THE
CHRONLCLES
OF EARLY
MELBOURNE.
557
His studies were pursued with renewed zeal, his experiments multiplied, and at length he publicly intimated his ability to supply portable gas at a low price. H e guaranteed that for a few pounds the requisite apparatus for gas burning could befittedup. H e flew to the newspapers with some of his samples, which, on being tested, were pronounced to have produced satisfactory results, and great illumination was predicted as the consequence. South's plan was to manufacture the gas at his forge, and supply it by the foot the same as kerosene is n o w sold by the gallon. After some consideration, however, people began to think that the project was too "gassy" for any practical results. It was declared that it could not be safely utilized, and at times might not be only inconvenient, but dangerous ; for if persons became accustomed to portable gas, they might go about with a flask or " pocket-pistol" primed with an explosive substance. A n d so poor South and his portable gas were chaffed out of the public mind and soon forgotten. There is n o w (1888) living near Melbourne Mr. William Overton, an old colonist, as firm and wiry in appearance as if he meant to live for another quarter of a century. Coming to Hobart T o w n as a sailor in 1832, he c a m e over to Melbourne a few years after, settled down, and remained here. H e is a Lincolnshire Englishman, and in 1838 opened thefirstconfectioner's shop in a wattle-and-daub hut in Collins Street, pitched next the n e w Bank of Victoria. H e manipulated thefirstbuns and lollipops for the sweet-mouthed adults and juveniles of the period, and prospered accordingly. Overton had with him a M r . David Hill, a Scotch partner, w h o did not c o m e off quite so well, for once, in going through his round of customers, tumbling out of a vehicle he broke his neck, thus acquiring the distinction of being thefirstVictorian martyr to the vagaries of a baker's cart. In course of time Overton m o v e d into larger premises in Swanston Street; next, southerly, to the n o w extensive auction mart of the Brothers H a m , and here it was that gas was first lit in Melbourne on the evening of the 23rd July, 1849. Whether South's long-exploded portable gas notion lingered in Overton's mind I cannot say, but the confectioner got so "gas-bitten" that he determined upon demonstrating that oil lamps and tallow candles were not in accordance with the brightening spirit of the age. Overton got South to construct a retort and gasometer for him, and the expectations of both were amply realized. Overton had two shops, viz., a baker's and confectioner's, and the whole premises were lit up in a style that gave general satisfaction to an immense crowd of persons thronging the street in front to witness the novel exhibition. T h e gas burned well, but Overton did better; for no run on a bank could exceed the rush for cakes and candies on the memorable occasion. T h e Overton success kindled a rage for the new element, and applications were m a d e to him to illuminate other places of business, with which it was not in his power to comply. Nothing was talked of but the establishment of a (Las Company, and Overton lost no time in adopting practical means for effecting so desirable a consummation. Going at once to M r . F. D. W i c k h a m , a Solicitor, he instructed him to prepare a Prospectus, and with this in his pocket Overton soon gathered around him a few smart business m e n , w h o entered heartily into the project. T h e most prominent amongst them was M r . John H o o d , a once well-known chemist, who, having a fair share of common-place volubility, was an effective ally in demonstrating the benefits of the new undertaking.
GAS LECTURES.
But there was another who acted as a powerful auxiliary in educating the public upon the advantages of gas-light, and the feasibility of successfully founding a company for the purpose. This was the Rev. John Allen, a Dissenting minister, w h o was as m u c h interested in the solidification of carbonic acid gas as in Scriptural Expositions, though he was well familiarized with both, and he delivered two exceedingly interesting lectures on the subject in the Mechanics' Institute. In his second discourse, on the 19th August, 1850, he advocated the speedy introduction of gas into the city. For £2, 12s. 6d. cost of candle or oil light, a gas-light of an infinitely superior quality could be obtained at £2 15s. H e had carefully estimated the expense of lighting the city with gas, and the whole expenditure would not exceed ^ 8 0 0 0 , viz., ^ 2 0 0 0 for a building, and ^ 6 0 0 0 for the necessary machinery, service and branch pipes to the houses. All the materials requisite were on the spot, and procurable in a short time.
