Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1847 - 1851), Tuesday 26 December 1848, page 2


TUESDAY MORNING, DEC. 26. CHRISTMAS.—Despite the low price of wool, and the consequent low state of everything else, there seems to be a universal determina-tion on the part of everybody to indulge in the season'sfestivities to a greater degree than in any former year. This is a natural result, for if there were no care, there would be no Christmas;—if there were no work-a-days, there would be no holidays. The greater the pressure on the spring, the greater is the re-bound when that pressure is removed. The alternations of care and pleasure, of application and relaxation, are wisely ordered by a benign providence, and he who runs counter to the laws so wisely dispensed, will bring on his own head an appropriate punishment. In this community, where each individual is engrossed for fifty-one weeks out of the fifty-two, with pursuits which are almost essentially selfish, the observer of those old-world ap-pliances of friendly intercourse, which form the "solder of society," cannot be too sedu-lously cultivated. This is the time for making up old quarrels, re-cementing broken friend-ships, and "enlarging the heart" towards all the human race ; and he who fulfils these purposes the most completely will be the most certain of enjoying tranquility and happiness in the year to come. A CHRISTMAS CAROL.—An entertainment of a novel but really most delightful and inter-esting character, was afforded the inhabitants throughout the night preceding the morning of Christmas Day. Several young children attached to the Wesleyan Sabbath School, under the conduct of Mr R. Fawcett, Mr Howell, and one or two other gentlemen, formed together about twelve o'clock, and paraded several parts of the town, stopping at the doors of the clergymen's houses, the mer-chants' stores, and the dwellings of the shop-keepers, before which they sung a number of beautiful carols, selected purposely for the children for the occasion. The feeling pro-duced in the minds of those who were for-tunate enough to be so pleasingly disturbed from their slumbers, was one of the most holy nature ; and when the pleasing echoes of the children's voices died away in the night breeze, as they walked on to enchant the awakened sleepers of some other part of the street, with the warbling of their beautiful little hymns, more than one voice and one heart as the window shut out all communion of sound, exclaimed, feelingly and sincerely, "God bless 'em—the little things."

THE CAB NUISANCE.—As an offensive de-junct to the several houses of disreputable character in Geelong, about two months since a cab was brought into requisition for the sole purpose of being employed in driving females of questionable notoriety about the town and suburbs, an annoyance to the re-spectacle portion of the community of no trifling nature. At all hours through the day and night was to be heard or seen, this vehicle driving through the thoroughfares, at a furious pace, while shouts and obscene language issued front the drunken men and women, many of them had police characters, who were seated within. On Friday night last at a very late hour this conveyance was dashing along Corio street at full gallop with two females in it, when in its career it sud-denly came upon the person of the Chief Constable who narrowly escaped being knocked down and ridden over. The cir-cumstance could not, all things considered, have occurred to a more appropriate person, for that officer immediately had the vehicle stopped and the driver (Henry Bowrin) taken in custody. The following morning he was brought before the Bench to answer to the charge. When in the presence of the magis-trate the defendant conducted himself with the most overbearing insolence, and while Mr Carman was giving his deposition, called that officer a liar and a false swearer, for which he was fined £5, and immediately ordered to be removed from the box. During the morning two women of the town came forward and offered to pay the penalty. LUNATIC.—The unfortunate creature, William Hudson, who was brought before

their worships some days back has been declared by Drs. Hope & Baylie as a con-firmed lunatic and unfit to be at large. The man, who is now in the watch-house will be forwarded to Melbourne in the course of a day or two. PRESBYTERIAIN SCHOOL.—A Tea Meeting was held in the Scots' School-room, on Fri-day evening last, given by the ladies con-nected with the Church of Scotland, as esta-blished by law, to the pupils attending the above seminary. The Rev. Mr Tuckfield, in the absence of the Rev Mr Love, delivered the prizes in the presence of a number of ladies, which had been awarded to the fol-lowing pupils, who had passed the annual examination with credit to themselves and teachers, viz. :—Masters D. Morrison, S. Lawrence, J. Wood, R. Robinson, J. Nicol, G. Lloyd, J. McNaughten, H. Morrison, and R. Wood. The pupils, after having partaken of the good things provided for them, de-livered various recitations, which gave uni-versal satisfaction to these present. It is in-tended in future to hold a half-yearly public examination, when those who are interested in the prosperity of the above school will have an opportunity of forming a correct opinion of the progress made by those pupils who may be committed to the charge of the present teacher. A DESPERATE CHARACTER.—John Hill, a bushman, was charged by the Chief Con-stable, on Saturday morning, with endeavor-ing to force his way past the box ticket taker, on the evening previous, while in a state of intoxication, and otherwise conducting him-self in a very offensive and violent manner. Mr Carman stated that he was in the theatre on the night in question, when he heard a noise outside of the house, and on going to ascertain the cause, he found the defendant trying to force his way into the boxes. He (the Chief Constable) endeavored to pacify the man, and induce him to go home, when he struck him a violent blow, and conducted himself in such an outrageous manner, that he never recollected having to contend with such a desperate character before. The de-fendant, who, from his appearance in the box would have been taken for a quiet, harmless man, and not one likely to have perpetrated the offences alleged against him, pleaded guilty to the charge. He stated that at the time he was very far gone in liquor, and when in that state he had no control over himself. Mr Addis sentenced him to one week's imprisonment, or a penalty of 30s. and costs.

