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from fire is a marvel. It was never thoroughly water-proof, and, after it yvas opened for public purposes, in yvet weather the audience yvould be treated to a shoyver bath. Umbrellas yvere not then the c o m m o n personal accompaniment they are n o w in Melbourne, but such playgoers as could sport a convenience of the kind took it to the theatre, yvhere it yvas often found to be as necessary within as without. T h e expanded gingham would, of course, very considerably incommode the comfort and vieyv of the adjacent sitters, but that yvas a consideration so trifling as to be scarcely thought about. Hodges n o w looked upon the realization of his fondly-cherished hope, and yvas a happy m a n ; but his happiness yvas of brief duration, for the Pavilion brought to him and Jamieson a series of tribulations. O n e difficulty followed another until the Insolvency and Equity Courts ultimately stepped in, curing the one of his dramatic craze, and, though not reimbursing the other for his outlay, teaching him a bitter lesson which might have done him m u c h good had it c o m e earlier. O n one important point the promoters of the scheme had singularly reckoned their chickens before they were hatched, for thefirsthitch cropped up in the obtaining a license. A n application yvas m a d e to the Police Court, and yvas refused because (i) the Magistrates were in doubt as to yvhether Melbourne yvas then sufficiently ripe for such a species of amusement; and (2) there was no reasonable guarantee that the place would be properly conducted. This unexpected rebuff threw Hodges on his beam ends, and the result was that the Pavilion was opened with a musical performance, but of a very equivocal description, spiced with low buffoonery, ribaldry, and interludes of riot and confusion. T h e police were obliged to interfere, and the disreputable doings having been brought under the notice of the Police Magistrate, he peremptorily ordered Hodges and his Pavilion to shut up. T h e arrival of a Mr. George Buckingham, from a Dramatic C o m p a n y at Adelaide, brought a little sunshine to the heart of poor Hodges, yvho induced the neyv comer to memorialize the police bench for a license; but the document yvas not considered to be respectably signed, and there yvas a second refusal which sent the Pavilion to the auctioneer's h a m m e r ; but no one could be found fool-hardy enough to knock it doyvn, and it was bought in for £ 7 0 0 . After this, occasionally, the authorities, from motives of compassion, yvinked at the giving of a public concert n o w and then, but no application for a regular license would be listened to. O n e evening in January, 1842, a so-called concert yvas given, but of such a very loyv class as to outrage all the proprieties, Hodges yvas consequently s u m m o n e d by the Chief-Constable for breach of the Act of Council 9, Geo. IV, Sec. 2, regulating places of public exhibition and entertainment, convicted and fined £ 5 0 or six months' imprisonment. H e was still able to raise the yvind sufficiently to keep out of gaol, for the fine yvas paid. It yvas suggested that the Pavilion might be temporarily utilised for a course of amateur performances, in aid of an Hospital then in course of projection. A theatrical license could only be recommended by the bench of Magistrates, its issue lying yvith the Colonial Secretary, at Sydney, but the sanction of the local bench obtained, the other followed almost as a matter of course. Six gentlemen accordingly enrolled themselves as an Amateur Theatrical Association for charitable and benevolent purposes, and as their position supplied prima facie evidence that any licensing privilege conceded was not likely to be abused (an erroneous supposition), the recommendation of the local bench of magistrates was easily obtained, and so, in the beginning of 1842, the Sydney authorities granted permission to open the Pavilion for theatrical representations for one month. T h e half-dozen obtainers of the temporary license constituted a Board of Steyvards, and as they comprised a barrister, an attorney, three newspaper editors, and an assistant editor, they exercised considerable influence. Kerr, of the Patriot, had obtained some reputation for his private rendering of Scotch characters, his great hit being an impersonation of Bailie NicolJarvie. Gilbert Beith, thefirstT o w n Treasurer, yvas quite at h o m e in the Dugald Creature. Mr. George Cooper, a big black barber, possessed some small dramatic ability, overlaid by a tremendous quantity of assurance ; and M r . Michael Cashmore, Inspector of the Meat Market, felt himself equal to anything, from Hamlet or Shylock d o w n to executing a hornpipe. T h e n there yvas old " J e m m y Warman," the oyvner of tyvo dashing daughters; and Messrs. John Davies, reporter for the Patriot, and G. D. Boursiquot, of the Gazette, smart, wide-awake, self-possessed "gents," yvho responded to the call m a d e upon their good nature freely, and so matters moved swimmingly. A five-guinea prize yvas offered for the best inauguration ode or poem, but there was no response.