the expediency of organizing a troop of mounted yeomanry, and a meeting to consider the question was held on the 3rd June at the Lamb Inn, n o w Scott's Hotel, Collins Street. T h e enthusiasm kindled by the idea was up to boiling heat, but it was not long before the cooling process set in. After Major St. John was voted to the Chair, a resolution was adopted to the effect that it was necessary for the protection of life and property that an association be formed by the settlers and holders of farm stock under the style and title of " T h e Port Phillip Volunteers"—that all settlers, & c , be invited to co-operate, and that the corps be under the military direction of a competent gentleman to be appointed by the meeting and approved by the Governor. It was suggested that this post should be given to Major William Firebrace, but it was objected to by some, w h o considered that such a responsible office should be filled by the general body of volunteers. Major Firebrace, however, was appointed forthwith. It was also resolved that the district be partitioned into twelve divisions, each to be under the c o m m a n d of a captain and two lieutenants, to be selected by the corps. T h e divisional boundaries were also determined, and a code of Rules for management and equipment was adopted. A Committee was nominated to promote the objects sought to be attained, and the meeting adjourned rather appropriately sine die—for nothing ever came of it beyond m u c h talk and a few newspaper paragraphs. It was a mere flash in the pan, and as such there was a speedy end of it. SQUATTER FRANCHISE.
The Pastoral Tenants of the Crown, as they were called, made several attempts to obtain an extension of the Electoral franchise, and were as often baffled by adverse circumstances. They m a d e a strong muster at the Royal Hotel, on the 14th of July, 1843, when their advocates came out in great force. T h e purpose of the gathering was to adopt petitions to the Legislature of N e w South Wales and the Imperial Parliament to extend the legislative franchise to the pastoral tenants of the Crown. Major Firebrace was voted to the Chair, and speeches were delivered by Messrs. J. L. Foster, James Simpson, J. C. Riddell, A. Cunninghame, F. Riley, G. S. Airey, F. A. Powlett, C. H . Ebden, James Manning, Alfred Langhorne, Major St. John, Captain Webster, and Dr. Playne. Draft petitions wrere submitted and approved, when a Committee was nominated to promote the object in view. THE FIRST " PROTECTION " MEETING.
It is singular, considering the turn taken by events in after years, that the earliest cry for the protection of native industry should have originated with the agriculturists ; yet so it was. In the year 1843 there was m u c h depression in every branch of business, wholesale and retail, and the prices obtained for farm produce ruled at a very discouraging figure. It was accordingly determined to give expression to public opinion as to the most desirable source from which to seek a remedy for the evil, and a requisition was presented to Mr. Henry Condell, the Mayor, to convene the inhabitants for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means for averting the ruin which threatened the cultivator of the soil, owing to the prevalent unremunerating prices of farm produce. T h e Mayor complied, and the gathering took place on the 12th October, in the large room of the Royal Exchange Hotel, Collins Street. T h e attendance was not numerous, and though a desire was expressed that the Chief Magistrate should preside, he begged to be absolved from doing so on the modest plea that though a brewer, he was unacquainted with agricultural subjects. Dr. F. M'Crae was consequently voted by acclamation to the place of honour. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. J. P. Fawkner, J. Williamson, W . Highett, J. M . Ardlie, and J. B. Kirk, and resolutions were passed nem. con.—viz., (a) Affirming the necessity for protecting the agriculturists by the imposition of a duty upon grain, not the product of a British settlement, sufficiently high to render farming profitable, but not too high for the consumer, (b) Affording protection to the legitimate farmer, the proprietor or occupier of purchased land against competition from squatters on Crown lands whose tenure was a mere depasturing license ; and (c) T h e prohibition of distillation from ought but grain. T h e draft of a Petition to the Legislature of N e w South Wales was also agreed to, and
