To John O'Shanassy1    9 October 1858

Melbourne zoological Garden

9 October 1858.

Sir

I have the honor to inform you that I have been instructed by the Committee appointed for the management of the zoological Garden, to acquaint you with the following resolution adopted at a meeting held at the Government Botanists Office on the 8th instant.

Dr. Black in pursuance of previous notice moved and the Honorable D. S. Campbell seconded; and it was carried, — that it would be desirable to combine the zoological and botanical Garden with the understanding, that the Government Botanist should exercise the control over the whole of the ground, and that he should only in the management of the zoological department be under the control of the committee, but in every other way left as before under direct responsibility to the Honorable the Chief Secretary.

That the Chief Secretary be informed by resolution that the Committee appointed to manage the Public Zoological Garden consider the ground assigned to the Zoological Society unfit for the healthy confinement of animals and that as the Director of the Botanic Gardens has no objection to placing the Animals in various suitable spots in the Botanic Gardens, where the land is dry & healthy, the walks and ornamental planting already matured and an abundance of Shelter from the trying Summer and Winter winds, the Committee believing the objects of the public would be best attained by uniting the zoological and Botanical Gardens. The advantages being besides those already alluded to, that the appearance of an European Zoological Garden may at once be obtained without having to wait for years for the pleasure grounds to grow into shape, and without the necessity of spending any of the vote for the zoological purposes on earth-works, such as walks and planting which fall naturally within the botanic garden vote.

If granted the various sites for Cages and dense which would be suitable for the animals and tend to enliven and beautify the Botanic Gardens, and such additional accommodations as might be necessary in the unused high ground of the Botanic reserve,2

The Committee see no objection to the piece of ground in the north side of the river given to the zoological Society, being used for an extension of the Botanic Gardens, so that the expense of enclosing, forming & planting might be charged to the Botanic vote, and the expenses of this kind already incurred might be refunded to the Committee to be expended on the purchase of new animals, food for them, attendance, and handsome accommodations, isolated enclosures for each kind &c necessary for their healthy preservation:

I have the honor to be

Sir

Your most obnt & humble Servant.

Ferd. Mueller,

Director of the zool. Gardn.

 

The Honorable the Chief Secretary3

MS written by Carl Wilhelmi and signed by M.
The paragraph breaks off at this point and a line is drawn in ink to the end of the line. The next paragraph starts immediately afterwards.

On 13 October 1858 O'Shanassy minuted his approval of M's request adding: 'It would be advisable to invite the attention of the Director & Committee to the letter of Mr Westgarth respecting the Alpacas Perhaps he would favor the C.S. [Chief Secretary] with a report upon the arrangements which may be necessary for their reception and custody?'.

See also footnotes to J. Moore to M, 18 October 1858, and M to J. O'Shanassy, 27 January 1859 for information on the importation of the Alpacas.

Please cite as “FVM-58-10-09,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells accessed on 29 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/58-10-09