MELBOURNE TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS SINCE.

West Coast Times, Issue 391, 24 December 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

MELBOURNE T WENTY-EIGHT YEARS SINCE.

[TROJt THE AUrfTKALASIAN.]

After looking over a collection of curious and interesting chronicles of Victorian history, the writer finds himself induced to pause and expatiate on a very remarkable point in the retrospect. It was in the year 1808 that the first newspaper printed in the colony made its appearance. For some months previously a manuscript sheet of weekly information had been issued to the Melbourne public, its intelligence flowing directly from the industrious fore-finger of the redoubtable John Pascoe Fawkner. But, on the 27th of October, 1838, Messrs Arden and Strode produced the j first number of the " Port Phillip Gazette," the earliest newspaper of legalised issue presented to the public in what is now the colony of Victoria. Volume No. 1 of the said journal is now before us, and seems to mark a giant stride in the march of enterprise and social development in the young community. The " Gazette" made its first appearance ou one sheet of four pages of about the size of "The Australasian." It is most admirably printed as regards typographical accuracy, spacing of lines, ;md general make up. Literal errors are nowhere to be discovered, and nothing but tho obviously second-hand-: expression of the type face prevents the paper comparing favorably, as a specimen of printing excellence, with most of our modern journals. In the first number we have the introductory manifesto of the editors, iv which they announce, among other things, their determination to avoid the discussion of party politics, and to abstain from personal remarks. The editorial motto iuiis thus: — " To assist the euquiring, to animate the struggling, and to sympithise with all." This avowed catholicity of sympathy brings a speedy appeal from a suffering bachelor, who complains of being unable to got marred without a magisterial licence from Sydney. Communication with the capital of New South Wales in those days was both unfrequent and uncertain. The ship Eden is reported as having arxived at Sydney in five months after leaving Loudon, and her budget of late news is given to the readers of the " Gazette " twenty-four days afterwards. In one number of the paper we were startled bj r stumbling on some reference to an agitation about an overland mail, but this seeais to have meant a horse-cart to Geelong. However, to return to the first issue. One Thomas Hobbler, a ruuaway convict from Van Diemen's Lund, is advertised as having escaped from the Melbourne gaol of the period by " digging his way out with a piece of iron-hoop or a pocket-knife." This government fortress is described as being twelve feet square, and built of brick, aud is severely stigmatised iv the editorial comment as sadly inadequate for its purpose. The sale of a building allotment in the centre of Bourke street, with a frontage of sixtysix feet, for LIOB, is reported as instancing the extraordinary increase in the value of property. To this etate-

ment is simply appended two notes of admiration, as if to say, where is this recklessness of speculation to end '? A leading article in this same number contains a passage which coinmen,ds itself to the attention of all who interest themselves in the great question of the present day, the settlement of the people on the public lands. It is as follows — " We trust to see this an agricultural country : everything ought to be done, every inducement held out. every facility afforded to the class of small farmers who can and will turn every foot of land to account, every acre to the production of corn." The arrival of a parcel of red tape aud official foolscap is reported from Sydney, as if the machinery of government had been at a stand-still for want of working materials. Sarcastic reference is made to the parsimony of the local, authorities in publishing some advertisements on written slips pasted to the 1 doors of the police office, instead of seeking the proper channel of publicity, the " Port Phillip Gazette." One leading article is devoted to a sudelen and confusing visitation having come upon the "city of the settlers," as Melbourne was sometimes called. All the public-bouses in the place were one da)' abruptly closed. The license from the Sydney Government had expired with the month, and the renewals had not come to hand. How many days of fast and humiliation were consequently endured is not state}, but the town is said to have worn a mournful and desolate appearance, as if stricken by the hand of heavy affliction. News from Sydney is given in one number to the effect that Captain Innos, a police magistrate, had committed to gaol a female prisoner brought before him on the charge of being a '"common scold." The gallant captain's spirited action in the matter is warmly I eulogised. The arrival of Mr Thomas 3fcubbs in this colony is here announced,' but for the time a Mr Williams ssems to have monopolised the rhetorical flourishes and ornamental bunkum of auctioneering. A great deal is made of the offering for sale by auction of the first allotment purchased at a Government land sal<* in Melbourne, which is described as being at the junction of Flinders and King streets. Mr Williams alsl> advertises a discribution by lottery of ( " four grand frontages to Collins street, with 400 head of cattle of all ages.* The latter were to be assorted in minor prizes. On the day of drawing <:icket-hol tiers were to be entertained with an elegant collatiou, and cheered witfi " the sparkling wines of Italy, France, aud Germany." On the 4tb September, in this same year, a pack of -hounds are announced to meet at Williamstowu ; but they might have been truffle hounds for all mention of them afterwards made, no account being given of their per f'ormances. A letter 'to the editor strongiy advocates the? absolute necessity of a town clock for Melbourne, to promote order and punctuality iti business. The same want is said to have been from time to' time referred to ever since that period, and has not been supplied to the 1 present day. Merchandise seems to have been liable to sudden variations of value as stocks became short or abundant. Sewing needles were sold by a fortunate holder at threepence each, and pins were for a short time exceedingly well worth picking up. A bold speculator who had cleared the market of pickles, reaped the fruits of his enterprise by selling them speedily at 7s 6d a bottle. The Melbourne Club House at this time was commenced among the gum trees in Collins street ; and a Yarra Bridge Company was formed, with a capital of LSOOQ, to construct an iron bridge across the Yarra, and to supersede the punt. This latter speculation, which, must have had but a very moderate aim with such limited funds, seem? to have lapsed. Iv "June of this year the town of Melbourne is announced to contain a population ot 1800, with nearly 300 buildings of all kinds, of the estimated value of L 60,000- Within two years these figures wer^ found to be more than doubled.

Iv 1836 Mr Fawkner described the settlement as, having assumed "quite the appearance of a village," and the population as having " increased to upwards of 200." The editor of the "Port Phillip- Gazette," speaking of his arrival here iv January, 1838, describes the appearance of Melbourne as reminding him of an Indian' village — " a nucleus of huts embowered in forest foliage, and peering at itself in the shining river that laved the thresholds of its tenements." As the ' good town of Melbourne prospered and increased, so did the journal of Messrs Arden and Strode. The paper was very soon enlarged, and printed twice a week, and seems to have been conducted with an ability sufficient to explain its great success. On looking over its early pages we discover fully as much intelligence displayed in the round of correspondents' letters as in that we meet with in the pi-esent day ; and the original poety with which the customary corner is profusely embellished, displays an amount of taste and ability above the average of what is usually in this way exhibited. Altogether, the volume standb before us as a remarkable monument of the enterprise and intelligent progress of the early settlers, and an interesting reflex of their social condition in the year 1838.

la what Icey would a lover write a, proposal of marriage f Be mine, ah !