The Chronicles of Early Melbourne/Volume 1/Chapter 32
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE BOTANIC GARDENS; AND THE YARRA BEND.
SYNOPSIS:— Past and Present Botanic Gardens. —Curators, Messrs. Arthur, Dallochy, Von Mueller, and Guilfoyle. —The Yarra Bend Asylum. —Captain Watson, First Superintendent. —Opening of the Institution. —Lunatics Returned by New South Wales. —A Chained Lunatic. —Pastoral, Agricultural, and Industrial: The First Bucolic Society. —Its Prospectus. —Initiatory Dinner. —Post-prandial Prayers and Toasts. —The First Show. —The First Farmers' Society. —The Victoria Horticultural Society. —Mr. Fawkner Its Promoter. —Its First Board of Management. —Its First Exhibition, 16th March, 1850. —Awards. —The Second Exhibition, 30th October, 1850. —The Third Exhibition, 30th September, 1851. —Planting of the First Vines. —Making of the First Wines. —Industrial Resources of Port Phillip:- Formation of the Victorian Industrial Society. —The First Board of Management. —The Society's First Exhibition, January, 1851. —Second Exhibition, September, 1851. —Gunpowder Explosions and Powder Magazines: The First Explosion. —Blowing Up of the "Sporting Emporium." —Five Persons Killed. —The Collins Street Explosion. —The First Powder Magazine. —Early Closing Movements:— First Early Closing Association. —Election of Officers. —Collapse of the Association. —Building Societies:— The Melbourne Building Society. —Formation of Committee. —Election of Board of Management. —The Co-operative Land Society. —Presentation to Mr. J. P. Fawkner.
Ther Gardens.
THE assertion that the first site for the Melbourne Botanic Gardens was the Spencer Street Railway Station, will be heard with almost general incredulity. When Batman decided upon the location of a township on the south side of the River Yarra he designed the northern portion, known as Batman's Hill as a reserve for public recreation. This idea remained fixed in the public mind so far, that in the early part of 1842, the Superintendent of the Province directed Mr. Hoddle, head of the Survey Department, to mark off fifty acres of the place for the purpose of a Botanic Garden. This was done, and the boundaries were defined to be from the River Yarra to Little Collins Street, and in a line westward; and from a fence surrounding the Survey Office, at the north east corner of Collins and Spencer Streets, and on the west side by the declivity of the hill sinking into the Swamp. It comprised the land flanked on three sides, viz., by the river, by Spencer Street, and by a prolongation of Little Collins Street, to the verge of the Western Swamp, and was actually the romantic she-oak hill and the broad green selvage that surrounded it. Meanwhile the shipping trade increased, and a vilely-smelling row of slaughter-houses jumped up along the river banks near the (now) Gas-works, commencing that Yarra pollution which has grown into a huge and almost irremediable abomination. A couple of private docks next appeared, and then the rude, shaky-looking chimneys of boiling-down establishments, candle-making factories, and other kindred industries began to puff and poison the atmosphere. Doubts began to be entertained whether after all, Batman's Hill was the most desirable locality for the Garden, though it possessed the great advantages of diversity of soil, variety of surface, and convenience of access. Other sites were suggested, i.e., beyond the Flagstaff, adjacent to the (now) Benevolent Asylum, the present Fitzroy Gardens, and the western end of the Government paddock (now Yarra Park). Each spot had its adherents and detractors, actuated mostly by personal considerations. All four places indicated were alike unprotected on every side from the winds, hot and cold. The subject had been several times ventilated in the Town Council; a committee of selection was appointed, and there were several inspections of the sites proposed, and hunting up new sites, until December, 1845, when the Council Committee recommended the present site, then a small beautiful valley. This place was, in part, used by the Government as a sort of Missionary school site for Aboriginal children, from 1836 to 1841. The first wholesale meat establishment was located there. At the commencement of 1837, the Hawdons arrived overland from Sydney, to take up land for the depasturage of herds and flocks, and they opened a slaughter-house there. The primitive retail victuallers of the period were four individuals known respectively as Paddy Smith, Jim Cawley, Dick Tancred, and Bob Fleming (after whom Flemington was named), and these "cleaverites" purchased the Hawdon beef at 8d. per lb, and re-sold it for a shilling. After much discussion in the Council Chambers, and opposition from Councillor J. P. Fawkner, who stuck "as a limpet to a rock" to the Batman Hill locality, the recommendation was approved and transmitted to the Superintendent. It was confirmed by His Honor, and in February, 1846, the reservation of the present site was announced. Mr. John Arthur was appointed head gardener, and the undertaking progressed so well under his watchful care, that in May, 1847, the Garden was in excellent condition, and a welcome walk from Melbourne. Mr. Latrobe would not consent to the Town Council having anything whatever to do with the Garden management, and the Reserve remained under the direct control of the Government, subsequently passing into the surveillance of the Public Works Department, as represented by Mr. Henry Ginn, the Colonial Architect. In January, 1849, Arthur died, and Mr. Daniel Bunce, a well-known botanist applied for the post without success. The Garden reflected credit upon Arthur's skill and industry, considering his limited means and appliances. A Mr. John Dallochy was, subsequently, appointed Curator, and under his régime the Garden so progressed, that at the end of 1851 it was made the subject of a progress report submitted in November of that year to the first Session of the first Legislature of Victoria. A portion of the lagoon had been excavated, the margin formed with a line of borders 1800 yards long, and planted with shrubs and flowers. A rustic bridge was ornamented with plants. Walks had been extended and new ones formed. There were about 5000 varieties of exotic and 1000 indigenous plants. Packets of seeds had been sent from Ceylon, Bombay, Madras, Singapore, Calcutta, England, and other parts of the world. The attractions of the Garden were proved by the numbers which daily frequented it, especially on a Sunday, when an average of upwards of 800 visited there. Two Shows of the Horticultural Society had been held there, and attended by over 700 persons.
The estimated expenditure for the year 1852 was as follows:—Superintendent, £100; two Gardeners at £50 each per annum, £100; two Under Gardeners at £1 15. each per week, £109 4s.; Carter, £52; eight Labourers at £1 each per week for six months, £208 0s. 0d.; Contingencies, £491 12s.—Total, £1060 16s. And now having written thus far I drop my pen, for it will tax a more fluent hand, and more picturesque style than I can command, to depict in sufficiently glowing colours the botanical reigns of the Baron von Mueller, and the present ruling Curator, Mr. Guilfoyle.
The Yarra Bend Asylum.
