Melbourne, 3/8/74
Sir
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Royal Park, held this day, I have laid the letter from the townclerk of Hotham (to yourself and considerately transmitted to me) before my colleagues, who directed me to inform you that they are adverse to the propositions contained in the application, for the following reasons, because
1, they do not feel justified to allow any encroachment on the park-land under their control
2, because they are aware of the strong objection of the inhabitants of Brunswick, Flemington and other localities in the vicinity against the depositing of egesta in the neighbourhood of the Park
3, because the carts would have to pass the only permanent place for drinking-water in the Park, and thus this water would become deteriorated
4, because of the difficulty of enforcing any conditions by which the traffic of nightsoil, if once established, would be discontinued or be so arranged as not to become obnoxious to visitors and neighbours of the Park.1
I have the honor to be Sir
Your obedient
Ferd von Mueller
Hon. Secr. Trustees R. P.
A. Le Souef Esq
Hon. Manager Royal Park
Mr. Randall's letter is herewith returned.
F. v. M.
William Guilfoyle 'had suddenly prohibited the deposit of nightsoil in the Government Domain' (report of Hotham Borough Council deputation to J. J. Casey, Argus, 17 June 1874, p. 4). A proposal to use the Model Farm adjcent to the Royal Park was supported by the Central Board of Health (Age, 2 July 1874, p. 4), but the Council was informed by the Secretary of Lands that nightsoil could not be deposited on any of the Government Reserves (North Melbourne advertiser, 3 July 1874, p. 3). Access to the Model Farm was via Royal Park. For a brief general background to the problems faced in disposing of Melbourne waste, see 'Sewerage', https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM01360b.htm (accessed 23 January 2025).
Please cite as “FVM-74-08-03a,” 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