Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 26 December 1856, page 4


ARRIVAL OF HIS EXCELLENCY SIR

H. BARKLY.

The arrival of his Excellency Sir H. Barkly, the new Governor of Victoria, on Tuesday night, took the inhabitants of it's metropolis rather by surprise. The lateness

of the hour of arrival, after a run impress- ' dentedly short, was probably the cause of this, I but it may also be said that a remissness has prevailed in certain quarters in reference to preparations which should undoubtedly have been made sooner, as the arrival of his Excellency might reasonably have been expected shortly, or rather immediately after Christmas, and that festival generally finds people privately engaged and not inclined to continue in the arena of business.

The Oneidawoa telegraphed as off the Heads at about half-past six on Tuesday evening, and the intelligence was instantly forwarded to the Acting-Governor, Major-General Macarthur, and to such of the members of the Executive as happened to be in Melbourne at the time. The Oneida proceeded up the

Bay, and anchored off the Lighthouse at ten o'clock. As the vessel drew up to her anchor-age ground the Victoria steam-sloop exhibited blue lights from her yard-arms, an example followed by several other vessels, which exhibited from one to four lights each from their mast heads. The strong white glare thrown by those lights must have been of some use to the Oneida, In taking up her anchorage ground in a crowded bay on a dark night. A salute of seventeen guns was fired from the blockship. Rockets were thrown up from all directions, and the passage to and fro of lanterns, port-

fires, c" on the decks of several vessels, con- j veyed rather the idea of a night attack upon some sea-board town than the peaceful and a hearty welcome which the new Governor of' a large colony was receiving. Mr. Childers I went on board the Oneida to welcome his

Excellency, and so, as it was reported, did the!

i Chairman

of the Municipality of Williams- town, with the Town Clerk and a few of the

members. This, however, turns out to have I been an error: no official visit was paid to his Excellency by the members of the Williams- [ town municipality, nor was any address pre-sented. Mr. Mason, the Chairman, went on board, and introduced himself as the Chair- a man of the municipality of Williamstown, V and informed his Excellency that it was the i desire of the Council and the principal / inhabitants to present an address to him, congratulating him on his arrival should

he be willing to receive it on the following morning. For this purpose the Comet steamer would bring them alongside the Oneida. His Excellency replied that he wished to land early in the morning, and that all the arrangements for his proceeding to Toorak wore with Mr. Haines. A little conversation ensued, during which his Excellency showed a local knowledge and interest by inquiring whether there was yet a proper water supply to Williamstown, and whether the railway was completed or not. The answers to these queries are not difficult to guess at. Mr. Mason then left with the understanding that a future opportunity would be given for presenting the address. Mr. Childers went on board the Oneida soon after Mr. Mason had retired. Shortly after nine o'clock on the following morning his Excellency, with Lady and Miss Barkly, quitted the Oneida. He was saluted by seventeen guns from the guard-ship. The Oneid't saluted as he passed over the side, and other vessels in the Bay added their quota to the cannonade

His Excellency reached the Sandridge Jetty in the boat of the steam-sloop Victoria. The jetty was crowded with people, who cheered the new Governor as he landed. He was received

on the pier by Major-General Macarthur and suite ; but no military were present as a guard of honour. His Excellency and family then entered Major-General Macarthur's carriage and proceeded at once to Toorak. We are informed that a body of the Volunteer Rifles and a detachment of the 10th Regiment were on the road to receive the new Governor, but did not arrive on the ground in time.

We are informed on good authority that his Excellency desired to visit Melbourne on the day of his landing, but on its being intimated to him that the promptitude of his passage out had left the City of Melbourne no time to make any preparation, and that the citizens were extremely desirous to re ; colonies in a fitting manner, his Excel 1 lency consented to postpone his visit to

Friday, when he would proceed to the Government House to be sworn in in the usual form.

The following are the military arrangements which will be followed on the occasion :

General Order, Head-quarters, Melbourne,

24th December, 1856.

On the occasion of his Excellency Sir H. Barkly taking the oath as Governor, on Friday next, the 20th Inst., at eleven am

The following military arrangements will take place. A guard of honour, with the regimental colours and band of the loth Regiment, consisting of one captain, two subalterns, four sergeants, two drummers, and eighty rank and file, will be formed in front of the Exhibition Building at half-past ten a.m.

The Volunteer Artillery Regiment will furnish a, sufficient number to fltoasaluteof sovonteongunsfroiu Batman's hill on the arrival of his Excellency at the Exhibition Building, and a similar salute on his departure therefrom.

The officer commanding the Victoria Yeomanry Corps will furnish a sufficient escort under the necessary number of officers to form an escort to his Excellency. BTho escort to be formed by ten a.m. at the Prince's Bridge Barracks, where it is to join his Excellency on his route from Toorak.

