CHAPTER XLI.
FUEL, LIGHT, AND WATER.
SYNOPSIS: —Early Searches for Coal. —The Early Days of Lighting. —Mr. William Overton, the Introducer of Gas. —The Rev. John Allen's Gas Lectures. —The First Gas Company. —First Water Company. —The First Water Supply Scheme. —Arrival of Mr. James Blackburn. —Etymology of the "Yan Yean." —Melbourne's First Supply from the Yan Yean.
Firewood.
IN Early Melbourne coal was a luxury unobtainable and uncared for, and fire-grates or stoves in dwellings, with but few exceptions, were unknown. The fire-hearth was spacious, the wood-logs in abundance, and so the cold winter nights passed over in cosy, though rough, enjoyment. In summer the fires would be banished out of doors, and such was the general carelessness manifested that it was little short of miraculous that serious accidents did not frequently occur. A traffic in firewood necessarily became a primitive industry, and wood boats plied on the Upper Yarra; but the principal business was done with the bullock-drays laid on from the suburbs of South Yarra, Richmond, and Collingwood, the Merri Creek and adjacent places. Dead timber was to be found anywhere but after a time tree-felling had to be resorted to. The removal of trees was effected under regulations issued by Commissioners of Crown Lands, and, in the Melbourne Circuit, Major St. John exercised all the powers of a petty despot in a most capricious, though not illiberal manner. A good load of wood could be obtained for five or six shillings, though the rate reached as many pounds during the two or three years following the gold discoveries in 1851.
Coal.
Since the European occupation of the Province, a belief existed that both gold and coal would be found sooner or later in this portion of the Australian continent; but to coal, as the most urgently required article, public attention was specially devoted. It was a frequent topic of discussion in the columns of the early newspapers, though not until the 4th March, 1841, was there any concerted action towards the discovery of a payable coal field. Some indications of the mineral having been unearthed by a Mr. Cameron, the leader of a private exploring party, and the exhibition by him of some specimens declared to have been found at Western Port, created a mild furore, and a public meeting was forthwith held "to determine the practicability of working the mines recently discovered." It came off at the Royal Hotel in Collins Street, and the Chair was taken by Mr. Arthur Kemmis, then a leading (but long since deceased) merchant. Cameron was in attendance, and submitted a very glowing viva voce report. If a tithe of it were reliable, there could not be the shadow of a doubt of the exhaustless black diamond treasures awaiting only the co-operative power of men and money to be exhumed. His statement afforded unmixed satisfaction—so much so, indeed, that though only £500 was the sum required "to bore for coal, and make such other examination as may be necessary," more than that amount was subscribed in the room. If the result proved as anticipated, a company was to be formed. A practical miner, named Watson, and four men were equipped with all needful means and appliances, and despatched to Wilson's Promontory, and the places adjacent, where by drifting, sinking and boring the problem was to be solved. It was afterwards said that this Watson had given out that he had previously discovered a splendid coal field close to the water's edge, and by such deception had humbugged everyone connected with the movement. The expedition eventuated in a decided failure; though there could be no question of the presence of coal,
