lurid smoke. As yve rode along on our trembling horses the trees crashed down close to us, and on one occasion the burning leaves struck in our faces as a huge old tree—a species of the stringy b a r k — c a m e thundering down, a mass of fire and flame. Every n o w and then some cattle or horses, stupefied or maddened by thefire,would gallop wildly by. A s yve entered the open ground near the toyvnship of Kilmore, the surrounding hills, burning from base to summit, presented a grand and terrible sight." But, in chronicling all the saddening consequences of this day of terrors, the yvriter cannot overlook Uvo amusing incidents that occurred in Melbourne, one at each extreme in the City—tyvo separate and distinct acts in the drama of life—the one flashing like a small gleam of sunshine, a sparkling bit of comedy ; and the other a queer black mark, a scrap of bouncing farce. T h e first refers to the moral courage evinced by a lady and gentleman yvho, disregarding all the inauspicious o m e n s of the clerk of the weather, rushed from the syveltering heat of Melbourne into the Plymeneal Sanctum, and contracted a life partnership, which it is to be hoped m a d e them happy ever after. This auspicious event is thus announced in the Daily Ncivs of the 7th :—" Married on Thursday, 6th February, at St. Peter's Church, Melbourne, Mr. T h o m a s Earle, late of Hull, to Miss Hortensia Hoyves, daughter of Captain John Hoyves, of Cliff House, Gorleston, Suffolk." It is evident from this that " Black Thursday/' yvas a " yvhite " day for one "happy pair" of Melbournians, at all events; and that the presence of mind necessary for setting sail on the ocean of yvedlock under such Simoon discouragements ultimately found its reward is evidenced by the fact that the two, noyv old Earles, are still alive and prosperous—the gentlemanfillinga responsible position in a leading yvool warehouse, and the lady the centre-piece of a family ring of nine young colonists. AVhilst the nuptial knot yvas being tied on the Eastern Hill, the Police Court on the AVestern Hill was solemnly engaged in the untying of a different complication. M r . Edward Bell, J.P, and Private Secretary of M r . Latrobe, the Superintendent, and M r . Richard ("Dick") Ryan, a squatter, yvere having some personal altercation. " D i c k " somewhat unpolitely informed Mr. Bell that " he did not care a d for him, orforall the Magistrates in the country," and for this heinous offence a s u m m o n s was taken out against him of the unruly tongue. T h e charge was laid as " cursing," though it is doubtful if the phrase complained of could bear that interpretation, as it was simply communicating an item of intelligence, and not conveying either invocation or imprecation. However, the case yvas investigated by a Bench of Magistrates, who, either from the lassitude provoked by the atmospherical condition of the weather, or the legal difficulty involved in the issue, reserved judgment for a week, and in the end " D i c k " was fined one shilling. A s to this defendant cared neither a " d " nor a d u m p , and could well afford to laugh at such a trifle, for, outside the restricted circle of the Melbourne Club, he yvas accounted a better fellow than his prosecutor. A n d such were the two odd episodes—the two comic flashes that shot up like rockets amidst the general gloom. O n the Friday rain fell lightly in several parts of the interior, and on Sunday, the 9th, prayers for rain were offered in several of the Melbourne churches.
SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT THE PLENTY.
All the smoke and fire, the crashing of burning forests, the lands laid yvaste, and the pyres of sheep and cattle carcasses festering in the broiling sun, sink into insignificance beside a horrible incident which occurred at the Plenty, yvhere a mother and five children were killed by roasting and suffocation. T h e deceased w o m a n , before referred to, was Mrs. M'Lelland, wife of George M'Lelland, a thriving and industrious settler, residing on the banks of the D i a m o n d Creek, a tributary of the Plenty. Their family consisted of five children, of ages varying from one to eight. Their names were John, James, Joseph, M a r y Anne, and AVilliam, and these with their mother were the victims of the terrible catastrophe. Their homestead was situated near what is termed " T h e Ranges, and about thirty-five miles from Melbourne. M'Lelland was what is k n o w n as a well-to-do m a n , worth about £ 8 0 0 and gradually bettering his condition until crushed by this overwhelming misfortune. O n the day of the occurrence M'Lelland and his family were in their hut, little thinking of the destruction which was hurrying upon them with lightning speed from the mountains. Mrs. M'Lelland looked out from the door,
