to begin its career on the ist July. On the 15th the first Lieutenant-Governor was to publicly assume the reins of Government, and it yvas determined that the auspicious event should be signalized by a public ball, to be honoured by the presence of the newly-blown Vice-Regent. Large rooms yvere not then so plentiful in Melbourne as they are now, and the steyvards of the entertainment hit upon the Asylum, and the notion was accordingly acted on. The two large rooms yvere put into proper trim; banners were borrowed, green boughs were obtained, and the place was decorated in picturesque style. T w o bands, (Megson's Orchestral and Hores' Saxe-horn) were engaged. More than 250 persons attended, and Lieutenant-Governor Latrobe, accompanied by his wife, and attended by his suite, yvas yvelcomed by " the rank, beauty, and fashion " of the city. At supper His Excellency proposed the Queen's health, which was greeted with "nine times nine," and his own toast followed. T h e night's jollification yvas varied by the exhibition of dissolving views by Mr. W . S. Gibbons. The caterer was Mr. Eyvers, a well-known confectioner, and his performance was described as " the best supper ever given in Victoria, and at a moderate price." T h e break-up of the assembly yvas brightened by a discharge of sky rockets ; and a surplus of ,£25 was estimated as probable to find its yvay into the funds of the Charity. A serious drawback to the convenience and comfort of those who patronised the occasion yvas that the Asylum was considerably " out of town," far away "in the bush," and there was not only no macadamized road, but no firm thoroughfare of any kind leading to it. It was midwinter, and to save the visitors from bogging or drowning, an avenue was buoyed at intervals on each side with rude torches, fastened to poles secured in the ground, and soldiers, and every policeman that could be spared patrolled the bush track from the junction of Queen and Latrobe Streets, between Plagstaff Hill and the Cemetery, to act as pilots. A newspaper of the time prints the folloyving invoice of liquors consumed on the interesting occasion, viz :—•" Champagne eight dozen, Sherry three dozen, Brandy two dozen, R u m one dozen, Port one and a-half dozen, Ale and Porter five dozen." Possibly the R u m was rationed out to the military guard and others on duty. About this time there yvas an unexpended balance from what yvas known as "the Black Thursday Relief Fund," and ,£250 was the Benevolent Asylum's share of it. The Committee's action yvas challenged by subscribers to the Relief Fund, and at a meeting held to condemn what was termed a "gross mis-appropriation," a resolution yvas carried requesting the various Institutions to refund the contributions wrongfully made ; but this the Asylum authorities refused to do.
System of Management.
As the period for the opening ofthe Asylum was at hand, the Government advanced ,£350, and the yvork was rapidly proceeded with. It was agreed to have a Resident Medical Officer at ,£100 a year, a Superintendent at £ 6 0 , and a Matron at .£40, with board and residence. The resolution providing for thefirstofficial gave much dissatisfaction, and yvas afterwards rescinded. A special meeting of subscribers was held on the 8th November, 1851, to consider and determine upon the rules for the government of the Institution. Mr. J. P. Fawkner yvas appointed Chairman, and it was agreed that Life Governorships should be conferred upon individuals contributing ,£20, or collecting a like sum in one year from donors not claiming membership, or any person for w h o m a Society might pay ,£20, or thefirst-namedExecutor of a Will bequeathing ,£50 to the Charity. Every subscriber of,£i yearly yvas to be an Annual Governor. T h e Management was to be vested in a President, two Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Secretary, and a Committee not exceeding twenty-four Governors, to be elected annually. The ex officio members were to consist of the Lieutenant-Governor, Speaker of the Legislative Council, Colonial Secretary, Mayor of Melbourne, the resident principal Ministers of each Religious Congregation yvithin the City of Melbourne, being qualified as Governors, and the Medical Officers. T h e Medical Staff yvas to consist of two Physicians and two Surgeons, the qualification of the former to be the degree of M.D. at some University of Great Britain or Ireland, and of the latter, a diploma at some University or College of Surgeons in Great Britain or Ireland, to be chosen for four years, one of each to retire every two years, but to be eligible for re-election. N o convict was to be admissible as an inmate until he or she should have resided in the Colonv for three years after the expiration of sentence. At a subsequent meeting the Honorary Staff was reduced to one Physician and one Surgeon.
