for him, but I have not felt it consistent with my duty to do so. — I now forward a private letter,

1

M to J. Forrest, 14 February 1878.

written in some sad moment & would ask His Excellency whether his request could be granted — I do not think the Colony will in any way suffer, as the ground he has at present secured would be far more beneficial to the Colony as a commonage than being alienated, as beautiful permanent water runs through it & is surrounded by small farmers, who much dislike the land being sold & have asked for a reserve. — The sole reason to my mind why the Barons request should not be granted is that it would be forming a bad precedent.