Originally the provision made for the unfortunates afflicted with insanity was, after committal by the Police Bench, to be immured in some part of the wretched gaols of Melbourne, sometimes separately, but oftener mixed with the other prisoners! When the incommodious brick prison (before referred to) was erected in West Collins Street, a small wooden apartment was attached to it as a lunacy ward, where unfortunate patients would be stowed away to live or die, or recover, according to chance, for anything like proper nursing or attendance was out of the question. But in the old times the death rate in the Melbourne "Bridewells" was of an infinitesimal character, and spoke volumes for the skill of Cussen, the Colonial Surgeon, and the humanity of Wintle, the first Gaoler, and his wife, the first Matron. In the course of time, a watch-house built in the Eastern Market, occasionally served as a temporary asylum. Violent or incurable lunatics were sent to the Tarban Creek Asylum, the public hospital for the insane near Sydney. The Superintendent of Port Phillip, though nominally the Governor of the Province, could not move a finger without orders from headquarters, and there was as much circumlocution, and far greater delay, in procuring the necessary passport for the transfer of an insane prisoner, as in issuing a warrant for the execution of a malefactor. In 1847, £1,000 was voted, and a movement made towards the erection of a small wing of a projected new building. The romantic bend of the river at Studley Park was selected as the site, and this beautiful spot, for centuries a favourite haunt of the Aborigines, was reserved for the establishment of an infirmary. Insanity was a malady quite unknown amongst the Blacks, though essentially a concomitant of civilization. The first Superintendent of the "Yarra Bend" was a Captain Watson, a retired military officer, who had been for some years employed as a clerk in the Colonial Asylum at Tarban Creek. He was appointed in June, 1848. The opening day of the Institution was the 5th July, on which occasion ten lunatics were transferred under a police escort, from the Melbourne Gaol to the "Yarra Bend." But though there was now the desideratum of a Provincial Asylum, no provincial power existed to open its doors for the reception of patients, and up to July, 1849, it was necessary that passes should be issued from Sydney. An amended Lunacy Act was then passed, by which the Superintendent was empowered to sign orders for admittance. The accommodation for the female patients was still so insufficient that the Eastern Hill lock-up had to be used to ease the pressure.
In December, 1849, the New South Wales authorities had the inhumanity to return fourteen lunatics from Tarban Creek, and a number of the patients were placed under canvas. The first scale of payment for non-pauper patients was fixed at the exceedingly moderate rate of 1s. 4d. per diem, the amount to be secured by the bond of two respectable persons. The place was gradually enlarged, and though Captain Watson was no greater success than some of his successors, he did well under the difficulties in which he was placed. Even up to the gold discoveries in 1851, the Asylum did not give promise of becoming the overgrown mammoth of future years. The provision made for its maintenance for 1852, was only £2,138 2s., of which £1,492 2s. went for contingencies.
In connection with the melancholy subject of Lunatic Asylums, we frequently hear and read of the abnormal wanderings of the human mind which generate the strangest delusions and prompt the most irrational actions; but the following narrative, which I have received from a gentleman, the second actor in the ghastly, grotesque scene, is worth publishing:—"On a fine Sunday afternoon, Mr. Edmund Ashley, of Victoria and Madeline Streets, Carlton, was returning from a walk to the Merri Creek, and in traversing the portion of the bush now appropriated as College reserves, north of the University, he observed smoke issuing from what he thought to be the stump of a large tree. Curiosity tempting him to approach closer, he was astonished to behold thrown up near a blazing log a shelter of boughs like a blackfellow's gunyah, and lying in this lair was a man with a chain padlocked round his waist at one end, while the other was firmly stapled into the tree trunk. The man looked gaunt and hungry, and in reply to some questions, declared he had voluntarily settled himself there, where he had been, without breaking fast, for three days, and intended to so remain whilst he lived, which he did not expect to be very long. He shewed no wish to be released, and from his manner there could be little doubt of his insanity. Ashley hastened into town, and on communicating with Chief-Constable Sugden, the recluse was unchained, and near the place was picked up the key of the padlock, which, after he had made himself fast, had been thrown away. In the madness there was sufficient method to effectually carry out the conceived scheme of self-destruction, so Providentially frustrated. The emancipist was taken to the lock-up, and on medical examination, found to be so demented, that he was transmitted to the "Yarra Bend " Asylum.
"One day, twenty years after, Mr. Ashley took his wife and Mrs. Richard Heales to see the Asylum, and when shown over the place by the then Surgeon-Superintendent (Dr. Bowie), his notice was specially attracted by the antics of a man amusing himself with some bits of paintings of a theatrical character. On addressing him, Ashley recognised in the lunatic, the identical individual found so long before chained up under the tree. He had a vivid recollection of all that happened on that fine Sunday, 'twenty golden years ago,' and assured the visitor that he had been very happy and comfortable since their last interview. Mr. Ashley never saw him since, and whether he still survives (not likely) is not known."
Pastoral, Agricutural, and Industrial.
Pastoral and Agricultural Society,
President—William Mackenzie, Esq., of Kinlochewe.
Vice-President—Farquhar M'Crae, Esq., M.D., J.P.
Directors—Rev. J. Clow, Captains D. M'Lachlan, G. B. Smythe and B. Baxter; Messrs. S. J. Brown, Alexander Thomson, Thomas Arnold, Joseph Hawdon, R. H. Browne, James Simpson, J. D. Hunter, F. A. Powlett, W. Ryrie, J. D. Baillie, C. Williams, W. F. A. Rucker, D. S. Campbell, P. W. Welsh, J. Aitken, G. D. Mercer and P. Snodgrass.
Treasurers—The Port Phillip Bank.
Secretaries—Messrs. Andrew M. M'Crae and William Kerr.
The Pastoral and Agricultural Society of Australia Felix, on the principles and with the objects of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, was founded in January, 1840.
The Society's Annual Show of live stock, samples of wool, implements of husbandry, agricultural and horticultural produce, etc., which it is intended to hold on alternate years at Melbourne and Geelong, will be held in Melbourne on the first Wednesday in March of this present year; and the annual meeting for the election of President, Vice-Presidents, etc., will be held immediately after the Show.
In those times it was a cardinal tenet of popular belief that no enterprise could prosper unless set going by a good dinner, a blended baptism of post-prandial grog and oratory, and so to work the "undertakers" went to get up a convivial celebration accordingly. It was at first intended to hold it at the Lamb Inn—grandmother of the now Scott's Hotel—where there was a tolerably large room for the time, but on measurement this was pronounced to be not sufficiently commodious, and a recently-erected store of Mr. Rucker's, in Market Street, between Collins and Little Flinders Streets was finally selected as the feeding-ground. This was the first Public Dinner in the colony, and it came off on the 15th January. Mr. M'Kenzie, the President of the Society, arrayed in the "breekless" costume of a Highlandman, performed the duties of Chairman in a manner highly satisfactory. The Rev. James Clow, one of the Directors, invoked a blessing. Amongst the best speakers of the jolly evening was another clergyman, the Rev. James Forbes, the first Presbyterian minister. I believe this to be the only festivity of the kind in the colony where the American plan of wedding sentiments or prayers to the toasts was adopted, and judging from the following samples, the selections were not inappropriate, viz.:—
"The Queen—Bless her. May she ever be proud of Australia Felix, one of the brightest gems in her diadem."
"His Excellency Sir George Gipps, Governor-General of Australasia, and may the inhabitants of Australia Felix ever find in him a just advocate and protector of their rights."
"His Honor C. J. Latrobe, our much and justly respected Lieutenant-Governor, and may he long continue to watch over and advocate the interests of this colony."
"The Advancement of Religion and Education in Australia Felix, and may these necessary advantages to the well-being of all civilized society go hand in hand with the advancement of the colony."
"Old England, and may the Sons of Australia ever be proud of their noble Mother Country."
"Erin-Go-Bragh, and good luck to her."
"The Land o' Cakes, and may she long continue to give her hardy and intelligent sons to Australia Felix."
"Hoofs, Horns, Wool, and Corn, and may God speed the Plough."
"Mrs. Latrobe and the Ladies-may God bless them."
In replying to the compliment to the fair sex, the gallantry of Captain Bacchus found vent in this spontaneous outflow of eloquence:—"Let them talk of their Durham and their Devon bulls as they please, but I would rather at any time see a lovely female emigrant landed at Melbourne, than a hundred of the finest Devon bulls England could produce."
