Page:ChroniclesofEarlyMelbournevol.1.pdf/273

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
THE CHRONICLES OF EARLY MELBOURNE.
235

which accrue from such Institutions—advantages which are reaped by the rich equally with the poor, and which recompenses them, in a threefold degree, for any liberality they m a y have shown. O n this account, I call on every m a n present to contribute this day his donation,—on the settler, the land-owner, the merchant, the tradesman—in short, on every class and description 'of men, for, as you will all equally benefit by the work in which w e have now engaged, w e should all with one consent combine in offering a tribute worthy of so noble a virtue as that of Charity." At the conclusion of the Mayor's speech, Mr. Asher H . Hart reminded His Worship that the Jews had in the earliest days a Hospital of their own. T h e Mayor explained, and trusted that his observations might not be supposed to reflect any imputation upon the Jewish denomination, for he was not aware ofthe fact of which he had been reminded. Three cheers for the Mayor terminated the proceedings. A collection in aid of the funds of the Hospital was then made, and a considerable sum subscribed, the Superintendent and the Mayor contributing each £5 5s. T h e procession, in returning, reversed its order, the Masonic body and St. Patrick's Society leading, the various public bodies filing off as they reached their Lodge-rooms. T h e Oddfellows accordingly were the first to leave, on arriving at the Crown Hotel; the Masons next, at the Royal Exchange Hotel, and upon arriving at the intersection of Collins and Elizabeth Streets, the Society of St. Patrick extended its ranks, allowing the respective Temperance Societies to proceed between them greeted by many a spontaneous burst of acclamation. About two o'clock all the bustle had passed away. Nothing could exceed the manner in which the day's proceedings went off, and they embodied the most brilliant spectacle ever witnessed in the province. In the evening the Masons gave a grand banquet at the Royal. T h e building gradually went ahead until the 16th June, 1847, when a meeting of Governors was held at the Royal Hotel, presided over by the Mayor (Mr. Moor), and from a report prepared by the Building Committee, the following facts were elicited :— In January, 1846, a contract was entered into for the erection of a main building at a cost of ^"1470, and on the 23rd December a further expenditure of £oi was authorised for certain necessary additions and offices. O n M a y 3rd, 1847, a further outlay (£0% 12s. 4d.) was incurred for plastering the ceilings throughout, making a total of ,£2485 12s. 4d. T o meet this there had been paid by private contribution (including ,£215 17s. id. handed over from the fund raised in 1841 for the erection of a General Hospital) ,£1256 6s. id. ,£1000 had been voted on the Estimates for 1846, and ^ 2 5 0 for 1847, conditional upon an equal amount being raised by private subscription, making a total of ^ 2 5 0 6 6s. id. available. There had already been paid to the contractor ^ 1 6 3 6 6s. 8d, one moiety of which had been received from the Colonial Treasury, leaving a balance of ^ 5 4 9 5s. 4d, payable on the completion of the works in progress. Towards thefinishingof the building, and enclosure of the grounds, there remained something more than ;£ 150. For the Maintenance Fund ^ 1 7 8 13s. had been raised. ,£350 had been unconditionally voted by the Legislature for furniture and outfit, and an application had been m a d e to the Governor to put on the Estimates ^ 3 5 0 for maintenance, conditional on a like sum being received in private contributions. It was also asked that the Government would cause an Act of Incorporation to be passed, and an appropriation to be sanctioned of certain unclaimed impounding fees, and drunkards'fines,to both of which requests His Honor the Superintendent was favourable. It was likewise stated that M r . William Hart, lately deceased, had willed a bequest of .£150 to the Charity. T h e report was received and adopted. O n the motion of Dr. Palmer, the following persons constituted thefirstCommittee of Management viz, Messrs. Edward Curr, Edward Eyre Williams, Robert Williams Pohlman, James Frederick Palmer George Annand, George Sinclair Brodie, John Duerdin, John Robert Murphy, Charles Williamson, James Simpson, William Werge Howey, and George Ward Cole. T h e ex officio members were His Honor the Superintendent (Charles Joseph Latrobe), President, His Honor the Resident Judge (William A'Beckett) and His Worship the Mayor (Henry Moor), Vice Presidents ; Mr. James Montgomery, Honorary Secretary • Captain William Lonsdale and Mr. E. E. Williams, Trustees; and the Rev. A d a m Compton T h o m s o n and Mr. E d m u n d Westby, Treasurers.