From Ferdinand von Mueller to Henry Moors   8 May 1889

Melbourne,

8 May 1889

H. Moors Esqr

Under Secretary.

Sir

Having now learnt, that my proposition, made on the 30th March¹ for the promotion of some of the officers in the Gov. Botanists Department, cannot be carried out under the Public Service Act,² I have now the honor to withdraw the estimates for 1889-1890, submitted previously, and to substitute two others, one framed quite in accordance with former estimates, and one so formed, as to afford the following improvements in the position of Officers in this establishment, vize:

Mr Charles French, sen.,³ first herbarium-assistant (non-clerical), whose maximum pay I would respectfully recommend, to be raised from £252.-.- to £300.-.-, whereby an additional increment of four pounds would be gained annually by him.

Mr James Minchin, second herbarium-assistant (non-clerical), whose maximum pay a year I would beg to be raised from £132.-.- to £180.-.- whereby he would receive an increment of £8.-.- a year.

I further beg to point out, that with the ever increasing office obligations in so rising a colony like ours it would be most desirable, that the item for books, instruments, botanic collections, seeds, travelling and incidental expenses be increased by £110.-.-, to provide thus also for payment of temporary assistance and overtime work, it being impossible — even with the strictest exercise of economy — to carry out satisfactorily all branches of the service here with the formerly allotted item for these particular purposes.⁴

I have the honor to be,

Sir, your obedient servant

Ferd. von Mueller,

Gov. Botanist.