unbottled himself of a deliverance the reverse of cold water, of which he was a professed disciple. T h e evening was spent in loud ranting about the Politics of the Masses, Vote by Ballot, Universal Suffrage, and a resolve to erect a People's Hall, which a Mr. Robert R. Rogers, a noisy architect, w h o came armed with plans and specifications, demonstrated to a mathematical certainty could be built f o r _the hall, ,£1500, and inside fittings ^ 8 0 0 . This " b u n c o m b " ended where it began. T h e Argus was thefirstto suggest a suspension of newspaper publication to enable the Press employes to enjoy the general carnival, and proposed that there should be no newspaper issue for one day. T h e Herald concurred, but thought it preferrable that the three Melbourne dailies should each publish twice only during the week, as one day's holiday would not be sufficient. With opinion thus divided, the printers themselves, the persons most interested, took the thing in hand, and soon settled it. They held a meeting at Clark's Waterman's Arms, in Little Collins Street, and resolved that they should have not only three days but three nights as well, and if the dailies could come out without the " typos," well and good. ADVENT OF THE NEWS.
It is a singular fact that I, who, after the flight of so many years, am amusing myself in writing these sketches, was virtually thefirstperson to promulgate to the people of Victoria an authentic announcement of the long-fought-for and ardently desired emancipation of their province from the political thraldom of N e w South Wales, and it happened thus simply enough. I was then an attache of the Melbourne Morning Herald, and early on an afternoon the shipping reporter arrived from the Bay, and handed m e some South Australian newspapers, which he had obtained on board the "Lysander," ship, Captain Lulham, just arrived from Adelaide. Looking through them, I found a summary of English news to the 4th August, brought to Adelaide by the " Delta" from London, and amongst which was an intimation that the Separation Bill had passed both Houses of Parliament, and only required the Royal Assent to become law. Having a good deal of m y o w n way in the establishment, I said nothing to anybody, and as the editor (Mr. George Cavenagh) was not immediately accessible, I assumed the responsibility of issuing an "Extraordinary," prepared the matter, and placed it in the hands of the printers. I next hunted up Cavenagh, and gave him a m e m o , of the intelligence, armed with which he set forth in quest of the Mayor, w h o m he soon found. Cavenagh generally used a buggy, and this machine was well plied for the remainder of the day, driving up and down the streets, pulling up before the residence or business place of any notability, and so circulating the tidings in the following form :— " T h e Melbourne Morning Herald 'Extraordinary.' M o n d a y evening, Nov. n , 1850. Glorious N e w s ! Separation at Last !! W e lose not a single m o m e n t in communicating to the public the soul-stirring intelligence that Separation has come at last! ! ! T h e Australian Colonies' Bill, with the amendments made in the Lords on the 5th July, was agreed to in the C o m m o n s on the 1st August, and only awaits the Queen's signature to become the law of the land. T h e long-oppressed, long-buffetted Port Phillip is at length an Independent Colony, gifted with the Royal n a m e of Victoria, and endowed with aflourishingrevenue and almost inexhaustible resources; let all classes of colonists then not lose a moment in their hour of triumph in celebrating the important epoch in a suitable manner, and observing one General Jubilee. T h e ' Public Rejoicings' Committee lately nominated by the citizens of Melbourne will assemble without delay ; let one and all co-operate with them heart and hand in giving due effect to the enthusiastic ovations of our New-born Colony! It is an era in the existence of our adopted land which can never again occur; and the glorious opportunity once past will be irrevocable. Colonists, ' N o w is the day and n o w is the hour!' For this act of justice to Port Phillip, and every other good gift, m a y G o d bless the Queen." T h e intelligence was by this time placed beyond doubt through the receipt by the Superintendent of a letter by the mail, confirming the newspaper announcement, and intimating that Mr. Latrobe was to be the first Lieutenant-Governor. T h e Royal Assent to the Separation Bill was deemed a matter of form, and it was afterwards ascertained that this final ceremony was performed on the 5th September,