There were some minor toasts, without any accompaniments, the most notable being "Breeding in all its Branches," and "The Press." Possibly they considered these two well able to take care of themselves without any precatory well-wishing.
The dinner was productive of another American ingredient not calculated upon—"bunkum ;" for after all their "tall talk" very little grew out of it. The Association was born several years too soon, and it was not surprising that the premature bantling should be an abortion. Annual exhibitions were promised at Melbourne and Geelong, but the materials did not exist in the Province to produce such unconsidered results. The First Show.
Took place on the 3rd March, 1842, and it was a failure. It was held in the Melbourne Cattle Market (intersection of Elizabeth and Victoria Streets). The exhibits were a vast disappointment, and in the element where success might be reasonably expected, the deficiency was most marked, for the display of horned cattle was a most meagre turn-out numerically and otherwise.
Prizes were awarded for horses to Messrs. Watson and Hunter, J. Carmichael, H. Jamieson, J. Purves, and Captain Smythe; for cattle, to Messrs. Watson and Hunter, J. Thompson, Cooper, Carmichael, and Bolden; for wheat, to a Mr. Coulstock; water-melons, Mr. Bolden; and vegetables to Captain Smythe.
On the following evening the members consoled themselves over a dinner, much less enthusiastic, gushing and prayerful than the inauguration one.
The Port Phillip Farmers' Society
Was established in 1849, and an Anniversary Ploughing Match and an Exhibition came off on the Queen's Birthday of 1850, at the farm of Mr. John Grant, of Campbellfield, a few miles from Melbourne, when the issue was pronounced to be both gratifying and successful. The day was fine, the ground in order, the competitors in high spirits, and the cattle in good condition. Mr. Peter M'Cracken, of the Moonee Ponds, obtained first-class prizes for the best samples of wheat and barley, and Mr. A. Guthrie, of the Salt Water River, for the second. The following prizes were awarded:—Messrs. Forrester and Monteith, of the River Plenty, for the best pair of plough horses. Mr. W. J. Cameron, of the Deep Creek, for the best brood mare, Messrs. Gibb and Robertson, of Campbellfield, for the second best brood mare. Mr. John Cameron, of the Deep Creek, for the best team of bullocks; James Nuttle, in the employ of Mr. Browne, of Heidelberg, for the best ploughing with horses; and Messrs. Gibb and Robertson, Campbellfield (James Anderson, ploughman), for the second best ploughing with horses. The third prize for ploughing was decreed to Mr. Dugald M'Phail, Salt Water River (R. Murdoch, ploughman). In bullock ploughing, Mr. Grant, of Campbellfield (ploughman, George Greeves), was successful as a first prize man, whilst the second place was assigned to Mr. John M'Phail (Neil M'Carthy, ploughman), and the third to Mr. Alexander Guthrie (John M'Bean, ploughman).
The day wound up with a spread at Somerville's Hotel, Mr. John Crowe, presiding.
A Ploughing Match came off on the 13th June, 1851, on the farm of Mr. A. C. M'Cracken.
The three Judges were Messrs. John Nicholson, John Dick, both of Salt Water River, and D. Lawson, Moonee Ponds. Their awards were thus:—
Horse Teams.
No. 4—Owner Mr. John Robinson, Moonee Ponds; ploughman, David Anderson—2nd class prize of medal, worth £3. No. 6—Owner Mr. M'Phail, of Spring Hill; ploughman, George Marshall—1st class prize of a gold medal, worth £5. No. 10—Mr. John Wippel, Moonee Ponds; ploughman, Thomas Brownlow—3rd class prize, of medal, worth £2.
Bullocks.
No. 5-Owner, Mr. Myers, of Merri Creek; ploughman, John M'Farland—2nd class prize of medal, worth £3. No. 6-Owner Mr. M'Phail, Middle Bank; Neil M'Carthy, ploughman—3rd class prize of a medal, worth £2. No. 7-George Green, of Campbellfield, ploughed by himself—1st class prize, a gold medal of £5 value By a happy notion, the occasion was made a double debt to pay, by uniting it to a Farming Industrial Exhibition at the same place and time, prizes only to be given for exhibits, the property of subscribers to the funds of the Association. The show of stock and produce was consequently limited, but the result was not the less encouraging.
At five o'clock the Judges of this branch of the day's proceedings, Messrs. Hassell, Brown, and Wippel, announced their decision to be—
For Wheat.
The best sample, a gold medal valued at £5, to Messrs. Forrester and Monteith, of the River Plenty.
The second best sample of wheat, a silver medal value £3, to Mr. P. M'Cracken.
The best sample of barley, a gold medal, to Messrs. Forrester and Monteith.
The best sample of oats, gold medal, Mr. Dougal M'Phail, of Spring Hill, Saltwater River.
Stock.
The best team of horses, gold medal, of £5, to Messrs. Forrester and Monteith.
The second best team of horses, silver medal, to Mr George Green, of the Merri Creek
The best two-year-old filly, silver medal, to Mr. Armstrong, of the Moonee Ponds.
The best mare, gold medal, to Mr. John Brown, of the Plenty River.
The second best mare, silver medal, to Mr. John Nicholson, Keilor.
The best team of bullocks, a silver medal, to Mr. Myers, of the Merri Creek.
The attendance was almost exclusively confined to those interested in agricultural pursuits, and the day's proceedings evidenced the vast advance made by the Province.
The day closed with a spread at the Flemington Hotel, under the superintendence of Mr. John Yewers, a noted Melbourne caterer.
THe Victoria Hoerticultural Society.
This Society was mainly inaugurated by Mr. John Pascoe Fawkner. The meeting at which it was formed was held on the 25th November, 1848, in a long-vanished tavern, known as the Queen's Head, situated at the western side of Queen Street, mid-way between Collins and Little Flinders Streets. The attendance was more select than numerous, and Mr. Fawkner acted as chairman. A resolution was adopted "To establish an Association, to be called The Victoria Horticultural Society," and Messrs. J. P. Fawkner, King, G. Cole, D. Duncan, J. Cole, Barrett, and O'Neill were appointed a Provisional Committee to report progress to an adjourned meeting on 9th December. The projected Institution evidently found much favour, for at its first election of officers His Honor the Superintendent was elected Patron, the Mayor (W. M. Bell) President, and Mr. Redmond Barry, Vice-President; Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. P. Fawkner; Treasurer, Mr. D. C. McArthur; and Auditors, Messrs. Henry Ginn and William Hull. Work was at once commenced, and the rules were prepared and printed; yet the Society during the year 1849 partly dropped out of the public mind. A reaction set in, and the Secretaryship changed hands from Fawkner to Ginn, evidently to the advantage of the Society. The first annual meeting was held on the 5th January, 1850, at the Mechanics' Institution, presided over by the Patron (Mr. Latrobe). Some alteration in the rules were approved of, and the following Board of Management (practically the first) was appointed:—Patrons, their Honors the Superintendent and the Resident Judge (A'Beckett); President, the Mayor for the time being; Vice-Presidents, Messrs. Redmond Barry, William Firebrace, and James Simpson; Auditors, Messrs.
