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Early Portland. An Interesting History. (Continued.) 1883. Borough valuation, £18,005. Col- onel Ward honored Portland with his presence. Mr. Wrixon re-elec- ted without opposition. Major Trangmar laid the memorial stone of the Cape Nelson lighthouse, on 19th April. Mr. F. Henty presents lectern to St. Stephen's Church in memory of his wife. The new "Portland," built by Messrs. J. Pill and H. Dusting, was launched in May. Portland Handicap won by Hughes' Magic ; with Whitehead's Winifred second. Free Library reading room first opened to the public on 14th May. Important   special meeting of Borough Coun- cil on a report by Cr. Pile, of his visit to Melbourne, re: harbor works. Cr. Pile reported that the Government would go on with the boat harbor if the Council abrogated Sir John Coode's "inner harbor" scheme. The cost would not trench on the £42,000 set apart for a breakwater. After a lengthy sit- ting, during which six motions were tabled, the meeting broke up without determining anything. Subse- quently, on the motion of Cr. Shev- ill, a resolution was carried urging the Government to at once continue the existing boat harbor works, and declining to offer an opinion on Sir John Coode's scheme on the ground that it was a national work, and therefore one for the consideration of the Government and taxpayers generally. Pier station opened for passenger trafic on 26th May. Mr. Steel suggests the abandonment of the boat harbor works, and proposes a scheme on the lines of Sir John Coode's inner harbor scheme at a cost of £10,000. A public meeting disproves of the above proposal, re- commends the extension of the east- ern wall of the boat harbor and its return in a north-westerly direction, and requests that the balance of the loan money be immediately devoted to the commencement of Sir John Coode's outer breakwater. The Hon. A Deakin, Minister of Public Works, visits the town, and a large deputation of fishermen asks, for shelter without touching on the ques- tion of design or cost. The Bor- ough Council, at a special meeting, had been unable to come to any de- cision on the matter. Stated that the plan submitted by Mr. Steel was based on one drawn by Mr. W. Mac- kay, embracing the ideas of the fish- ermen on the subject. On 17th July the Borough Council passed a motion unanimously approving of Mr. Steel's scheme. This was to commence at or near the Battery paddock, and to run into 24 ft. of water. Messrs. Bevan, Marriott, and Clarke returned for the Borough without opposition. Mr. P. W. Shevill elected Mayor, and Mr. E. McMullen returned for the extraord- inary vacancy in the Borough Coun- cil. W. Stewart obtains damages to the extent of £174/7/3 from the Bank of Australasia for dishonor- ing his cheque. Borough Council decided to amalgamate the offices of town clerk and engineer. A shark 30 ft. long was captured in the bay. H.M.S. Raven visited this port in November. The Sussex, the pio- neer direct wool steamer from Port- land to London, was loaded in De- cember. Messrs. Anderson and Co. and Mr. P. W. Shevill appear to have been responsible for this desirable innovation. The Sussex took 2,737 bales of wool. 1884. No nomination lodged for an ex- traordinary vacancy in the Borough Council. The Council accepts a 300 ft. extension of the boat harbor in lieu of the inner breakwater scheme submitted by Mr. Steel in the previous year. A public meeting unanimously carried the following resolution, on the motion of Mr. D. Kay, seconded by Mr. J. R. Woods :-   "That this meeting feels deeply that any further expenditure upon the boat harbor works, condemned by the Comissioner of Public Works and Mr. Steel, would be of no ser- vice to this port as a present protec- tion for small craft and contractor's plant, nor in the future for any pur- pose whatever, and respectfully   submits that no portion of the vote for Portland harbor improvements should be expended thereon, but that   the whole amount voted should be reserved for the permanent and sub- stantial harbor from Battery Point into the deep waters of the bay ; and earnestly urges the necessity of at once proceeding with the work." At the next Borough Council meeting the Department wrote to the effect that if the Council would assume the responsibility of saying that the boat harbor works should not be pro- ceeded with, the matter would not be shelved. It was denied that the Inspector-General had condemned the boat harbor works. Last par- ade of the volunteer corps - Colonel Disney and Major Brownrigg pres- ent. Trophy won by the battery presented to Major Trangmar. Branxholme to Casterton railway opened for traffic on 15th February. Messrs. Mattinson and Ibbotson's tender at £6,393, accepted for the boat harbor extension works. The Agent won the Portland Handicap, with magic second. Garrison Ar- tillery corps established under the Discipline Act. The Chang Chow, 1100 tons, drawing 14 feet of water, came alongside the pier to land Chiarini's circus. The "Guardian" reduced to a bi-weekly issue in July. Cape Nelson lamp lighted by the Mayor (Mr. P. W. Shevill) and Mr. T. W. Pile on 7th July. The great event of the year was the celebra- tion of the jubilee of the settlement of the colony of Victoria by Mr. Ed- ward Henty. The celebrations were on a large scale, and com- prised a banquet, ball, vice-regal re- ception, regatta, pyrotechnical dis- play, and side shows without num- ber. His Excellency, Sir Henry Loch, His Grace the Duke of Man- chester, Mr. F. Henty, Mr. N. Thorn- ley, Mr. Wrixon, Captain Thomas, R.N., and other notables were pres- ent. The proceedings passed off without a hitch. A medal was struck commemorative of the occa- sion. Mr. P. W. Shevill was Mayor at the time and discharged his heavy responsibilties in a manner that left nothing to be desired. Mr. J. R. Woods, the hon. secretary, also earned signal credit for the energy he threw into the affair, and which was a prominent factor in its suc- cess. A credit balance was carried forward and deposited in the bank as the nucleus of a Henty Memorial Fund. Captain Fermaner, the old- est pioneer at the recent jubilee of the Melbourne City Council, was pre-   sent at the celebrations. Telephone     connection between Portland and   Cape Nelson set up in December. Three steamers despatched with wool direct to London. On seaside excursion tickets 278       visitors came to Portland between 15th December and 5th January.   Portland Battery disbanded on 16th       February, chiefly owing to the indif- ference displayed by members. Of     a nominal strength of 75 only 25      

