934
THE CHRONLCLES THE
OF EARLY
MELBOURNE.
OPENING DAY.
From n a.m. of the 13th the Council Chamber commenced to assume a lively appearance, and by noon, there was, in theatrical parlance, a " bumper house." In the body of the C h a m b e r the members' benches were surrendered to the ladies, of w h o m there was a fair sprinkling, whilst the strangers' gallery was, in the hyperbolic language of the newspapers, " crammed to the ceiling." T h e Resident Judge (A'Beckett), the Sheriff, and other Government officers were present, and prominent around the Bar were the Mayor, Aldermen, Councillors, and T o w n Clerk. Four pieces of artillery, planted on an eminence in the Government Reserve, b o o m e d forth the departure of the Lieutenant-Governor for the Council Chamber. His Excellency travelled in an open carriage, and was accompanied by his Private Secretary and Aide-de-camp. His escort consisted of a few mounted troopers, and in front of St. Patrick's Hail was a guard of honour picked from the military detachment. His Excellency was received at the door by the Speaker, the Colonial Secretary, and the Attorney-General, and followed by them, he took up his position to the left of the Speaker's Chair. All the members rose as His Excellency passed, and at his request, Mr. Speaker asked them to be seated. T h e Lieutenant-Governor, in a lengthy address, thus adverted to the goldfields :—" There is still one subject of great and absorbing interest to which it m a y be proper for m e to advert, as it is one which will undeniably exercise a great and lasting influence upon the future position and prospects of our colony. T h e discovery of the existence of gold in large quantities in N e w South Wales earlier in the year, has been quickly followed by that of mineral wealth in equal, or perhaps greater abundance within our o w n limits, under circumstances which might leave it to be inferred that it m a y be found to exist throughout the length and breadth of the colony. T h e immediate effects of this discovery, the influences which it has at the outset exercised more or less upon the whole population, and monetary difficulties and anxiety to which it has given rise, can only be glanced at. I a m encouraged, however, to hope that the more immediate consequences of these discoveries at this particular season of the year m a y ultimately prove less productive of general embarrassment than m a y have been atfirstanticipated, and that it will be found that neither the agricultural nor the pastoral interest will suffer to any very serious extent. I a m also encouraged to trust that the large influx of population from the neighbouring colonies—at the same time that it must involve m a n y grave considerations of a general character—may not be productive of the scarcity which some have apprehended. T h e prospects of the harvest throughout the whole of the colonies are most satisfactory, and there can be little doubt but that abundant supplies from without, sufficient to meet the demand,
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however great or unexpected, will not be wanting. " A n d now, M r . Speaker and Gentlemen, I a m not, for m y part, inclined to undervalue the responsibility of the task which the favour of our gracious Sovereign, the law of our country, and the voice of the community have placed in our hands. It is a noble one, and far higher interests than those of the passing hour demand that it should be well performed. W h a t w e sow our children will reap. It is for us to prove to the Mother-country, by the temper and prudence with which we fulfil our duties, that w e are not unworthy of her ; and w e have to show to the world that in the case of Victoria early precocity, and an extraordinarily rapid, physical, and perhaps moral development, are not necessarily followed by early decay and failure of power, but that under God's good Providence, her mature age will not be unworthy the promise of her youth." His Excellency was dressed in full uniform, and wore the "hat and feathers" afterwards destined to figure for years as a historical bogey, which almost frightened The Argus out of its propriety. After His Excellency's departure the Council adjourned to three o'clock.
THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE " Row."
The Lord's Prayer was, strangely enough, the first "apple of discord" rolled upon the table; and thefirstunseemly Parliamentary "scene" originated in the introduction of a topic which, from