Archibald M'Lachlan and P. Stevenson; Treasurer, Mr. William Hull; Honorary Secretary, Mr. Henry Ginn; Committee, Messrs. J. D. Pinnock, Barrett, D. C. McArthur, J. Jordan, Dallochy, J. Hawdon, H. G. Ashurst, T. Dickson, H. Moor, C. Hutton, Drummond, and D. Ogilvie. The First Exhibition
Was held on the 16th March, 1850, at the Botanic Gardens. As a beginning it was on the whole encouraging. There was an excellent show of fruit, and some apples from the garden of Mr. John Orr, of Abbotsford, could scarcely be excelled, though they were entered too late for competition. The flower display was much admired, and there were some exquisite bouquets. Though not coming within the category of horticulture, some latitude was permitted in exhibiting anything special, either manufacturing or mechanical. The Mayor made special mention of the wine from the Geelong vineyards, and the ribston pippins from the garden of Mr. Barrett on the Merri Creek. From their excellence the judges complimented this fruit by designating it the Victorian pippin. Some acorns shown by Mr. George James induced a belief that a day would come when Victoria would grow her own oak trees. The introduction of madder by Mr. Edward Wilson (of the Argus) was deemed of vast importance by the judges, by whom also particular allusion was directed to some French sorrel and onions presented by Mr. Redmond Barry. Prizes of the first class were awarded to Mr. James Sandilands for table grape, red Frontignac, and wine grape—black Pineau; to Mr. Barrett, gardener, Merri Creek, for ribston pippins (table) and codling seedling (cooking); to Mr. George Denham, market gardener, for long spine cucumber; and to Mr. Joseph Raleigh, for early-horn carrots and long red mangel-wurzel. Wine prizes were given to Messrs. Brequet and Amiet, of Geelong—i.e., a first for Burgundy and Claret, and a second for Champagne. From the catalogue it may be interesting to pick out the names of a few old colonists well known and useful in their day. Amongst the first appears the late Sir Redmond Barry, Messrs. Jackson, Rae and Co., Mr. Henry Ginn, Captain Cole, Mr. William Overton, Mr. Edward Wilson, Mr. George James, Dr. Greeves, Dr. G. Howitt, Mrs. Hobson, W. M. Bell, Mr. James Rule, Mr. A. McLachlan, Mr. G. A. Robinson, Mr. J. Raleigh, Mr. John Orr, Mr. C. Jordan, Mr. R. A. Balbirnie, Major Davidson, Mr. Owen, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Brequet, Mr. Aimet, and R. Charles and Co.
The Second Exhibition
Was held in the same place on the 30th October, 1850, which happened to be a very hot day. It was a much more pretentious turn-out than its predecessor.
His Honor, the Superintendent and family, most of the officers of the Government and their families, and the principal gentry of the city and its environs, together with many country gentlemen and their families, crowded the tents and marquees; and, notwithstanding the intense heat, parties of ladies and gentlemen promenaded the walks of the garden during the performance of Mr. Hore's Saxhorn Band.
The following gentlemen were appointed judges, namely:—Messrs. F. Bryant, Redmond Barry, D. C. M'Arthur, James Simpson, Henry Ginn, Thomas Barrett, and David Boyle.
Flowers.
There were several elegant floral contributions, for exhibition only, from the gardens of the Superintendent, Mrs. Howitt, Mr. Henry Ginn, R. Barry, Judge A'Beckett and D. Ogilvie, and medals were awarded as follow:— Gold ones to Mr. James Rule (Richmond) and Major Firebrace, and silver medals to Messrs. Rule, William Hull, G. P. Ball, James Jackson and David Boyle (gardener to Mr. D. C. M'Arthur.) Silver medals to Mr. J. Orr, of Abbotsford.
Fruit.
Mr. Wm. Hull, of Richmond, exhibited gooseberries, and Mr. Hollick seedling Muscatel vine from a dried raisin, in the pot, in November, 1849.
Vegetables.
Wines and Spirits.
In this department several prizes were bestowed, viz.:-Mr. Edward Willis, Geelong-Burgundy, gold medal; Frontignac, silver medal; Brandy and Champagne, also a silver medal.
Messieurs. Briquet and Aimet, of Geelong, Vin d'Etoile, made in March, 1849 (product of vine black cluster), gold medal; Australian wine of 1849, made from Pineau gris, silver medal; Muscadine wine of 1850, musca blanc, silver medal: Pineau of 1850, made from Pineau gris et noir, silver medal; and Mr. John Bear, of Collingwood, Victoria wine, 1849, silver medal.
Mr. William Barrett of Richmond, exhibited White wine, 1848, Rhubarb wine, 1849, made with moist sugar.
Miscellaneous Exhibits.
Some basket-work was on view by a Mr. Arnold, a Melbourne manufacturer, amongst which was a fire-screen, of very beautiful colonial material and workmanship, fully equal to the imported basket-work, and ought to supersede it.
A very pretty glass bottle was sent by Mr. W. Overton, of Collingwood. The glass was very clear, and free from specks, and it was expected that such an industrial beginning would soon obviate the necessity for bringing such articles a distance of some thirteen thousand miles.
A lot of very finely-worked red clay flower-pots were also exhibited, manufactured by Mr. Arend, of the Merri Creek, and forwarded by Messrs. Helm and Co.
There were some very tastefully arranged bouquets. One sent by Major Firebrace contained no fewer than 60 sorts of flowers, and a very handsome one, arranged by D. Boyle, gardener to Mr. D. C. McArthur, contained 143 varieties. A bouquet of mixed geraniums, also from Mr. McArthur's garden, and some very fine fuchsias and geraniums, sent by Mrs. Howitt, attracted much admiration. The Superintendent, Mr. Redmond Barry, Mr. G. P. Ball, and Judge A'Beckett also contributed.
Fruit was but scantily represented, Mr. W. Hull and Mr. John Orr being the only exhibitors. The wines were well spoken of. Willis' Burgundy was full-bodied and richly-flavoured; the Geelong article good, but with scarcely sufficient body for keeping; and Bear's was a very superior full-bodied, sweet article.
In June, 1851, the Superintendent granted to the Committee, on a seven years' lease, at a pepper-corn rent, thirteen acres of land in the Richmond Paddock, opposite the Botanic Gardens, as an Exhibition ground.
The Third Exhibition
Was held at the Botanic Gardens on the 30th September, 1851, amongst the incipient symptoms of the gold discoveries. Each branch was this time placed under the jurisdiction of a separate bench of judges. For flowers—Messrs. D. C. McArthur, John Dallochy, and Thomas Barrett. Fruit—Messrs. J. Rule and R. Barry. Vegetables-Messrs. C. Hutton, F. Bryant, and A. McLachlan. There was a great falling off in the display, and the prizes were thus awarded:—For flowers, to Messrs. J. Rule, J. Duerdin, J. Jackson, John Orr, G. P. Ball, J. Plumridge, and Major Firebrace. Fruit—Messrs. Thomas Barrett, John Orr, and John Jackson (lemons and oranges). Vegetables—Major Firebrace, Captain W. Buckley, Messrs. John Orr, D. S. Campbell, T. Barrett, J. Duerdin, and Joseph Raleigh.
For exhibition only, a beautiful assortment of flowers was presented by Mr. Henry Ginn. Bouquets, Captain Buckley and Mr. McArthur; violets from Mount Gambier, Mr. William Hull; fuchsias, Mrs. G. Howitt and Mr. J. Jackson.
The First Vine and Wine.
