Melbourne bot Garden,
3/1/71
Sir
I have the honor to enquire, whether you would approve of my paying the orphan-boys of the industrial school here at work a daily remuneration of 1d, such to be placed monthly for them into the saving bank.1 The wages fund of the bot Garden would not admit of giving them more, but I think, that however trifling this pay may be it will act as an encouragement; besides it will give me the power to withhold it, should at any time any one of the boys not show a proper behavior or a want of diligence.
I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller.
Direct. botan Garden.
The honorable the Chief Secretary
In May 1870, 44 boys were placed in the gardens (M to J. McCulloch, 23 May 1870) and although McCulloch thought them poorly supervised (W. Odgers to M, 24 October 1870), M was asked in W. Odgers to M, 29 September 1870 (in this edition as 70-09-29b) whether he could take additional boys.
On 6 January 1871, the Under Secretary, William Odgers, referred M's request to the Inspector of Industrial Schools, George Duncan, 'for his remarks'. Duncan replied on 9 January 1871: 'I see no objection to the small payment suggested by Dr Mueller being made to the boys. If approved the amount should be sent to me quarterly, to be placed to the [credit] of the boys in the Post Office Savings Bank. McCulloch referred the matter to Bank on 12 January 1871.
Please cite as “FVM-71-01-03,” 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