which the whole district is already officially known, for the primary appellation of all the area between the Yarra and the Bay was South Melbourne. Again, if it be so-called, it will be nominally reducing it to a part and parcel of Melbourne, a subordinate adjunct of the principal city. T o m y mind, there are t w o — and only t w o - n a m e s by which the new city should be known. If styled " Emeralda " the break in the two words of the primary n a m e would be removed, and its traditional affinity preserved; or what could be more becoming than to affix to it a meet companion n a m e for Melbourne, by calling it Grey, as a posthumous compliment to the statesman w h o administered the Colonial Empire of Great Britain, at the time that Port Phillip was transmuted into the independent colony of Victoria? T h efirstmentioned would be unquestionably the better; but most assuredly, if any regard exists as to the proprieties of the case the "South Melbourne" idea will be sunk in the Albert Park lake. It is noteworthy that three-fourths of the Australian metropolitan cities have been nominated after historical British personages.* MISSION TO GEELONG.
A branch Society had been formed in Geelong, and it was arranged that on the 17th March, 1846, the Melbourne Fraternity should proceed there to assist at a joint demonstration. T h e "Aphrasia " steamer was chartered, and on a fine Saturday forenoon the streets of Melbourne were again tramped by several hundred members with music and banners, scarves, rosettes, and medals (a new decoration). T h e " Geelongers" were in blue paraphernalia, and after a landing was effected, the allied armies executed a combined inarch through the streets, the blowing and clashing of two loud bands banishing for the time all drowsiness from a quarter never subject tofitsof insomnia. They rendezvoused at Raleigh's store, and Messrs. Daniel Rooney, Robert Hayes, James Wallace, Patrick M c D o n o u g h and others spoke, or rather "spouted," like so many vociferating whales. T h e strangers experienced m u c h hospitality during their stay, and on the Sunday visited the Barwon, winding up the evening with an encore of the previous night's performance, and on M o n d a y returned to Melbourne. O n the 19th August, 1846, the foundation stone of the first R o m a n Catholic Church at Geelong, was laid, and the Melbourne " Father Matthew " Society was invited to co-operate. O f course there was a willing compliance, and some of the incidents are subjoined. Another great day was when the Society, with its brass band, chartered a steamer to Geelong to assist at laying the foundation of St. Mary's Church, Father Walshe being resident priest. Old Corio was taken by storm, and the band playing through the streets caused aflutterin the Wesleyan dovecot, it being Sunday. In the evening the scarcity of provisions became a palpable fact, our visit being unexpected, except by a few, to w h o m it did not occur, I suppose, that teetotallers had any inside m a n to provide for. A large unoccupied store, with a few bundles of straw, served for bedroom for a good many, while they had to go only about twenty feet to perform their ablutions in the silvery waters of Corio Bay. The teetotallers fared less plenteously upon this than on the occasion of their previous visit. Probably the church authorities, w h o certainly ought to have m a d e some commissariat arrangementsforthe visitors, concluded that as there was a "spiritual abundance" there should be no "temporal vacuum." THE " FATHER MATTHEW " HALL.
As the year further advanced there was sufficient cash in hand to commence the erection of a building for the use of the Society, minus the land ; and as there was no chance of obtaining a site from the Government, Dr. Geoghegan, the Society's Patron, gave a slice of the St. Francis' reserveforthe purpose, and here the initial ceremony was performed with all the honours in the beginning of October. At an early hour a procession started from the R o m a n Catholic schoolroom, and after perambulating the streets, returned to the site, when the customary forms were observed, Dr. Geoghegan being the principal officiator. In the cavity was placed a bottle containing one of the Society's medals, and a scroll of parchment thus inscribed :— Emerald Hill is now fi888) officially known as South Melbourne, thus completing the four cardinal divisions of the Victorian Capital.- E D .