The planting of the first vines in Port Phillip has been erroneously assigned to Captain Lonsdale, Mr. J. P. Fawkner and others. Mr. Robert Russell kindly undertook to hunt up some reliable information on the point for me, and a letter received by him settles the question. The writer, Mr. Donald Ryrie, (one of two brothers who were amongst the earliest of our settlers) occupied a large portion of the Upper Yarra as a "squatting" ground, and a once well-known paddock bearing their name, embraced an extensive section of Collingwood, and is now cut up into a network of streets, one of which was named "Ryrie." The communication is dated from Kalkite, Lindabyn, New South Wales, 2nd August, 1882, and the following extract cannot be now perused without exciting much interest, especially when the present and future prospects of the Victorian wine producing industry are taken into consideration—"Looking over some old papers I find that vines were first planted at Yering in August, 1838; for my brother William and I, in May, 1838, left Arnprior, on the Shoalhaven River, near Braidwood, with sheep and cattle. We had a punt on one of the drays, which we required to use at the Murrumbidgee, Hume, Ovens, and Goulburn Rivers. The vines planted, taken from Arnprior, were the black cluster or Hamburg, and a white grape the Sweetwater. We afterwards had sent from Sydney other vines taken from McArthur's vineyard, at Camden. The first wine made was in March, 1845—a red wine resembling Burgundy, and a white wine resembling Sauterne, and both very good. Dardel, a Swiss, who had afterwards a vineyard in Geelong District, and perhaps has it now, used to come to Yering to prune the vines, and he also put us in the way of making wine." Up to and including 1851 the export of wine was so trifling as not to exceed £50 in value for any year. It could hardly be said to have regularly commenced until 1852, during which 22,531 gallons, estimated at £6350, were exported. In 1849, 108 acres of land were under vine-growing, from the produce of which 6306 gallons of wine and 100 gallons of brandy resulted. There are no returns for 1850, but in 1851 there were 161½ acres of vine land, whilst produce fell to 4621 gallons, and the brandy increased to 286 gallons. The then incipient gold discoveries had doubtless something to do in the matter.
Industrial Resources of Port Phillip.
On the 1st April, 1850, there was held at the Royal Hotel, Collins Street, a public meeting to consider the development of the resources of the district. The idea originated with Mr. C. J. Griffiths (long deceased), a gentleman of much culture and acquirements. The attendance was influential and representative, and Mr. Griffiths was voted to the chair. "The Victorian Industrial Society" was pro forma inaugurated, and a Committee appointed to prepare a code of rules. The members' annual subscription was £1; £5 conferred a Life Membership; and proxy voting was to be allowed. The objects of the Society were to hold periodical exhibitions of live stock and agricultural produce, combined with ploughing matches; improved farming implements; prize essays on important subjects; an experimental farm, in which foreign grasses and plants could be introduced and their fitness for this climate tested; an improvement in pastoral exports, such as wool, by the exhibition of rams, and superior samples of fleece; attention to the breeding of cattle and the packing of tallow, whether in hides or casks; what indigenous woods were best adapted for cooperage; and the extraction of gelatine or preserved meats. Special attention was to be devoted to agricultural resources, such as the production of the vine, olive, and mulberry; the brewing of good beer; the manufacture of leather, parchment, glue, starch, soap, earthenware, etc., and the growth of hops, madder, and flax. It was also stated that indications of gold, coal, copper, iron, tin, lead, and other minerals had been found.
On the 13th June, a meeting of the subscribers to the Society was held at the Mechanics' Institute, the Mayor (Mr. W. Nicholson) presiding. Mr. C. J. Griffiths submitted a Report from the preliminary Committee, in which it was proposed to invite Prince Albert (the Consort of the Queen) to accept the office of Patron, and His Honor, Mr. Superintendent Latrobe, that of Vice-Patron. It was also recommended that the Society's Exhibitions be held alternately at Melbourne and Geelong. The adoption of the Report was moved by Mr. Redmond Barry, seconded by Mr. James Moore, and agreed to. Rules were adopted, and the election of the first Board of Management was fixed for the 1st September. It was resolved to invite Prince Albert, and the Superintendent, to accept the offices assigned to them by the Report. A bottle of Victorian wine was exhibited by Mr. John Bear, the product of his vineyard on the River Plenty, a sample of which would be sent to London for the Grand International Exhibition to be held there in 1851.
On the 27th July the Committee selected as Secretary, from 22 candidates, Mr. William Le Souef one of the original Assistant Protectors of Aborigines in the settlement, at a salary of £100, and £25 for keep of horse, per annum, with an assurance that the former would be augmented to £200 if the Society prospered. The Society met on the 1st September, with the Mayor as Chairman, and the following officers were elected:—
President.—Mr. Charles J. Griffiths.
Vice-Presidents.—Messrs. John Carre Riddell, William C. Haines, John Aitken, William Rutledge, William Firebrace, James Moore, James Austin, J. Stanley Carr, and Thomas Learmonth.
Directors.—Messrs. Redmond Barry, William Westgarth, William Stawell, Augustus F. A. Greeves, Francis Bryant, Claud Farie, Colin Campbell, Rawdon F. Greene, William T. Mollison, John Bear, A. C. Wallace Dunlop, and Alfred J. Thompson.
Treasurer.—Mr. Charles Bradshaw.
The Victorian Industrial Society's First Exhibition
Was held on the 29th and 30th January, 1851. It was divided into two branches, viz.:—Manufactures and products were shown at St. Patrick's Hall (Bourke Street), and live stock at the Auction Yards of Messrs. Bear and Son, Station and Stock Auctioneers, situated at the south-eastern corner of Bourke and Queen Streets. Hore's Saxhorn Band was there in full blast, and there was a large attendance of the public. The hall presented an extensive display of exhibits, if times and circumstances are taken into consideration, and some of the articles were well worthy of special notice. The establishment of Mr. Rolleston exhibited a locally built phæton made to order for £150. Mr. McCracken exhibited a turn rest plough, specially adapted for land on the slope of a declivity, as the share turned on a rotary axis, thereby facilitating the veering of the plough. There were some excellent samples of leather from the tannery of Messrs. Smith and Kirk, flax seed grown by Mr. Joseph Raleigh, and a pocket of hops by Mr. H. James. Messrs. Raleigh and Fyfe, and Messrs. Watson and Wight, showed some prime tierced beef; that belonging to the latter firm, though cured in 1849, was in a state of good preservation and sweetness. The most admired exhibit was a tableaux by a lady (no name) of a beautiful bouquet of flowers wrought in Berlin wool, and most artistically framed by Mr. Shotfort, of Geelong. The gem of the Exhibition was, however, a marvel of ingenious handicraft by Mr. William Broughton, a Collingwood mechanic. This was a writing desk composed of the following eighteen colonial woods:—He-oak, tartarra, honeysuckle, sassafras, Murray pine, Huon pine, forest oak, blackwood, box, teak, musk, tulip-wood, silk-wood, red-gum, dog-wood, Cypress pine, cherry-tree, and myall. It was purchased by Mr. Henry Moor as a Melbourne curio, and sent to England. Another Collingwood man, a German, named Frietzon, was very successful in earthenware. As this was the first attempt of the kind in Victoria, it may not be uninteresting to quote from the official catalogue the prize adjudications:—
Cattle.
Gold medals for best imported bull, and best colonial bred cow, Mr. R. M'Dougall, of Glenroy; home-bred cow for dairy purposes, Mr. Thomas Miller.
