Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic. : 1866 - 1943), Saturday 23 March 1867, page 2


NEWS OF THE WEEK. We are in a position to state that the question of Water Supply to Bacchus Marsh is now under the immediate consideration of the Government. Doubtless, in a few days time, the residents in this district will be placed in full possession of the intentions of the Government. One of our most noteworthy residents has been removed from our midst by death. On Sunday last, Mr. William Symington, senior, C.E., died at his residence, after a short illness. This gentle-man was a colonist of some twelve years' standing, nearly nine years of which time was passed in Bacchus Marsh. It will be recollected that, a few months back, this journal contained an article showing that Mr. Symington, lately deceased, was the son of the real inventor of steam navigation, who, in 1789, fitted a boat with a steam propelling apparatus, which was tried on the Forth and Clyde Canal, and with such success that Lord Dundas and the Duke of Bridgewater earnestly assisted Mr. Symington in further developing his invention. However, untoward circumstances prevented Mr. Symington obtaining such a reward for his services as their merit deserved, but some recognition of them was made by George the Fourth, who gave him £100, and a further sum of £50 a year or two afterwards. As was stated in the article we have alluded to, Mr. Symington, now deceased, was the "inventive son of an inventive father," for he has, besides other in-ventions, perfected a plan for preserving potatoes, and also one for preserving milk. The former invention was sold to a company in England, who in turn obtained £1000 for it. An exhibit of these granulated preserved potatoes at the recent Inter-colonial Exhibition in Melbourne obtained for Mr. Symington a gold medal from the Com-missioners. It is gratifying to think that this recognition of the merits of the invention must have been a pleasing feature of the last few weeks' existence of the deceased inventor. Mr. Syming-ton was born in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, on the 22nd March, 1802. In 1844 he received the gold medal of the Society of Arts, for his invention for dessicat-ing or extracting moisture from various substances -such as woollen and silk fabrics, wood, &c., and for purifying casks. Several of these apparatuses were supplied to Her Majesty's Government for use in the Crimean Hospitals during the Russian war, for drying and disinfecting clothing. The invention was also used in all cases where drying or roasting powers were required, such as for roasting coffee, chicory, &c., or for warming large buildings, and was subsequently applied to assist the processes of preserving potatoes and milk, above mentioned. Mr. Symington also exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 an improved gun wad, made of wood, which was then rejected by the Admiralty authorities as unsuitable for adop-tion by them, but at the present time this gun wad is almost exclusively used in the service; and Mr. Symington fitted up at the Woolwich Arsenal one of his dessicating machines, for the very purpose of drying or seasoning gun wads of his own invention. He also effected an improvement in projectiles, for smooth bore guns, obviating the necessity of rifling. This was brought under the notice of the present Treasurer of Victoria, but no notice appears to have been taken of it, and Mr. Symington did not care to pursue the matter. On his arrival in Victoria, Mr. Symington naturally turned his attention to effecting im-provements in quarz-crushing and amalgamating processes, more particularly the latter, and took out a patent for a process the principal feature of which was the introducing amongst the pulverised quartz of quicksilver in a state of vapour. Other matters prevented his following up this invent-tion. Amongst the minor improvements made by Mr. Symington, we may mention one as showing the truly inventive bent of his mind. He had occasion to cure a smoky chimney, and immediately devised a plan as simple as it was effectual namely, the fixing a few inches above the top of the chimney proper of an outer casing (or larger chimney) of metal, leaving a space all round between it and the chimney for the smoke to escape, so that any wind which otherwise blew directly across the top of the chimney, was broken by the edge of the protector, and the smoke issuing from the chimney had time to escape down the side. As is well known, Mr. Symington, during his residence on the Marsh, devoted him-self to brewing pursuits, and although doubtless this occupation was not congenial to his taste, yet we are sure all will admit that, even in this line of business, he was completely successful in producing an excellent article. He