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THE CHRONLCLES OF EARLY MELBOURNE.

CUSTOMS CHARGES.

For every steam-vessel, employed in the coasting trade, from one port of New South Wales to another is. 3d. entry, and is. 3d. clearance. For every vessel registered in Sydney, and so employed, if abovefifty,and not exceeding one hundred tons, 4s. entry, and 4s. clearance. For every such vessel so employed, if above one hundred tons, 10s. entry, and 10s. clearance. For every ship or vessel, 15s. entry, and 15s. clearance. LIGHTHOUSE DUES.

s. d. O n every ship or vessel abovefifty,and not exceeding one hundred tons, employed in the coasting trade, from one port of N e w South Wales to another ... ... ... ... 2 o O n every steam-vessel, the ton register measurement ... ... ... ... ... o oj^ O n every other ship or vessel, the ton register measurement ... ... ... ... o 2

POSTSCRIPT.

An old colonist has favoured me with a maritime memo, written from memory, and full of interesting gossip. Though there may be discrepancies between it and m y own published resume, it will be found substantially correct, and extremely readable. It may also be mentioned that some of the incidents detailed are dated later than 1851, the period when m y C H R O N I C L E S are supposed to terminate :— " One of the earliest, if not thefirst,passenger vessel which arrived in Port Phillip was the ship 'John Barry,' from Sydney, which cast anchor in Hobson's Bay, on 1st March 1839, au:er a fine run of 10 days.* She conveyed to this colony a large number of passengers, including Dr. Patterson, the first Immigration Agent here. A few weeks prior to this, a large number of emigrants had arrived in N e w South Wales, which caused employment to be very scarce; and, as the new settlement at Port Phillip was opening up then, the Government offered a free passage to any who wished to try their fortunes there. Some hundreds availed themselves of this opportunity and took passage in the 'John Barry,' and among these were natives of England and Wales, Ireland, north and south, with Scotland, including the Highlands. Amongst the Caledonians were five families named Macdonald, and the captain numbered them off as Macdonald No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. There was only one small steamer, named the ' Firefly,' running from Hobson's Bay to Melbourne and as the terms were too high, the captain landed the men and boys at Liardet's Beach (now known as Sandridge) whence they walked into town; while the women, children and luggage were put in the largest ship's boat and towed up the Yarra by a smaller craft manned by eight sailors. Much Their progress was slow, and it was 11 o'clock at night before the basin was reached. difficulty was experienced in obtaining accommodation, as there was only one small house building in the town then, a two-roomed brick place, situated, and still standing in a lane opposite the Theatre Royal. The new arrivals had many obstacles to encounter, and provisions were high, flour being ,£70 per ton. A large schooner named the 'Industry,' from Hobart Town, was then lying in the basin. As the population increased, trade improved, and numbers of vessels arrived direct from England and Scotland, bringing many passengers; but according to the Land Regulations all the purchase-money was devoted to Immigration. In the course of two or three years so many immigrants arrived from home that employment became very slack, and hundreds were out of work. There was much distress, and the Government gave employment to men, making a road from Emerald Hill to Sandridge.

• Another writer-Mr. B. Rose, of Nar Nar Goon-places the "John Barry's" arrival on the evening of the 30th April.-Eo.