A lunch was given on board the " Eagle" by Captain Buckley, and there was a regatta ball the following evening, at the Caledonian Hotel in Lonsdale Street. T w o of the widest-awake of the Melbourne " pubs " (Thomas Halfpenny and William Mortimer) were amusingly " sold" in this affair. Led to believe that Sandridge Beach would be the centre of attraction, they planted booths at the southern end of the present Bay Street. Halfpenny chartered a monster canvas over-all known as the " Sadi-Mahomet Tent," used by a loud-puffing auctioneer (Charles Williams) as a portable auction mart. Mortimer simply transported an ordinary tent from town, and fixed it on a convenient site. Everything was ready on the appointed morning, except the customers, w h o gave Sandridge the go-by, and went away to Williamstown, the side of the Bay where the regatta really came off. Whilst the two disconsolate tapsters were bemoaning their ill luck, intelligence arrived that there was to be a sort of steeplechase or hurdle race about a mile distant, in the direction of St. Kilda. Mortimer, being the lighter equipped of the two, decamped with his grog and a large tarpaulin, and on reaching the race-ground, near the present Beaconsfield Hotel, by means of a pole and a g u m tree, quickly improvised a drinking saloon, and made well by it, for the day was excessively warm—porter, 3s. a bottle; other things in proportion—and he netted ^ 1 2 0 . Halfpenny was m u c h embarassed by his elaborate impedimenta. However, he hastily packed a lot of drinking stuff, with two chairs, into a dray, and, under the foliage of a large she-oak, he soon got rid of not only what he brought with him, but a relay of drinkables sent for during the day. "All's well that ends well"; and so the evening's reflection of the two grog vendors wore a m u c h more cheerful aspect than their ante-meridian meditations. O n the 1st January, 1844, there was to be a grand demonstration at Sandridge, and though there had been a deal of preparatory puffing, it ended in an amphibious fiasco. T h e thing had, no doubt, been got up as a N e w Year's ruse, by some enterprising publicans, w h o saw a chance of making something out of it. Induced by the displayed posters, a large number of persons repaired from Melbourne to Sandridge, and the so-called regatta was commenced by M r . F. Liardet starting, with pistol-shot, thefirstrace, viz.:—For Amateur Pulling Boats, £4 and £2 prizes for thefirstand second placed. T h e course was from Sandridge round the ship " Glentanner," anchored some way off Williamstown, and back. Three boats went into the contest, viz., the Naiad (whale-boat), pulled by Strode, Dunn, Young, Hodgson, M'Kay, and Stanway (steersman) ; the Lubra : Wilson, Tallan, White, Knight, and Kilburn (steerer); and T h e Peri: Carl, Passmore, M'Farlane, Kell, and Ker (steerer). The whaler had not a chance from the beginning, and was three-fourths of a mile rearward at the end. There was a spirited pull between the other two, and T h e Peri conquered. T h e second event was a sailing match between the Spray, Shamrock, and Wave, for ^ 1 0 , and was won by the first-named. Sir John Franklin, the Governor of V a n Diemen's Land, and Lady Franklin, being on a private visit to the Superintendent of Port Phillip, were present, accompanied by the Resident Judge (Jeffcott), and at the sight, according to an old journal, " pleasure beamed on every countenance." T h e managers of the ufete" immediately decided on a change of front, and started a P O N Y R A C E for a saddle and bridle, valued at £7, which was taken by the animal of a Mr. M'Vitie. This was followed by a H A C K R A C E for a new silver-handled whip, and w o n by the grey horse of a Mr. Ross. A town band was in attendance, which, if report is to be credited, " contributed its share to the general jubilee," though the public found little for joyfulness in the day's proceedings. BILLIARDS.
This game was introduced to Port Phillip in 1838. The first licensed table was owned by Mr. J. H . Umpleby, the landlord of the Angel Lnn, at the north-eastern corner of Queen and Collins Streets where the new English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank is n o w erected (1888). The room was a one story store-like brick structure, and facing Queen Street. For years after the discontinuance of the " groggery," it was well known as the auction mart of Mr. T. H Power, anciently recognized as one of the " Twelve Apostles," and modernly as an honourable and independent
