There is no authenticated return of the importation of live stock prior to 1842, but the Rev. Dr. Lang, w h o wrote an interesting history of Port Phillip under the designation of "Phillipsland" (to which he wished to have the n a m e altered), prints this return :—• Horned Cattle. Sheep. Imported in 1837 ... ... ... 94 55; 2 ° 8 1838 . ... ... ... 74 9822 1839 ... ... ... 135 17.567 1840 ... ... ... 244 I9.958 T h e '37 entry of sheep is seemingly a misprint, or probable exaggeration. T h e first exportation of pigs happened in 1846, when four grunters were so got rid of. In 1842, thirty bundles of unmanufactured leather, and 25,583 pairs of boots and shoes, valued at ,£5900, were imported, and 1847 beheld thefirstexportation of £"450 worth of leather. According to Archer, " A s early as 1834, the Messrs. Henty had formed a whaling station at Portland, and sent, in 1835, 700 tons of oil from that place to V a n Diemen's Land, in return for which there arrived cargoes of sheep from Launceston." In 1844, oil in quantity, 178 tons and 207 gallons (various kinds), valued at ,£3977. was exported from Port Phillip. T h efirstsoap sent away was 6 tons 3 cwt. in 1844, and the smallest quantity imported since 1842 was twenty-five boxes (,£50) in 1849. In 1842, one ton of bark (,£4) was received, as against 397 tons, value ,£1667, despatched. Candles were necessaries in universal use, and Melbourne soon commenced the making of its o w n lights in this respect. In 1842, the imports consisted of 27,334 lbs., value ,£576 ; but in 1848 there were only two cases, ,£20. Candle exportation began in 1843, *"•«•> S°97 lljs-. -£T53> whilst the imported article exceeded this by 2000 lbs. T h e first beer was exported in 1846. i.e.—540 gallons, ,£24—which declined to 40 in '47, was 50 in '48, and nil in '49 and 50, whilst in '51 it spurted up to 1525 gallons, an equivalent for .£158. In a former chapter I detailed the curiously interesting circumstances under which Mr. Donald Ryrie planted thefirstvines at Yering, on the Upper Yarra (1838), and a note in Archer's Register states that "the export of wine prior to 1852 did not in any year exceed ,£50 in value; but in that year it amounted to 22,531 gallons, value ,£6351, and in 1853 to 106 casks and 51,502 gallons, value ,£15,844. In 1846 was thefirstexportation of sugar, viz., 5 cwt. refined, value ,£16. It was quadrupled the next year, but in 1848 and 1851 dwindled to nil. Potatoes were the primitive luxury, and in 1842, though there were imported 348 tons, ,£4120, 2 tons 15 cwt., or ,£27 worth were exported. In 1846, there was the solitary export of 1 ton, valued £ 1 , showing a vast falling off in price, size, or quality; and in 1849 the exportation disappeared, but returned next year to 25 tons, valued at ,£106. Tallow was first imported in 1847, to the tune of ,£5 valuation or 5 cwt., but in 1850 it increased to 420 cwt., ,£450. So early as 1840, the merchants so-called began to appreciate the value of co-operation as an engine for the protection of joint interests, and they commenced to meet as if on 'Change at the mart of Mr. Charles Williams, one of the principal auctioneers, than w h o m no louder self-trumpet blower could be found. This mart was the ground floor of a large brick building erected for Batman, at the south west corner of Collins and William Streets, a position then the most centrally convenient for the purposes of mercantile consultations. T h e interesting conversations indulged in here led to the establishment in 1841 of an association known as THE
COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE,
" For the purpose of watching over the commercial interests of the Province," and the following constituted its managerial staff:—Chairman: Mr. Jonathan Binns Were; Deputy-Chairman: Mr. John Porter; Committee : Messrs. Alexander Andrews, George Arden (Honorary), James Cain, D. S. Campbell, George Cavenagh (Honorary), G. W . Cole, Benj. Heape, Arthur Kemmis, W m . Kerr (Honorary), William Locke, John Orr, Andrew Russell, J. A. Smith, John Stephen (Honorary), George T h o m a s ; Treasurer : Mr. James Graham; Secretary : M r . T h o m a s Stevenson. 00
