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January, 1849, which the Bishop, the resident clergy, and a large number of the laity attended. His Lordship presided, and effective addresses were delivered by the Chairman, Dr. Geoghegan, D e a n Coffey, Rev. Mr. Kavanagh, Messrs. J. O'Shanassy, and E. Westby. T h e Catholic Association was formed for the purpose of raising funds for the passages of clergymen from Europe and otherwise, and to secure the advancement of the Catholic religion and Catholic teaching by every practicable mode. A s a beginning, the s u m of ,£60 was paid d o w n on the spot. A branch association was soon after started at Geelong. Dr. Goold, like Dr. Perry, wrorked hard in the early times, and did not allow himself m a n y " hours of idleness." At a time when bush travelling was the reverse of what it is now, they used to m a k e lengthened trips through all quarters of the colony in their efforts to propagate the faith in which each truly believed, and for which each worked hard. Bishop Goold, in February, started on an Episcopal tour of the Western District. O n his return to Melbourne it was announced that Dr. Geoghegan would be commissioned as the delegate of the Catholic Association to Europe, where, by means of the funds n o w subscribed, he would be enabled to realize an instalment of the purposes so m u c h desired. H e left accordingly in the early part of March 1849 via Hobartown, and was accompanied to the wharf by a troop of sincere friends. T h e same month Kilmore received itsfirstresident pastor in a recently-arrived Rev. Mr. Clarke. T h e St. Francis' Seminary, to provide an education of a kind superior to that hitherto obtainable, was opened in M a y under the special patronage of the Bishop. T h e terms were very moderate, graduating from £2 to £1 is. per quarter, with music as an extra at 10s. T h e Bishop held hisfirstconfirmation on Sunday, 27th May, and was assisted by Dean Coffey, with the Revs. Fitzpatrick and Kavanagh. This was the second ceremony of the kind held in the province, Archbishop Pohlding having officiated at the first in 1844. POPE PIUS THE 9™ Was in great tribulation through various causes in the year 1849, and, when intelligence of his reverses reached Melbourne, active steps were taken to contribute some expression of practical sympathy from the R o m a n Catholics of Port Phillip. A collection was m a d e throughout the diocese, and, on the 12th August, the presentation was transmitted through the ordinary official channel. It consisted of an address from the Bishop, clergy, and laity, accompanied by a s u m of money subscribed towards "relieving His Holiness from any difficulties in which he might be involved, by his departure from the ' City of the Pontiffs.'" The document concluded thus: " M a y G o d in His goodness grant that long ere this respectful assurance of the love andfidelityof your children in this remote dependency is submitted for your acceptance, Your Holiness m a y enjoy the blessing so fervently asked in your behalf, by the Catholic world prostrate in prayer, for the recovery of your throne, and for the affections of the people you fondly love." In August, 1850, a communication was received from the Pope conveying his warmest thanks for the tribute of sympathy from so distant a part of the world. Banns for the marrying of 15 couples were called at St. Francis', on Sunday, 13th January, 1850, which was noticed by one of the newspapers as ominous of the advancement of the colony; and in February, the Rev. Mr. Kavanagh resigned the mission to return to Ireland. T h e church of Geelong was the scene of an atrocious outrage on the night of the 14th February, when some villains effected a felonious entry and stole a quantity of valuable property. In the building was a strongly-made cupboard, as a receptacle for a safe, containing a silver chalice, pyx, and communion cup. T h e safe was removed and found next day, broke open and empty, in one of the foundations being sunk for the erection of a new gaol. N o n e of the valuables were ever recovered, and no trace ever had of the robbers. It has been already stated that a most suitable site in the Eastern quarter of Melbourne had been obtained from the Government for a second place of worship. This was no sooner known than a section of the City Council, more bigoted than patriotic, objected that the course decided on by the Executive would be a serious injury to the city, as it would block up the continuation of Bourke Street, and interfere materially with the municipal intentions of a prolongation of streets eastward. T h e R o m a n Catholics, of course, resisted what they believed to be a most unwarrantable interference between them and the