built his own dwelling-house and brew-house, constructed his own vats and casks, and, in fact, nearly everything required for the business. In this he was assisted by his son, who has latterly almost entirely con-ducted the brewing operations, and will continue to do so in the future. The funeral took place on Tuesday, and was very numerously attended. Every mark of respect was paid to the deceased, and thus ended the career of one who, in a manner, links Bacchus Marsh with one of the most important achievements of science-viz., the consummation of steam navigation, and who, be-sides, was entitled to be considered a benefactor to mankind as having added considerably to its knowledge of mechanical appliances, Mr. Syming-ton was a member of the Bacchus Marsh Road Board until a very short time back. The following leases are ready for execution by the lessees at the Office of Lands and Survey, Melbourne:-John Connell, 128a. 2r. 21p., Mer rimu; John Gilligan, 40a., Merrimu, Mr. Charles Dyte will offer for sale, at Ballarat, on 15th April next, an allotment of Crown land, in the county of Talbot, parish of Bungaree, on the road from Creswick to Ballan, adjoining Mr. James Taylor's holding, being allotment 5, section 28, 99a. 2r. 12p. Upset price, £1 per acre. Accounts are payable at the Receipt and Pay Office, MIelbourne, to the following persons-A. Blackwood, J. Millyard, P. MD'Cluskey, C. Shuter J. Slaven, and D. G. Stobie. Miss Aitken's entertainment on Tuesday evening was very numerously attended, and afforded grati-fying proof that the residents of Bacchus Marsh and neighbourhood are willing to appreciate and support talent of a high order whenever oppor-tunity may be afforded. Many of those present had come some miles in order to be present. Mr. James Young, J.P., occupied the chair, and at the conclusion of the entertainment Mr. D Harbord proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Aitken, in reply to which that lady expressed her thanks for the kindness she had experienced from the Bacchus Marsh public, and on her return to Victoria would have great pleasure in appearing before them again. It is gratifying to know that Bacchus Marsh is to possess a local solicitor amongst the other "institutions" of the township. Mr. Gell an nounces that he may be consulted daily at his ofice, Bacchus Marsh, the premises lately occupied by Mr. David Dyer. We believe that applications may again be made for licenses under the 42nd clause of the Amending Land Act.

The Molton Agricultural Society's show will be held on Tuesday. April 9th, being exactly one week after the grain show at the Marsh. The prize list Is published, we believe and is the same as last year, with the additions mentioned by our Molton ocrrespondent last week. 'There is a lease at the Office of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, for William Robinson, for 178a. 2r. 171p. parlsh of Merrnmu. Mr, J, E, Crook's sale at Mr. Minn's on Wednesday last was highly succassful. The attendance was very largo. The pigs excited the greatest competition, and the breeding sows fetched from a0 to .7 15s. Young pigs, from £3 to £4, Suckers averaged .81. Cattle fetched from £.10 down. wards. The sheep realisod satisfactory prices. The furniture and farming implements were keeonly competed for, and realisod high prices. Mr. E. Crook's sales for the forthcoming week compriso one at the Border Inn, of tobacco, cigars, &o., on Tuesday; and his monthly stock sale at Molton on Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, the great sale will take place at Mr. P. Burke's store, Myrniong. At the sitting of the Biachus Marsh Court of Petty Sessions on Wednesday last, Mr. ICissock sought to prove that the Road Board had acted illegally in altering the valuation of the property in the district made by the duly appointed Valuers. Our report shows that he was unsuc. cessful. He talks of taking the matter to the Supreme Court. The following site for a Common School at the Limekilne has been gazetted --" Coimadai-Sito for Common School purposes, temporarily reserved by Order of 4th March, 1867. Two acres, county of Bourko, parish of Coimadal, at Pyreete Creek, being part of allotment 10; commencing at the south-west anglo of the site the said angle bearing east thirty-ono chains and north six chains fromnt the south-west angle of the said allotment; bounded thonceo by lines bearing respectively north four chains, east five chains, south four chains, and west five chains to the point of commencoment. The contempllated Intercolonial Banquet of last Friday was a disgraceful failure. It appears that some members of the very large Committee thought to make political capital against the Ministry by causing the proceedings of the banquet -the toasts, &o., - to assume a decidedly