Melbourne
26/8/76.
W. H. Odgers Esqr
Undersecretary.
Sir,
Referring to your communication of the 18 inst.,1 I have the honor to inform you, that the three cases with seeds of plants, intended for binding the coast-sands, have now arrived by the "Somersetshire".2
The cases will be kept at the buildings of the Inspector of Stores, until the honorable the Chief Secretary shall have signified his intentions in reference to the disposal of these seeds. I would respectfully suggest, that a portion of each kind be forwarded to Warnambool,3 Belfast4 and Portland, and a smaller proportion to Sandridge,5 Queenscliff and Sorento.6
Whoever will be the recipients of these seeds can be advised by me, if it is desired, about the utilisation, and I would at once suggest, that at this advanced season a portion only should be sown, and the greater part be kept back at each locality for sowing, until the coming summer shall have passed. 7
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient
Ferd. von Mueller.
See W. Odgers to M, 18 August 1876.
On 24 August 1876, the Acting Under Treasurer wrote to M saying that the bill of lading for the three cases of seeds had been forwarded to the Stores and Transport Department; see R. Gudemann to M, 24 August 1876.
Warrnambool.
Now Port Fairy.
Now Port Melbourne.
Sorrento.
John MacPherson, Chief Secretary, minuted his approval on 11 September 1876.
On 16 September, M minuted: 'In accordance with the instructions of the hon. the Chief Secretary I now beg to suggest, that arrangements for the distribution of these seeds may be made, and would advise, that Portland, Warnambool and Port Fairy should be provided in larger proportions, than Queenscliff, Sandridge and Sorrento, the former places having a far larger area to sow than the latter. I should much like to have placed a small share of these seeds at my own disposal, for discretionary use. If it pleases the hon. the Chief Secretary I can write special instructions for the several recipients, whenever the sendings are ready'.
On 21 September, W. Odgers asked M to 'be good enough to communicate with the Transport Dept. with a view to the repacking of the Seeds under his supervision'. M replied the same day: 'It is suggested respectfully that the following division be made Warnambool 1/6 Belfast 1/6 Portland 1/6 Sanridge [i.e. Sandridge] 1/8 Queenscliff 1/8 Sorrento 1/8 Gov. Botanist 1/8.' The last two items are each marked with a cross. M's suggestions were approved on 22 September.
On 26 September, M wrote to Odgers (see M to W. Odgers, 26 September 1876 (in this edition as 76-09-26b), informing him that the seeds had been divided as proposed and offering to write a letter of instruction to each of the intended recipients.
On 27 September G. Lane, Secretary of the Tender Board, reported that the seeds would be sent out as M had suggested 'with the exception of the last two [marked with an] X on the list which will be sent to Dr Mueller as suggested'. The next day Lane amended this minute to say that the package for Sorrento would be sent to 'the hon. R. S. Anderson at Sorrento as requested'.
Registered as item 9275 and subsequently attached to item 10568 in the same series.
Please cite as “FVM-76-08-26,” 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