movement acquired considerable numerical importance, and the meetings were held in a schoolroom erected rearward of the St. Francis' Presbytery in Lonsdale Street. Probably in consonance with the light-hearted elasticity of the Irish temperament, the Father Matthewites went in strongly for outside spectacular display —such as processions, picnics, and excursions. A band was formed, which acquired more celebrity than that of the Society before referred to. The functions of this musical combination were somewhat mixed, being partly lay and partly ecclesiastical, for on special occasions it used to assist at the church services. The first bandsmen were Mr. John Cosgrave, (late City Treasurer), then (in 1844) a smartly-made well-shaped, good-looking juvenile, who performed on the clarionet; Mr. John Mansfield, now a seriousfaced, white-haired " Geelongoose," proprietor of one of the best-established bakeries in " T h e Pivot," who worked a trombone; four strapping youngsters known as Phelan, Egan, Connor, and Conlon, (a compositor), operating on various instruments, the whole concluding with Mr. J. P. ("Jerry") Dalton, who thundered away on a big drum. The Society'sfirststreet demonstration was on the 22nd January, 1845, when 150 of them marched forth with band and banners, wended their way to the then grassy and well-wooded Richmond Paddock (now the cut up and disfigured Yarra Bank), where they bivouaced on the fragrant bank of the river, drank " billied " tea brewed in big pots, and crammed themselves with sandwiches, cakes, and ginger beer, returning in the evening, blowing and half-bursting specimens of total abstinence. O n Easter Monday (24th March) there was a grand "Father Matthew" procession through the principal highways of Melbourne, and after "doing the town" the members adjourned for refreshments to the St. Francis' school-room,finishingwith a dance in a tent pitched on the Church reserve; and amongst a number of admiring outsiders were the then Resident Judge, the Honorable Roger Therry, and his better half. The Society has now so far succeeded as to number 600 members, and the funds looked so promising that there was some notion of building a " Father Matthew " Hall. EMERALD HILL.
Towards the close of the year 1845 it was determined to have a "Father Matthewite" picnic on a then beautiful, houseless, grassy and accaciaed emience at the sonthern side of the river, and this event derives some importance from its having led to the naming of the place as Emerald Hill. This nomenclature, though of no more account than the naming of any other locality in the colony, has led to some controversy in consequence of the appearance of two or three claimants for the honour of bestowing the designation, which was then as appropriate a one as could be devised. The following in brief is a true and correct history of the incident. Mr. W . C. Conroy, now of Lygon Street, Carlton, called at the Port Phillip Herald office to procure the insertion of an advertisement in that paper. Mr. E. Finn, one of the literary staff was there up to his eyes in "proofs," and as he was a tolerably ready penman, he was asked to write the notice, and at once complied. While so engaged, looking up he queried, "Where's this picnic to be held?" and Conroy replied, " O n the hill over the river." " But," rejoined Finn, " W e can't well put that in an advertisement, we must give the place some name." "Then," laconically struck in Conroy, " Y o u may just call it what you like," and Finn, after musing for a few moments exclaimed, "Well then if I may do so, I will, and here goes, as it is a beautiful green hill it shall be named 'Emerald Hill.'" The suggestion met with general approbation, the designation was adopted and embodied in the advertisement which duly appeared ; the green name stuck to the green place, and no other name was at that time more appropriate. The Hill was covered with a rich sward, green as the freshest shamrock ; no houses in sight except those of the then small Melbourne; trees scattered about, and the whole eminence encircled by shining lagoons, the sparkling sea, and growths of scrub and ti-tree along the Sandridge road-side, and away to Fishermen's Bend. The Emerald Hill of 1845, aboriginally a kangaroo ground, and afterwards a sheep-walk, has grown into an incorporated city, displaying substantial evidences of the astounding progress of Victoria. The time has arrived when the propriety of changing its name has been considered by its Municipal authorities, and much difference of opinion prevails as to what should be the new designation. Several have been suggested, all of them inappropriate, and the least suitable is the one likely to be chosen. It is seriously proposed to call it South Melbourne, and if this notion be carried out, a flagrant mistake will have been made for two reasons, viz., that it is simply conferring on a special portion of a district a nomenclature by