turned up to an inspection by the commandant. Mr. O. O'Reilly paid £1,000 into the bank for the erec- tion of a spire at All Saints. The Salvation Army commenced opera- tions. Public meeting hold in ref- erence to the disbandment of the Ar- tillery, and a deputation sent to Melbourne on the matter. Port- land Rifle Club inaugurated chiefly through the exertions of Mr. F. L. Lyne. Portland Handicap won by Little John, with Echo second. The Portland fishing flotilla numbered 65 boats. Fishermen's Union estab- lished in May. German warship Hyena put in 19th June. Messrs. Pile, Webb and Kay elected council- lors unopposed. Mr. P. W. Shev- ill re-elected Mayor. French cor- vette Magon visited the port. Hey- wood Mounted Rifles organised. Pipe organ, at a cost of £250, placed in the Wesleyan Church, mainly through the exertions of Mr. F. L. Phillips. Mr. C. H. Badnall, jour- nalist, died 20th November, aged 55. 1886. Mr. Wrixon, then Attorney-Gen- eral, returned without opposition. The Priestman dredge made an in- effectual attempt to form a channel at the boat harbor. Mr. J. N. Mc- Leod died 18th April. T. Cawker's Colewort won the Portland Handi- cap. Australian Natives Associa- tion established a branch here in August. Mr. Semple sold the "'Guardian" to Mr. Pettit in July. In August he re-sold to Mr. J. R. Kean, and the "Mir- ror" became incorporated with it. The "Guardian" was again is sued tri-weekly. Messrs. Day, Stewart and Bevan elected to the Council. Cr. Pile elected Mayor. Executive Council approved of the re-establishment of the Portland Militia on 19th September. The Mayor (Mr. W. T. Pile), Crs. Shev- ill and Kay, and the town clerk, Mr. Gribble, represented the Borough at the municipal jubilee celebrations in Sydney. Wool received during 1885-86, 13,629 bales. Up to June in 1886, £11,863 of the harbor works loan had been expended. Hor- ticultural Society revived. Port- land Rifle Club holds its first annual matches, which were a brilliant suc- cess, there being over 400 competi- tors. 1887. Sir John Coode's report came to hand. Condah drainage works commenced in January. Mr. Nim- mo, Minister of Public Works, vis- ited the town, and a deputation from the Council gave a conditional ap- proval of Mr. Steel's boat harbor scheme, Sir John Coode to be re- ferred to on the subject. The Pen- cil won the Portland Handicap, with Leroy second. All Saints' iron spire, the only one of its kind south of the line, was completed about March. The Jubilee of Her Maj- esty's accession to the throne was the red letter day of the year. Mr. W. T. Pile, the Mayor of the year, came out with a liberality that has never been excelled by any public man in Portland. He distributed almost (if not quite) a thousand medals at his own expense, and indeed, as be- fore stated, exhibited unexampled liberality. An address of congrat- ulation was sent home to Her Maj- esty. The celebration here con- sisted of a children's fete, pyrotech- nic display, Foresters' dinner, etc. The inmates of the Benevolent Asy- lum and the gaol were also kindly re- membered. The Australian Nat- ives Association initiated a move- ment in commemoration of the occa- sion, which resulted in a large por- tion of the streets being planted with trees. Mr. John Campbell, the only candidate for three vacan- cies in the Borough Council. Cr. Pile re-elected Mayor. Cadet Corps established. Compulsory half- holiday initiated. Sir John Coode's plan for a boat harbor received. A considerable amount collected to cr- eat a band pavilion as a memento of Her Majesty's jubilee, but the Borough Council objected to the site (between the town hall and the court house), and the promoters threw the matter up. The Council decided to ask the Government to proceed with Sir John Coode's boat harbor scheme at once. Women's Christian Temperance Union estab- lished. Messrs. Hanlon and Tric- key elected to the Borough Council. Mr. Francis laid plans of proposed goods sheds before the Borough Council. The work of pulling the boat harbor to pieces commenced. 1888. Railway Department repudiates the plans submitted some time pre- viously to the Borough Council. De- putation appointed in reference to the matter. The Borough Council informed Mr. Wrixon, after an in- terview with that gentleman, that they approved of the boat harbor and asked that it be proceeded with at once. New orderly-room com- pleted in March. Portland public band inaugurated on 26th July. Messrs. Jas. R. Woods, J. Wiltshire and T. Webb elected councillors. Cr. Stewart elected Mayor. Rail- way League formed in July to for- ward the Casterton-Noradjuha ex- tension. Rigby and Sons' tender, at £2,479/9/-, accepted for corpor- ation hot and cold saltwater baths. Wool received here, season 1887-88, 14,970 bales, as against 4,241 bales Wool received here, season 1887-8, in 1882-83. Mr. James Trangmar, a leading public man for many years, died 16th December. An- other coal mine discovered in the lo- cality. (To be continued.)

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