Silver medals for best colonial three years heifer, Mr. R. M'Dougall; best colonial three-year-old steer, Mr. James Robertson, Keilor.
Pigs.
Best boar of any age-Mr. R. M'Dougall, gold medal. Best sow-J. Kyle, silver medal, the same to Mr. T. H. Power, Yarra, for best hog:
Horses.
Imported stallions—Premier—Mr. Jeffries, gold medal.
Colonial best mares—Miss Letty—Mr. T. H. Power, gold medals.
Imported cart stallion—Mr. Ryan; Colonial bred cart stallion—Mr. Rawdon Greene, gold medals.
Cart mares—Mr. James Austin, and Mr. Rawdon Greene, gold medals. Sheep.
Best pen of sheep—Mr. William Campbell, Strathlodden, gold medal.
Sundries.
Gold medals were awarded for the following:—Best tierce of salted beef—Mr. Francis Clark, of Collingwood.
Best cask of mutton tallow—Messrs. Raleigh and Fyfe.
Best cask of beef tallow—Messrs. Raleigh and Fyfe.
Silver medals:—For the best tallow candles—Messrs. Raleigh and Fyfe.
Best white soap—Messrs. Watson and Wight.
Best brown soap—Kildare Soap Works, Geelong.
Best fresh butter, 3lbs.—Mr. Balbirnie, South Yarra.
Leather.
Large silver medals (5) for the best bale of kip, calf, sole, harness, and kangaroo skins—Messrs. Smith and Kirk.
Agricultiral Produce.
Best sample of velvet wheat—Mr. Collier Robertson, of La Rose, silver medal.
Best sample of early potatoes—Mr. Jordan, gold medal.
Best sample of madder—Mr. Edward Wilson, of Collins Street, gold medal.
Wines, Spirits, etc.
Two gold medals for wines of colonial growth were awarded to Mr. John Bear, of Queen Street.
MANUFACTURES.
Best specimen of pottery—Mr. Fitzell, silver medal. Three casks made of colonial staves—Mr. J. F. Born, Collins Street, gold medal.
Three casks made of colonial staves—Mr. Purnell, Elizabeth Street, silver medal.
Best carriage—Mr. Rolleston, Melbourne, gold medal.
Desk made of colonial wood—Mr. Broughton, of Collingwood, silver medal.
Best case of mathematical instruments—Mr. White, of Collingwood, silver medal.
Best fire screen—Mr. Strafford, of Geelong, silver medal.
Best set of harness—Mr. Smith, of Collins Street, silver medal.
Best specimen of hat of colonial manufacture—Mr. R. F. Bickerton, gold medal.
Best six pairs stockings, and six pairs socks—Mr. James Robertson, of Keilor, silver medal.
Best agricultural roller—Mr. Addis, of Geelong, silver medal.
Best sample of blacking—Mr. Heffernan, silver medal.
Best sample of wax candles—Messrs. Raleigh and Fyfe, silver medal.
Best sample of neats'-foot oil—Messrs. Raleigh and Fyfe, silver medal.
Miscellaneous
Best skip of honey—Mr. Jordan, silver medal.
The judges also highly commended the following exhibits:
Crayons by Mr. G. A. Gilbert, embracing well-known views in the vicinity of Melbourne and Geelong.
Superior copperware by Mr. Cunningham.
Three casks made from colonial staves, by Mr. Mooney. Two hats, one from the fur of the opossum, and one from wool, Mr. Penzel.
A church tablet, Mr. Warble.
Two specimens of wicker work, by Mr. Gummer.
An application was made to the Government for a site as a Show Ground, and in August, four acres of land off the Sydney Road, and opposite the University, were given on a ten years' lease. The members numbered 400 and the movement had been much enhanced by the establishment of a Geelong Committee of Management. The medals were not procurable in Melbourne, which made it necessary to order them from Hobart Town. The first year's receipts were £364 8s. 6d.; and the balance in hand was £69 6s. 2d. The liabilities were £127, and when discharged would leave a balance of £22 13s. 2d. Thanks were offered to the Lieutenant-Governor for his grant of a Show Ground and promise of medals and money.
The Second Exhibition
Was held at Geelong on the 24th September, 1851, and though not the success anticipated, was far from being a failure. Amongst the articles displayed were some specimens of polished marble obtained at Lime Burners' Point, by Mr. Reynolds; several boxes of minerals collected by Dr. Bruhn, and a model bird-cage by Mr. Hardwick. A Mr. Stratford was awarded a gold medal for a curiously exquisite work table, the top of which consisted of 291 pieces of colonial woods, of twenty-four sorts, exclusive of the border fashioned out of colonial myrtle. It was much admired and purchased for £18 by Mr. Gore, who forwarded it to England.
The other prizes were thus adjudged:—
Horses.
Gold medals:—Mr. Mercer, for best thoroughbred imported stallion.
Mr. Thomas Austin, for best thoroughbred colonial mare.
Mr. C. J. Dennys, for best imported cart stallion.
Messrs. Drysdale and Newcome, for best colonial bred cart stallion.
Mr. James Austin, best for colonial bred cart mare.
Large silver medals:—Mr. Moore, for second best colonial bred cart stallion.
Mr. David Fisher, second best colonial bred cart mare.
Cattle.
Gold medal to Mr. James Austin, for best colonial bred cow for grazing; and large silver medal to Mr. Cumming for best colonial bred cow for dairy purposes.
Rams and Ewes.
Gold medal to Mr. Thomas Austin, for the best four rams in their wool, imported from Europe; and large silver medal for the second best sample. Gold medals to Mr. W. C. Yuille, for pen of 15 best colonial bred rams in their wool, and for like sample of ewes. A gold medal was recommended to Mr. Otto Newhauss for an imported ram.
Mr. Cumming obtained one large and one small silver medal for the first and second best exhibits of domestic fowls.
Leather.
Two large silver medals to Messrs. Smith and Kirk, for the best bale of calf and kangaroo skins.
Animal Produce.
Manufactures.
Gold medals to Mr. Robert Stratford, for the best article of furniture; Mr. Marsh, the best saddle; and Mr. William Turner, colonial tobacco. Large silver medals to Mr. Gundry, for best colonial made pottery; and the Messrs. Drysdale and Newcome for superior samples of linseed and cayenne pepper.
Some very excellent samples of vegetables were shown by Mr. Lewis, but they were overlooked for prizes in the programme.
Gunpowder Explosions, and the First Powder Magazine.—The First Explosion.
