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THE CHRONICLES OF EARLY MELBOURNE.

the shipping in the harbour as were in a position to join in the demonstration. H e went ashore at Williamstown, which was then in appearance m u c h more of a "fishing village" than now. H e crossed over to Sandridge where his arrival was not expected, and where there were only three horsemen to bid him welcome. Each of the equestrians offered his nag to the Governor, but as the whole party could not be accommodated with horses, the offer was courteously declined. T h e Governor strolled about, and, being of a practical turn of mind, utilized the occasion by ascertaining if any spot of the whereabouts would form a suitable position for a powder magazine. H e selected a portion of the beach below Emerald Hill, and, though the locality was never applied to such a purpose, it will always be interwoven with the warlike reminiscences of the colony, as it was the practising ground for the rifle and artillerymen of after years, and in the future will form part of the route of the Military Road from Sandridge to St. Kilda, which is believed to be an important consideration in the city's defences. Meanwhile the news of the Governor's arrival and debarkation had travelled to Melbourne, and the townspeople began to pour d o w n the Melbourne Road to meet His Excellency; amongst the foremost were His Honor the Superintendent, and some of the so-called heads of the diminutive departments. A deputation had been appointed to receive His Excellency, and escorted by this cavalcade, the Vice-Regal group moved towards Melbourne. Half-way, the Governor ascended the side of Emerald Hill to look about him, after which he crossed the Yarra in a punt then plying near the site of Princes Bridge. T h e Governor continued his course along Flinders Street to Batman's Hill, and thence by William Street to the Flagstaff Hill, returning through Collins Street to Northumberland House, in Flinders Street (within a few yards of the present Port Phillip Club Hotel), where he was to take up his temporary residence. At several points he was loudly cheered by the people, who had turned out en masse to see him. In the evening an attempt was m a d e at a public illumination, The town would have been in darkness upon this occasion, but for the enterprise of Mr. Michael Cashmore, who imported a few lamps from Sydney; and he and Mr. T. Halfpenny, the keeper of an hotel on " T h e Block," were the most prominent "lighters up." Cashmore's was a drapery establishment at the north-east corner of Collins and Elizabeth Streets, and as clumsy fireworks and crackers were easily procurable, there was plenty of blazing away, noise, and hubbub at all events. The next day being Sunday, the Governor attended Divine Service at St. James' Church, when the Episcopalians had a grand field-day.

Presentation of an Address.

At half-past one o'clock on Monday, the 25th, His Excellency, accompanied by His Honor the Superintendent, the Aide-de-Camp, and the Private Secretary, arrived at the N e w Custom House, where the party was met by a Deputation of Colonists, consisting of Messrs A. Cunninghame, R. Barry, A. F. Mollison, J. Kilgour, and F. Manning. The following Address was read by Mr. Cunninghame :— " W e , the inhabitants of Port Phillip, beg leave to address your Excellency with the assurance of our unfeigned loyalty towards our Sovereign, and of our sincere respect for your Excellency, Her Majesty's Representative in N e w South Wales. " W e hail with the highest satisfaction your Excellency's visit to this district, and w e trust your Excellency s stay will be sufficiently prolonged to offer an opportunity for that full examination into the resources improvements, and wants, alike of the town and province, which they would seem to deserve. T o this examination w e respectfully solicit your Excellency's earnest attention; and should it result m your Excellency's conviction that w e possess the true elements of prosperity, and that we are practically working them out, then we trust that your Excellency will afford us the aid which is essential to their more full and rapid development. resneci'?^ TT^ *"?^1T E**llenc/s visit will have the happy effect of firmly establishing that S e

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