A brief conference ensued between the Superintendent and the Mayor, and the former promised to forthwith authorize any arrangements necessary on behalf of the Government to give effect to the proposed public rejoicings.
THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.
At noon of the 12th November, between 200 and 300 persons assembled on the Flagstaff Hill. T h e Flagstaff itself was dressed in its gayest array, and every scrap of colour that could be got in the signalling establishment found a hanging-place somewhere. A Royal Salute was fired, some shipping in the Bay and two pieces of ordnance at Brighton replying. After the twenty-first round from the Hill battery, three ringing cheers were given for the Queen, as an expression of gratitude for the granting of the so long-expected boon. Balloons were next brought on the ground, and the special object in despatching them was that as they proceeded on their aerial trip they would drop throughout the interior a number of small scrolls or slips attached to them. T h e slips were of thin paper, with this imprint:— " SEPARATION.
" Intelligence of the passing of the Australian Colonies Bill arrived in Melbourne last night, nth November, 1850, by the ship ' Lysander.' G. A. Lulham, Esq., commmander, from Adelaide. " A n y person finding this paper is requested to diffuse the information as extensively as possible; and to communicate with the Mayor of Melbourne, stating the time and place where it was found. (Signed), W . N I C H O L S O N , Mayor. Melbourne, 12th November, 1850." ^Eronautics as a science must have been imperfectly understood, though in ballooning, as a rule, some hitch almost always occurs, and this occasion formed no exception, for whilst preparing No. 1, it received a rent in its side ; but the wound was sewed up, the machine ascended slowly, sailed away towards the Sydney Road, and alighted half-a-dozen miles from town, where it was picked up some days after. N o . 2 burst whilst being inflated, and there was no more of it. The following is the amended andfinalprogramme of Separation festivities :— A general illumination, commencing at 8 o'clock on Wednesday evening. Friday and Saturday to be observed as public general holidays. O n Thursday, at noon, the inhabitants to assemble in their respective places of worship for the purpose of thanksgiving. O n Friday, at noon, the procession to be formed in front of the Government offices in Lonsdale Street, for the purpose of opening the Prince's Bridge. O n Saturday, at n o'clock, the Gymnastic sports and games to take place at the Emerald Hill, near the Cricket Ground, South Melbourne. The printers made special arrangements for themselves, viz., the newspapers were to suspend publication from Thursday until Tuesday, i.e., no issue on Friday, the 15th, Saturday 16th, and Monday, 18th. THE GENERAL ILLUMINATIONS
Came off on the evening of Wednesday, 13th November, and at about 8 o'clock the principal streets were ablaze. T h e illumination was general, a solitary unlighted house here and there only serving to point the contrast between light and darkness. H o w it was contrived to produce from oil and tallow (there was then no gas) the brilliant effects that followed was difficult to understand, and spoke in praise of the skill and dexterity so suddenly called into action. Some of the shop-window transparencies were very picturesque and striking. I append a brief notice of the most prominent. Collins Street. M r . John Hood, chemist—a comic representation of the " Present, Past, and Future." Mr. W . C. Wentworth—"Sydney relieving Young Victoria of ,£300,000;" "Victoria in manhood, pocketing ,£60,000," nearly lost; and " Victoria in the prime of life, listening to the petition
