absolute giving way on the part of the Assembly, and certain to lead to discomfiture. The country went wholly with Sir James MᶜCulloch, and, at the dissolution, Mr. Berry was badly beaten, both at Collingwood and for the Murray Boroughs, remaining out of Parliament for three years. In 1866 he joined with others in purchasing the Geelong Register, with which the Advertiser was shortly amalgamated, and went to reside in that town. Not long afterwards he unsuccessfully contested South Grant against Mr. Stutt; but in 1868 was returned for Geelong West, having in the meantime performed the active duties of editor of the Advertiser, and written most of the leading articles. Mr. Berry first acceded to ministerial office as Treasurer in the short-lived Macpherson Government in 1870. Beyond making his first budget speech, Mr. Berry had, however, very little opportunity of distinguishing himself, his chief being promptly displaced by Sir James MᶜCulloch. In 1871 Mr. Berry was again returned for Geelong West, and entered the Ministry of Sir Charles Gavan Duffy as Treasurer and Minister of Customs in June of that year. He, however, resigned the latter post in the following November, and finally left the Ministry in May 1872. In 1874 he was again returned for Geelong West. In the meantime the Francis and Kerferd Ministries intervened, the defeat of Mr. Service's budget In the latter Government bringing Mr. Berry into power for the first time, as Premier and Chief Secretary of Victoria, in August 1875. The introduction of a land tax caused the speedy defeat of the new Government. Mr. Berry thereupon applied for a dissolution, which was refused him by the Acting Governor (Sir William Stawell), and Sir James MᶜCulloch once more returned to power. Mr. Berry, however, holding that he had been unconstitutionally refused an appeal to the people, determined to block all Government business, with a view of forcing on a general election, his contention being that the majority in the Assembly were a decided minority in the country. He and his followers now received the sobriquet of "stonewallers"; and, whilst they blocked business in the House, stumped the country with extraordinary perseverance and success, Mr. Berry's platform deliverances exciting great enthusiasm throughout the colony. Sir James MᶜCulloch strove to put down Parliamentary obstruction by the imposition of a species of closure, which became famous under the designation of the "Iron Hand." By this means he warded off a dissolution until Parliament had run the statutory time. At the general election which ensued the tables were, however, completely turned, only a meagre remnant of his following being returned, the polls giving Mr. Berry an overwhelming majority. Sir James MᶜCulloch having resigned, the popular idol was sent for, and at once opened negotiations with Mr. Service, who had assumed an attitude of independent hostility to the MᶜCulloch Government, and with several leading members of the Opposition who had not been included in the previous Administration. They, however, all declined his overtures, though Mr. Service for a considerable time observed towards him a friendly neutrality; and Mr. Berry was obliged to be content with the materiel of his first Cabinet, with the exception of Mr. Munro, who refused office. Had the gentlemen to whom Mr. Berry primarily applied found it compatible with their sentiments to respond to the invitation, it is probable that most of the acerbity which characterised the proceedings of the next three years would never have been aroused—certainly it would never have reached the same height. It is beyond our scope to detail the particulars of the struggle which followed. A land tax, having for its object to restrict the accumulation of land in the hands of individuals, was carried through Parliament; but the inclusion of payment of members in the ordinary Appropriation Bill, instead of its being dealt with by a special bill, brought on the storm which had previously evaporated in protests, the Council setting it aside, whereupon a deadlock ensued, which lasted from May 1877 to April 1878, when a compromise was arrived at which saved the dignity of both parties. It was during this struggle that the dismissals of the civil servants took place on what has become memorable as Black Wednesday, Mr. Berry declining to consider any arrangements for the borrowing of funds similar to those which he had condemned when adopted by Sir James MᶜCulloch. Though the storm was somewhat allayed,
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