When Fawkner vacated his original "groggery," pitched at the rear of the Custom House, off Flinders Street, the wooden materials of which it was constructed were re-erected at the eastern side of the Market Reserve, facing what is now Market Street, which had not then an existence. In 1839 Fawkner's second hotel, at the south-east corner of Collins Street, and the same embryo Market Street, was occupied as the Melbourne Club House, and at a distance of some yards South of it, with only a narrow right-of-way intervening, stood the ex-Fawknerian hostelry, recently furbished with a profusion of painting, and known as "The Sporting Emporium." It was kept by a Mr. John Blanch, the only gun and ammunition dealer in the town. Next door resided John Macecknie, a recently arrived Scotch emigrant, the first regular tobacconist. On the 17th December, 1839, "The Sporting Emporium blew up with a terrible loss of life, and though I have searched in every possible way for any printed narrative of the shocking occurrence, I have been unsuccessful. I have conversed, however, with half-a-dozen individuals, some of whom actually witnessed the explosion, and all were on the ground immediately after the occurrence, and from these I have obtained such irreconcilable versions of the calamity as induce me to thoroughly sympathise with Sir Walter Raleigh's idea as to the impossibility of writing history under even the most favourable circumstances. The following, however, will, I believe, present a substantially correct version of the disaster:—Two brothers named Griffin arrived as immigrants, per the "Westminster," from England, and put up at one of the town hotels. It was their intention to start for the bush, but they thought it desirable to supply themselves with firearms and ammunition. The waiter at the hotel accompanied them to Blanch's. Accordingly, the three started on their mission, two of them little dreaming that it would be their last walk upon earth. Blanch was in the shop, whilst his wife was in an adjoining room, and sitting near a cupboard in which was stored a quantity of powder. In one corner of the shop also there was a bag of powder and some open powder on the counter. The tobacconist had just stepped in to have a friendly cigar and chat with his neighbour, and during the process of puffing and talking, the Griffins and their cicerone, who was simply known as "Charles," entered. The intending bushmen were inspecting a particular piece which Blanch was strongly recommending, and one of the Griffin's placed a cap on the nipple and pulled the trigger, when an explosion followed very different from what was expected, for the whole establishment was sent with a tremendous detonation into the air. The cap in exploding, it was thought, had ignited some of the loose powder on the counter, and it is supposed that in the immediate consequences, the bag of powder in the shop was included, and hence one of the most shocking events that ever happened in Melbourne. When the smoke cleared away, Blanch and his wife were found shockingly mutilated amongst the ruins, the two strangers were propelled into the Market Square, and the tobacconist and the waiter lay close by the dismantled house. A crowd quickly gathered, and amongst the first to render assistance were Mr. T. F. Hamilton (now residing in Scotland), Lieutenant D. Vignolles, and Ensign M'Cormick, connected with a military detachment then in Melbourne. Captain Benjamin Baxter (still in the Colony) was riding into town, and on reaching the crown of a not very passable hill, near the late site of the statue of Burke and Wills, in Collins Street, he heard the explosion, and quickening his pace was also in time to lend a helping hand. Dr. Cussen, the Colonial Surgeon, and Mr. D. J. Thomas, a well-known medical practitioner, were promptly in attendance; but very little could be done. Blanch and his wife were shattered and partially dismembered, and were removed by wrapping them in a quantity of wadding and tar. Unfortunately, there was no public Hospital then in town, and all the poor creatures had to be taken to places in the neighbourhood. Blanch was carried to a druggist's shop kept by Dr. Barry Cotter, at the North-east corner of Queen and Collins Streets, where he lingered in intense agony until the following morning. Mrs. Blanch was conveyed to the Police Office, on the other side of the Market Square, and died almost immediately after. She was in such an advanced state of pregnancy that the unborn babe was actually seen alive for a few moments by the medical attendants! The two strangers were humanely taken in by a Mr. Shaw, the keeper of an hotel in Little Flinders Street, where they were skilfully and kindly ministered to for a fortnight, when they died. Shaw afterwards applied ineffectually to the Government for some remuneration for the trouble and expense to which he had been put. Macecknie, the tobacconist, whose house sustained no injury, was attended to at home; but he also expired on the 29th December, and on the last day of the year was buried in the Presbyterian subdivision of the Cemetery. He was a favourite with his countrymen from "The Land o'Cakes," and his funeral was attended by nearly every adult Caledonian settler in and about the town. But a most extraordinary fact remains to be mentioned with respect to "Charles," the waiter, and only survivor. With only a blackened face he was removed to where he was employed, and having sustained no vital injury, he soon became all right. Up to the accident his face was deeply pock pitted, but during the process of recovery, with the disappearance of the discoloration, a new skin grew like a mask over his face, rendering the pock marks invisible; and when convalescent he appeared before an astonished public with a fair and smooth face, and lived in Melbourne for many years after. The Blanches left five orphan children, who were at school at the time of the mishap, and a sum of money was raised by public subscription for their assistance. One of my informants was an eye-witness of the occurrence, and declared that at the time of the explosion a Mrs. Jackson was sitting in an upstair room, and was blown under a sofa, but not injured. I have no doubt such was his impression, however formed, though an event of the kind could hardly be possible, considering the whole house, except part of the roof and outer timber partitions was blown away, and even these were on fire until it was put out through the daring gallantry of Ensign M'Cormick, who went aloft for that purpose at no small risk to his own safety. Blanch's stock of powder was rather limited, and if it had been larger, the Club House would have come to grief, and with it some colonists who did good service in after years, viz., Messrs. C. H. Ebden, T. F. Hamilton, Peter Snodgrass, and three or four other notabilities, who would have gone to glory. Singularly too, after all the harm was done, a small keg of powder was found untouched in a corner of the demolished shop. The frightful occurrence naturally created a profound sensation, and was talked over with a shuddering feeling of deep commiseration for the hapless victims; and it still lives a terrible spectre in the traditions of the colony. It supplied the newspapers with a potent reason to call loudly for the erection of a powder magazine, and the enforcement of stringent regulations for the custody of gunpowder, but it was several years before the Executive took any steps in the matter.
Another Explosion.
On the 19th July, 1849, the portion of the Eastern Hill in Collins Street, in front of the Argus office was being lowered, and a formidable ledge of rock lay in the way. This the contractors (Messrs. Gavin and Roberts) had to blast. Mr. Samuel Crook had an undertaker's and carpenter's establishment on the site of the present Victoria Coffee Palace opposite. The quarriers sprung a blast, when the explosion was such that some of the stony projectiles dashed through the windows of Crook's show-room smashing ten squares of glass. One heavy block passed through the roof of a work-shop several yards rearward of Crook's, and the windows of the shop of Mr. Cracknell, a turner, were dashed in, but no damage was done to life or limb. There was much consternation over the occurrence, for the blasting operations were heedlessly conducted in the middle of the day, and without any intimation to the public.
The Storage of Gunpowder
In Melbourne was utterly disregarded, notwithstanding the explosion of 1839, and the well-known fact that powder was kept in considerable quantities in some of the shops and stores in Melbourne. It was imported, and often brought up to Melbourne promiscuously with other cargo, and landed at the wharf regardless of consequences. The people were alarmed, and the newspapers denounced such a gross disregard of the public safety, but an apathetic Government closed its ears, and heard—or pretended to hear— nothing. There was an old hulk in the Bay to be had for a few pounds, and the Government was vainly entreated to purchase this as a powder store. On the 7th May, 1844, the "Joseph Cripps," schooner, arrived from Launceston with twenty large casks of gunpowder; and when the craft anchored in the Yarra there was no responsible person to accept delivery of it. The captain begged of the Customs officers to take the dangerous customer off his hands; but they laughed at him, and told him to keep it, for they would have nothing to do with such a ticklesome entry. Returning on board, the indignant skipper coolly had the combustible twenty tumbled out on the wharf, where they remained for several days. Superintendent Latrobe felt himself at length constrained towards the exercise of some supervision of imported powder, and for some time that article was directed to be taken ashore at Williamstown, and there, reposing in a tent, was honoured with a military guard.
The First Powder Magazine.
