Melbourne botan Garden
23/4/70
Sir
I have the honor to point out, that the reductions, proposed to be made in the wages fund of the botanic Garden during 1870, necessitate the discontuance of the services of several employees. I have now therefore thought it necessary to suggest the discharge of the following men (on a weeks notice as agreed on.)
1. G. Robertson, Engine Driver. Engaged only end of 1868. The wet and cool season having set in and moreover the Yan Yean Water having been got again, I certainly need no Engine Driver til November.
2. William Smith, the services of this man I can best of all dispense with and are of the least importance to the botanic Garden.1 But as he has been employed at the botanic Garden and Royal Park for a series of years (13 months at the Royal Park) I beg leave to recommend his services in some other Department. Perhaps the hon. the Chief Secretary would allow recompensation to this man under the Civil Service regulations, as suggested once by the hon. J M Grant, because W. Smith was gazetted temporary Crownland Ranger for the ground, ceded subsequently to the Friendly Societies.2 To render the discharge of W. Smith not a hardship, I suggest his remaining until he might get employment elsewhere.
3. Thos. Smith, this is a supernumerary, who was temporarily engaged on special wish of the honorable James McKean, then Minister of the establishment.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your very obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller
Director of the botanic Garden.
The honorable Sir Jam. McCulloch, M.P.
Chief Secretary
Please cite as “FVM-70-04-23c,” 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 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/70-04-23c