By Command, J. MARTIN BLADEN- NRII,,

Lt-Col. Deputy Adgt.-Gen.

The arrangements made by the Melbourne Corporation, who assembled in committee on Wednesday afternoon to discuss them in pursuance

of a previous determination, will be found in our advertising columns, under the head 'Public Notices."

PROGRAMME OF PROCESSION,

To be formed on the occasion of his Excellency

Sir Henry Barkly proceeding to take the Oaths of Office as Governor of Victoria, on Friday, 26th December, 1856.

Military

Volunteers

Municipal Councils

Corporation or Geelong

Magistrates

Clergy

Corporation of Melbourne

Members of the Legislative Assembly Members of the Legislative Council

Their Honors the Puisne Judges

, The Consuls

Members of the Executive Council

His Honor the Chief Justice

HW ExcKMiRXcr Tim Govunxou ASSETS,

Guard of Honor

Members of the Chamber of Commerce

Private Carriages

Gentlemen on Horseback The order of Freemasons

The order of Odd Fellows and other Orders

Trades.

The procession will form on the St. Kilda road, on the north side of the toll-gate, at ten o'clock a.m.; and the several public bodies intending to be present are requested to cross the bridge from Melbourne proper not later than half-past nine o'clock.

CHRISTMAS EXCURSIONS The recollection of Christmas fare and the genial fire-sides of Old England, with the experience of bright, hot, sunshiny weather, and an abandon-ment to the enjoyment attendant on excursion trips into the Bay and the suburban townships these have formed the "merrie Christmas" of a considerable number of our citizens during the present season. Full 800 persons were landed yesterday at Queenscliffe by the Citizen, Sophia, and Keera, steamers and the Express steamer took a considerable number to Schnapper Point. In the Citizen steamer alone there were full three hundred and fifty persons, which composed an excursion party of the friends and congregation of the Oxford-street chapel, Collingwood, in aid of the building fund of that place of worship. The party left the Queen's Wharf at eight o'clock a.m., and in grassing the Oneida steamship, anchored off the

lighthouse, the officers and crew of the royal

mail ship manned the deck and gave three hearty cheers, which were taken up and repeated by the excursion party, until the Bay

resounded with the echo. The Citizen arrived at Queenscliffe about noon, and landed her merry cargo on a pier which is in the course of projection for the purpose of of giving facilities in the landing of passengers and the ship-ment of produce. It may not be generally known that the village of Queenscliffe includes about sixty comfortably-built residences, and the inhabitants are principally engaged in raising vegetable and agricultural produce. After dlsportiug_about the beach, ascending the lighthouse, and partaking of luncheon and tea on the green, the excursionists returned on board at half-past five o'clock, and disembarked at the Queen's Wharf at a quarter-past nine. Three hearty cheers were then given for Captain M'Lean for the great attention which he had bestowed throughout the day on the party, a compli-ment which he most justly earned and do served.

INQUESTS AT SANDRIDGE On Tuesday last, an inquest was held at Sandridge before Dr. Wilmot, the City Coroner, on the body of a

man named William Carr, a waterman, aged 22 years, who was found drowned near the Railway Pier under the following circum-stances In the morning, about 9 o'clock, Mr. Moss, goods manager at the pier, heard that a body had been found floating about amongst the ships there. Deceased's trousers had been pulled down over his feet, and it is probable to this circumstance that death was attribut-able, as he was thereby prevented from extricating himself. Verdict accordingly. -An inquest was also held on Tuesday on the body of a man named Francisco Fareno, who was

drowned in consequence of having jumped overboard from the ship Meggy Miller, while

in a state of temporary insanity. A verdict, to that effect was returned. -A third inquest was held on the body of a man named Robert Louis Harvey. The jury found that he had died from natural causes, during an epileptic

seizure.

ROYAL The time-honoured custom of commemorating boxing-night by the E reduction of a new pantomime is to be had

ered to at this theatre, and on every load wall we observe the lace-bordered bills which announce the style and title of the arithmetical novelty, which is from the pen of W. M. Akhurst, Esq., and bears the scholastic de-signation of "Multiplication is vexation, Division is as bad ; or Harlequin Eulo of Three and the Genius of the Crystal Lake of Learning." Mr. Charles Young is to be Clown, Mr. Chambers, Harlequin; and Madame Melinger, Columbine on the occasion. Report speaks very highly of the manner in which the pantomime will be put upon the stage,

VICTORIA ILLUSTRATED -we have received from the publishers, Messrs. Sands and Kenny, a handsome volume, containing nearly fifty views of the principal towns and gold-fields of the colony. The engraving! for the work have been executed in London from faithful and excellent drawings by Mr. S. T. Gill, of Melbourne. This volume, which has been opportunely brought out within the last few days, is well adapted for a Christmas gift, or for conveying to friends at home an accurate and pleasing impression of the principal localities of Victoria.