Governor Sir G. Gipps occasionally entertained good intentions towards Port Phillip; but they were of the same materials as those with which a certain unnameable place is said to be paved. He was seized with a fit of this kind when he visited Melbourne in 1841; but the notion then conceived evaporated on his departure. One of his good intentions was the erection of a powder magazine on the beach near Albert Park, and he actually fixed upon the place where the building was to be put up, but nothing further was done in the matter. In the course of years it was determined to have the magazine erected on the western side of Batman's Hill, which has since bodily disappeared from the face of creation; and here, during 1847, a small stone building was erected at a cost of £2000. It was opened on the 22nd January, 1848, when the gunpowder at Williamstown was deposited therein. In July, a Captain Sutherland was appointed keeper. This magazine, and the hill under which it stood, rendered good service in their day, until the exigencies of changing times caused the dismantling of the one, and the levelling of the other.
Early Closing Movements.
It is interesting to note how early in the colony efforts were made to ameliorate the condition of a very deserving section of the community, whose claims upon public co-operation and sympathy have never been adequately recognized. So long ago as 1841, a movement was organized for "The early closing of the shops in Melbourne," and the drapers then, as at all times since, were the first in endeavouring to introduce a usage which, if honestly carried out through all grades of retail business, would be productive of vast benefit to both employés and employers. The negotiations were started by some of the young men familiarly known as "counter-jumpers," and so promptly responded to that the following advertisement was inserted in the three Melbourne newspapers-The Gazette, Patriot, and Herald:—
Public Notice:—
WE, the undersigned, Drapers of Melbourne, do comply with the wishes of the young
men of our respective establishments, and agree to close our houses of business
at eight o'clock precisely, Saturday excepted, from Monday, February 22nd, 1841.—M.
Cashmore and Co., Donaldson and Munroe, Isaac L. Lincoln, E. and I. Hart, D. and S.
Benjamin, F. Pittman, M. Lazarus, J. Simeon, J. M. Chisholm, William Empson, Harris
and Marks, R. Whitehead, C. and J. S. Beswicke, A. Ashman.
The Young Men's Early Closing Association,
And a Provisional Committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Peter Virtue, T. H. Lightfoot, H. and J. Kerr, J. A. Marsden, J. Morris, B. Coslin, J. Lush, N. Kinsman, T. Moubray, Bridge, and Jarrett. The movement secured some influential sympathizers, and on the 2nd October the election of the following office-bearers took place:—Mr. William Nicholson (the Mayor) accepted the Presidency. Messrs. William Williamson and Robert Campbell, Vice-Presidents; Messrs. Thomas Moubray and A. M'Callum, Auditors; Mr. T. Lightfoot, Treasurer; Mr. R. G. Benson, Secretary, at a salary of £10 per annum. The principal shopkeepers pledged themselves to close their places of business at seven p.m., except on Saturdays, so long as they found it "conducive to the well being of those they had in their employ." For some time the majority of the retailers scrupulously kept their word, but as anything like durable unanimity became hopeless, the praiseworthy object was frustrated, as it has often been since, and will continue so, until the Legislature shall think proper to interpose, and render Early Closing compulsory.[1]
It is difficult to apply Parliamentary action to a social subject of this kind, but nothing will ever be permanently effected without it. An Early Closing Movement dependent solely upon voluntary effort seems to me a continuous impossibility, because absolute unanimity is so essential, and so difficult—not to obtain, but to keep. This is the weak point, and so long as it remains unremedied the movement resembles a chain made of strong links, with an unsound one here and there, which may snap at any moment.
Building Societies.
Through the agency of Mr. J. F. L. Foster, one of the Provincial Members of the Legislature of New South Wales, there was passed in September, 1847, an Act of Council for the Regulation of Benefit Building Societies in New South Wales. The system had been found to work well in England, and one had been already established in Adelaide. A preliminary meeting was convened at Anderson's Commercial Inn, Collins Street East, on the 27th September, to consider the measure as applicable to the Town of Melbourne. Mr. William Clarke, Hon. Secretary and Town Councillor, officiated as Chairman. The expediency of starting a Building Society was determined on, and initiated under the designation of the Melbourne Building Society, the shares to be £120 each; the payments, 5s. entrance per share, 10s. monthly subscription, with 6s. per month redemption fee on borrowed shares. A committee, consisting of Messrs. William Clarke, William Nicholson, C. Laing, J. C. King, L. Rostron, N. Guthridge, J. J. Peers, J. A. Webster, Wm. Thacker, and Wm. O'Farrell, was appointed to prepare the necessary rules, and report to a future meeting. In a few days there were fifty-two enrolled members, and at a meeting held the following week the rules were approved and transmitted to the Attorney-General at Sydney. The following Board of Management was also elected:—President, Mr. William Clarke; Trustees, Messrs. J. C. King, L. Rostron, J. T. Smith, J. A. Marsden, W. H. Buckley; Treasurer, Mr. Charles Vaughan ; Stewards, Messrs. C. J. Mills and John Hood; Committee, Messrs. W. Nicholson, J. J. Peers, N. Guthridge, A. J. Webster, Henry Crossley, James Barwick, J. Webb, John Bland, and John Bullen; Surveyor, Mr. Charles Laing; Solicitor, Mr. J. Bowler; Secretary, Mr. Charles C. Dunn.
This Society so far succeeded that three others followed in quick succession, and in 1849 one was started at Geelong.
In January, 1850, Mr. Edmund Ashley conceived a design of establishing an undertaking of a somewhat analagous nature, excepting that instead of putting people in their own houses, its object was to place them on their land. Mentioning his intention to Mr. J. P. Fawkner, the latter rapidly "jumped" the notion, made it his own, and forthwith launched it. It was called the Co-operative Land Society, and Fawkner stuck so well to the work that, in a year, some £6000 had been subscribed and invested. The shareholders were so well pleased with Mr. Fawkner's exertions that they procured from England a handsome silver service as a presentation to their benefactor. It consisted of tea-kettle and lamp complete (weighing 82 ozs.), with coffee and tea pots, cream ewer and sugar basin, and what certainly was not the least pleasing to the recipient this flattering inscription:—"Presented to John Pascoe Fawkner, of Pascoe Vale, the founder and manager of the Victoria Co-operative Freehold Land Society, for his ability in originating, and his philanthropy and perseverance in maturing, the above Society, and for his diligence in putting each member into full possession of a landed estate at the lowest possible cost, viz., £1 per acre. The shareholders gratefully present this Testimonial of their high approbation, and with their best wishes for his temporal and eternal happiness. Province of Victoria, Melbourne, 1851." As an evidence of the wonderful fecundity of the germ from which the first Building Society was evolved, six-and-thirty years ago, it may be stated that, at the end of 1880, little more than thirty-two years, there were in Victoria forty-seven building societies, numbering 18,052 members, with a yearly income of £1,040,926, assets at date of balancing £2,804,295, and £2,352,808 liabilities. The advances during the year amounted to £564,411, and the societies had £829,941 in moneys on deposit.
The Victorian Year Book, 1886-7 (Hayter's Tables), gives the following statistics anent Building Societies:—Number of Societies, 60; Number of Investing Members, 19,907; Number of Borrowers, 16,250; Value of Landed Property, £391,698; Amount of Paid-up Capital, £2,502,799; Amount of Deposits at end of the year, £2,910,792: Advances under Periodical Repayments during the year, £2,358,729; Repayments by Instalments during the year, 1,526,221.
- ↑ The Factories and Shops Act 1887 has become law since the above was written, and ostensibly grants some of the privileges so ardently longed for by the author.—Ed.