THE
CHRONLCLES
OF EARL Y MELBOURNE.
671
the furtherance of female immigration to this district. The Management was to consist of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and a Committee of gentlemen, assisted by a Committee of ladies w h o are members of the Society; the Secretary and other paid officers being elected by the Committee. Three Trustees were to be elected, in w h o m was to be vested the Trust ownership of all lands either granted by the Crown or purchased. T h e Board of Management was to be elected annually. T h e subscription was fixed at _£i per annum (ladies and gentlemen), and a Life Membership was to be conferred upon every ,£10 donor, or the unpaid collector in any one year of £20 from persons not claiming membership on account of any portion of such contributions. T h e Right Rev. Dr. Perry was requested to accept the office of President. At a meeting held on the 31st January, 1851, the Society's functions were enlarged so far as to establish a Friendly H o m e , not only for immigrants on their arrival in the colony, but for any females of respectable character requiring a temporary abode. S o m e progress was m a d e with the good work, but ere the year had closed the chaos evolved by the gold discoveries swept it and other well-meaning projects away.
RELIEF OF HOME DISTRESS.—THE FIRST IRISH MOVEMENT.
In 1846, the Black Famine, like an angel of death, "spread its wings on the blast," and swept as a simoon over the green hills of Ireland, strewing its path with the darkness of desolation; and a cry for help from a famishing people went forth to every part of the civilized globe, to which substantial aid in cash and kind was the ready response. At so terrible a crisis the inhabitants of Port Phillip could not shut their ears to such an appeal, and prompt measures were taken to enable the colonists to do their part in the good work of feeding the hungry. A s the delay of even a day was a matter of importance, the Rev. Dr. Geoghegan, R o m a n Catholic pastor, assumed the responsibility of convening a public meeting to adopt measures " towards the relief of the frightful famine and disease afflicting the people of Ireland." This call of duty was cheerfully answered, and the gathering took place at the R o m a n Catholic School-room in connection with St. Francis' Church, Lonsdale Street, at 6 p.m., of the 12th August. Dr. Geoghegan was voted to the Chair, and effective addresses were delivered by him, Sir (then Mr.) John O'Shanassy, Dr. John Patterson, R.N. (the Immigration Agent), Mr. J. C. King (thefirstT o w n Clerk of Melbourne), and others of lesser note. Resolutions were passed, the principal of which is worth transcription, viz.:—"We (the meeting) disclaim the remotest connection with sectarianism of any sort, and, consequently, unanimously resolve that all remittances of the Relief Fund shall be forwarded to the Protestant and R o m a n Catholic Archbishops of Dublin (Whately and Murray) with special instructions to adopt such steps as shall secure their equitable appropriation in the relief of all sufferers in all parts of Ireland." A subscription list was opened in the room, and what was deemed a remarkable presage of success, was filled in a few minutes to the extent of ,£250, including donations of £ 2 0 each from the St. Patrick Society, and the brewing firm of J. R. and J. Murphy, Dr. Geoghegan ,£10, and Dr. P. Cussen (Colonial Surgeon) ,£5. Though seemingly insignificant amounts when contrasted with modern contributions, those sums were considered strong tests of liberality in the then circumstances of the community. It was thought that if £1,000 could be raised, it would be a substantial testimony to the generosity of the province; but in three months after, the total sum sent h o m e was £1,362 17s. 3d., a marvellous effort of benevolence, when the conditions and resources of the people of the small settlement were taken into consideration. O n the 19th August the adjourned meeting was even an improvement on its predecessor, for the enthusiasm and practical results of thefirstwere exceeded. T h e speakers, too, included some m e n whose adhesion to the cause was a source of m u c h gratification. They were Messrs. Edward Curr (the well-known politician), J. C. King, J. C. Riddell, an eccentric but well-meaning wine and spirit merchant, J.P. ("Johnny") Fawkner, and the Venerable Father Therry. In the course of his remarks Father Therry compared " benevolence to the pure water of the Yarra, contributing its streams to the sea, therefrom to emerge to heaven in vapours, which would in turn pour forth their blessings in fertilizing the country." Poor simple soul ! If he had lived to see that
