The First Ball-Court.
The hotel at the northern side of Little Bourke Street, between Elizabeth and Russell Streets, which has never changed its n a m e from the Rising Sun, is a very old hostelry, and was founded by Mr. Michael Lynch, long since dead. In his day he was not only actively associated with the various charitable institutions, but he indulged in private benevolences of which few, save himself and the beneficiares, were cognizant. It was he w h o caused to be erected off the side of the street opposite the hotel thefirstball-court in Melbourne. It was c o m m e n c e d in January, 1847, the walls of brick and flagging, with flagged floor, and a covering of net-work. It was placed in charge of a keeper, appositely n a m e d John Lyng, for a more nondescript looking old fish of a fellow could not be picked up anywhere. T h e place was opened on the 1st March (St. David's Day), when thefirstrubber of hand-ball in Victoria was played there. It was a match of two at a side—two soldiers and two civilians—the military representatives being Sergeant Simpson and Corporal M'Guinness of a detachment of the 58th Regiment, then quartered in Melbourne ; and their opponents were Patrick Kennedy, a slightly eccentric bootmaker, and Daniel Wellesley O'Donovan. Lieutenant Rush, of the Regiment referred to, and Mr. John O'Shanassy were appointed scorers, and such was the interest felt as to the issue that £$0 changed hands on the occasion. T h e rubber was three games, and thefirstwas w o n by the T o w n s m e n ; the second, so well contested, that it ended in what is technically termed a "set"; and the third bout, after a struggle sustained by infinite activity and skill, was carried by the Townies. Kennedy's " tossing" was immensely admired, and the on-lookers were unanimously of opinion that it would be difficult to beat it. This ball-alley was in great vogue, and the hitherto hidden prowess of somefirst-rateplayers was waked up there, amongst them being a M r . Richard ("Dick") Foley, the best hand-ball player that ever exercised thews and sinews in Melbourne. After the gold revolution in 1852, " D i c k " tramped off gold hunting, and to the regret of a large circle of friends no tidings of him ever after reached Melbourne. T h e ball-court too met with a tragical end, for one night in M a y , when it was fast rising in public estimation, a terrible storm rumbled over the town, and amongst the damage done one-half of the alley was carried away.
ATHLETICS.
A fact not generally known by the present generation of Victorians, is that the first foot-racing in the colony was performed by the Aborigines, w h o also effected thefirstascent of a greased pole here. In January, 1839, there arrived from Sydney what was known as the "Black" Protectorate, a Board of five gentlemen charged with the onerous duty of watching over the native race and providing, within certain limitations, for their temporal comfort and safety from European aggression. In the month of March, these delegates, wishful to ingratiate themselves with the tribes then hanging about the township, considered there was no more effectual way to produce a favourable impression on a blackfellow than through the oesophagus, and so invited some 400 or 500 dusky guests to a big feed of "tucker" on the afternoon of the 18th March. This gastronomic exhibition was held over the Yarra near the site of Government House, and the blacks cheerfully responded. Prior to the banquet, foot-racing was organized, and half-a-dozen matches were run for knives, tomahawks, and looking-glasses; but the distribution of prizes was not confined to the winners, for the donation was general. A ti-tree skinned and shaped into a smooth pole was well greased, and a cast-off bell-topper hoisted aloft. T h e novelty of trying to climb this, so unlike the ascent of unbarked trees, gave immense gratification to the darkies, and one strapping young fellow in the third attempt succeeded in carrying away the coveted trophy. Boots, blue shirts, and some pairs of old trousers were successively exalted to the pride of place, manfully struggled for and secured. At four o'clock the repast was served, and to anyone acquainted with the Aboriginal appetite for viands cooked in the English style, it is unnecessary to say, that the eating ceased only with the strength to masticate or, rather, to swallow. T h e "ladies and gentlemen" kept on devouring until they were absolutely brimful, and even then it