anti-ministerial aspect, and thus if the representatives of the neighbouring governments had taken part in the banquet, they would have impliedly censured the conduct of the M'Cullooh Ministry. The list of toasts was drawn up at the last moment, and the usual formal toast of "'The Ministry" was omitted; and all through the list every care was taken to degrade the Ministry. The. Ministry, his Excellency the Governor, and the whole of the delegates, refused to attend. The discoinfitod plotters met in the evening, so as to be able to claim from the disgusted non-attenders the price of their dinnor-tickots. This meanness was of a piece with their previous policy. It was openly avowed at this sordid "feed" that it was expected the Ministry would have quietly allowed themsolves to be insulted, in order that the colony should not be disgraced by such an abortive attempt to entertain its guests. The mooting of the Victoria Racing Club on Saturday last, was scarcely so well attended as had been expected, seeing that no less than eight races had to be run off. The Hurdle Race was won hy Laurel, the St. Leger by Fishhook, the Trial Stakes by Nimblefoot, the Flemington Stakes by Little Fish ; the Australian Cup, the great race of the meooeting, by Tim Whliffmr; the Steeplechase by Babbler, the Autumn Plate by Sir Walter, and the Helter Skolter by Queeon of Hearts, with Cartouohe second. The trial of Connors at the Melbourne Criminal oessions has at last terminated, after the witnesses engaged in the case had been put to unusual trouble in attending the Sessions four times, and for several days each time. The witnesses examined in the case were Messrs. Jones, Gibson, Simmons, Vallonce, Alexander, Stokes, and Wells; Senior-constable Kiernan, and Mrs. E. Daley. Mr. M. G. Byrne defended Connors, and contended that the oaso was one of suspicion merely, and thought that Alexander's evidence proved an alibi. The only witnesses examined whose evidence has not been fully reported in these columns, were Messrs. Gibson and Wells, tile formner of whom proved having obtained change for a .05 note from Mr. J.Tones; and the latter deposed to having seen the prisoner near Daly's house on the morning of the robbery. According to the Ago, the prisoner, when asked why sontenoo of three years' imprisonment should not be passed upon him, accused the detective police of preventing him from getting an honest living since his proevious oonviction, by going to his various employers and telling them who hle was. This reminds one of the "Ticket-of-Leave-Man." His Honour told the prisoner it was the duty of the police, and especially the detective police, to keep a vigilant eye upon those who had boon convicted of crime, so that they might not lapse into bad habits. The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Orain Show took place on Saturday last. The heaviest wheat shown was 651 lb. by Mr. Haddon, of Smythoes. Mr. Morrison's short oats were 48[. lb. At the Castloemalne show, on Tuesday, the first, second, and third prize wheats weighed 67 lIbs., 68 lbs., and 67) Ibs., respectively. The Gipis Land T'incs contains a report of a correspondent who has seen a reptilo which he is positive "measured close on twelve feeoot from the snout to the tip of his tail. Hlis colour was that of a dark brown on the back, and greenish under the belly. On the back, from the neck down to his tail, he had horny fins in the shape of the teeth of a cross-out saw, and presented altogether a most repulsive and formidable appparanc. There is a tradition amongst the Gipps Land aboriginals of an animal which they call the bun. yip, of which they stand in groat fear. As many animals exist in Australia that have never boon seen by civilised man, it is a great question if the reptile with which I had the good fortune to come across is not the same beast which had been looked for so long by naturalists, and whoso oxistoncel has often beoon doubted and oven ridiculed." A Brooke Dramatio College and Institution is proposed to be formed with the funds realised at amateur performances of members of the Press, hold some little time back. The amount in hand is .200. We think Mr. Coppin has some money in hand obtained from the public at performances given in aid of a Dramatio College. Probably such amount (if any) will be added to the present fund, A singular accident happened at Castlomaine recently to a young man named Boveridgoe. lie was engaged shooing a heavy draught horse, when the animal is supposed to have dozed off to sloop, and lost its balance, for it jammedu the shoeer against the wall, and inflicted some seveore injuries before he could be extricated. The wife of the look-up keeper at Pieton, N.SW,, captured an abaconder from her husband's custody while her "worse half" was away in pursuit of him.