there were over 700 persons present. Mr. Finn presided, and in opening the business, delivered a lengthy and elaborate address, detailing the result of his investigations yvith a precision that carried conviction on the face of it. T n e allegations put forth by the Argus, and in the City Council, yvere torn to shreds, names of authorities given, facts and figures produced, chapter and verse quoted, and the refutation was so complete that the Argus, as if stricken by its journalistic conscience, did what newspapers were not then in the habit of doing, m a d e an amende, so far as to publish the portion of the address which had so effectually turned the tables. It did so, however, yvithout a syllable of retractation, apology, or even comment. T h e statement seemed to have come upon the journal as a surprise, and further than has been stated it maintained a solemn silence. T h e meeting yvas also addressed by Messrs. James Wallace, Jeremiah Dalton, P. M'Donough, H . Cain, J. Devine, P. Kennedy, J. W . Dunbar, M . H . Hickey, James Greene, Henry Hayden, John Bourke, and W . Finn. Resolutions were passed :— 1. "Denouncing as gross and unfounded the charges of immorality and dishonesty preferred, expressing the deepest indignation at the shameful perversions of truth indulged in, and attributing to the slanderers a desire to prejudice Irish emigration to the colony, and to blacken the national character of Ireland." 2. " Averring that the Irish Orphan Female Immigrants had, generally speaking, supplied a description of labour urgently required, as proved by the greater number of them having met yvith ready engagements and rendered satisfaction to their employers by their honesty and good conduct." 3. " That the interference of the City Council was an uncalled for and unjustifiable abuse of a representative poyver vested for purely local purposes—the administration of the Corporation A c t — a n d in no other way representative of the Province." 4. "That a copy of the resolutions be forwarded to the Superintendent for transmission to the Secretary of Stateforthe Colonies." T h e unprovoked rashness of the City Council was long remembered; but time, yvhich sooner or later softens every animosity, gradually effaced the impressions of the injustice from the public mind.
GERMAN IMMIGRATION
Was from an early period regarded as a desirable mode of increasing our population, and adding to it a contingent yvhich had in other parts of the yvorld proved a valuable contributory in developing the industrial resources of neyv colonies. Mr. William Westgarth paid special attention to the subject, and during a visit to England rendered valuable service in directing attention to Port Phillip as a suitable place for the exercise of G e r m a n industry. O n his return to the Province in 1849,3 public meeting yvas held at the Royal Hotel on the 4th December, yvith Mr. C. H . Ebden as Chairman, at yvhich Mr. Westgarth said 400 immigrants yvere shortly to arrive from H a m b u r g and Rotterdam, Dr. Thomson, of Geelong, having arranged yvith 10 families for three years. T h e immigrants included many vine dressers and yvere in family groups. They yvere coming under charter yvith the Messrs. Godefroy, yvho gave them credit for one half the passage money, the balance to be paid by those w h o employed them. Mr. Westgarth suggested the appointment of a committee to render assistance on the arrival of the consignment, and thought there ought to be a paid German Secretary, familiar with the English language. Messrs. W m . Westgarth, J. Hodgson, R. W . Wrede, W . F. Rucker, J. Hoffman, Buddee, W m . Kerr, Dr. Casperson and Dr. Black, were appointed for the purpose indicated, and Mr. Westgarth was yvarmly thanked for the kindly and patriotic interest manifested. T h e philanthropic exertions of Mrs. Caroline Chisholm in promoting family immigration to N e w South Wales and Port Phillip have become such well accredited portions of our colonial history as renders it unnecessary to dwell further on the subject here, beyond stating that the lady's husband (Captain Archibald Chisholm) came a m o n g us early in 1851, as assistant missionary. Before the ensuing Neyv Year yvas rung in there was no need for co-operative or sympathetic demonstrations, for Victoria was the golden point of attraction, to which people hurried from eveiy quarter of the civilized globe, and its inhabitants numbered close upon one hundred thousand.