On Sunday afternoon, at South Geelong, a horse on which a man was seated suddenly took fright, and started off at a tremendous pace along the flat land near the Police Barracks. The rider, who was rather in-toxicated, contrived to keep his seat for some time, but was eventually thrown to the ground with great force. The animal as soon as he found himself his own master made a dead stop, turned round and leisurely trotted back again to Geelong. Beyond a severe shake, the rider was not otherwise materially injured. CAUTION TO SHEPHERDS.—On Saturday morning Mr McMillan, of the firm of McMillan and Wilson, settlers at Wardy Yallock, applied through his attorney, Mr Belcher, to solicit his worship Mr Addis to arbitrate in a dispute which had occurred be-tween him and his shepherd, respecting a settlement of wages which yet remained open between them. It appeared that the man had

agreed to abide the decision of any of the magistrates, provided the case was clearly explained to them ; and this Mr McMillan was equally agreeable to. On the applica-tion being made by the attorney, Mr Com-missioner Addis replied that, having ascer-tained the facts bearing on the case, he would be very ready to give his decision ; but if either party refused to allow it, he had no power to enforce unless a summons were issued. Mr McMillan, under the advice of his solicitor, then entered the box and applied for a summons against his shepherd, for ne-glect of duty and losing twenty ewes and lambs. The defendant entered the box at the same time, and stated his willingness to have the case gone into. The complaint was, that the shepherd had allowed his sheep to be rushed by native dogs, whereby a great num-ber of then had been lost and destroyed, which might have been prevented had de-fendant forwarded information of the circum-stance to the home station iummediately after the occurrence. It was proved by the over-seer that he did not do this, the rush having taken place on the afternoon previous to the day when word was sent of it. The defendant stated that he had used all despatch in his power to acquaint Mr McMillan of his sheep having been rushed. When the wild dogs got amongst them it was late in the evening, and before he could get round the different mobs of sheep which had been cut off, it was late at night—too late to send any one into the home station. No particular weight would have been attached to this charge of neglect by the magistrate, but Mr McMillan satisfactorily showed that the defendant had at different times been very neglectful of his duties ; and particularly in attendance to the care of his flock. The complainant having handed in to the Bench the amount of loss he had sustained, the defendant was decreed to pay £10, to be deducted from his wages.

CHRISTMAS DAY.—Yesterday was undoubted-ly the finest day we have had this season—a clear atmosphere, a warm sun, and a fine gentle, yet refreshing breeze. The town wore the appearance of contented quietude. During the morning not a single brawler or drunkard was to be seen about the streets ; and although a little trade was doing among some few of the licensed victuallers, it was all very quietly and orderly managed, the reason, after all, why they were not interfered with. Every vehicle in the shape of cart, gig, fly, or car-riage was engaged for the day, and towards afternoon a number of turn-outs were to be seen starting from different quarters of the town en route for some pleasant spot in the bush, where each coterie conceived they might find most pleasure rnd excitement. Numbers of boats were to be seen dotting the bay here and there as the sun caught the light sails of one or glistened on the oars of another. Some were out trying the capabilities of the boats which are to contend at the Regatta this day ; others were merely on pic-nic ex-cursions or parties of pleasure. The scene on the water at one part of the morning was pleasing in the extreme.

A MADMAN.—On Sunday morning, a man in a dreadful state of intoxication, rushed down to the water's edge facing Mack's Hotel, and jumping on the plankings known by many as the "Old Boat Pier," ran along them until he came to the end, when he plunged into the bay. As the tide was in at the time, and very high, the water was beyond the depth of the man, and he was on the point of sinking, when a boat was launched by some persons who were on the beach, which arrived at the spot just in time to save him from a watery grave. The effect of the cold bath, and the fright together, was the means of restoring the madman to his senses, who

acknowledged the foolish act he had been guilty of, and thanked his preservers for their timely and prompt assistance. REGATTA.—EXTRA PRIZE OF £10.—In the spirit of true liberality, Mr Henry Elmes has announced his intention of giving £10 to the crew of the winning whale boat in this day's Regatta. This will tend greatly to cause the affair to go off with that eclat which, it is desired for the credit of the promoters it should do. The men pitted against each other in this race are so nicely matched, that a severe contest is looked for. Numerous bets have been laid on the issue, and much additional interest and excitement will be created by the event. Mr Elmes' prize will be given to the winning party at the theatre this evening, previous to the commencement of the panto-mime.

THE REGATTA.—In consequence of the Stewards having extended the time for making entries, until this morning at 9 o'clock, it is not in our power to give a complete list of the boats likely to start. ROADS.—His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, having deemed it expedient to open and make certain parish roads in the district of Port Phillip, viz. :—From North Geelong to the bridge over the Moorabool River at Bates's Ford, being part of the Great Western Road. From Fyan's Ford at the Moorabool River, passing through the Reserve for Police, and portions 1 and 2 of sections No. 14 in the parish of Moorpanyal, in the county of Grant. 3. Through sections 19 and 20 in the county of Grant, in the parish of Barrabool. Notice is hereby given that in conformity with the provisions of the Act of the Governor and Council, 4 William the 4th, No. 11, intituled "An Act for making, altering, and improv-ing the roads throughout the colony of New South Wales, and for opening and improving the streets in the towns thereof," surveyings and tracings shewing the intended lines of the said roads are now deposited in the office of the Surveyor-General to Sydney, and that of the Surveyor in charge at Melbourne. All persons interested therein are requested to transmit in writing, addressed to the Clerk of the Executive Council, within one month from this date, any well-grounded objection which may appear to them to exist to the formation of the said roads.—Government Gazette. IMMIGRANTS.—Some parties have complained of the arrival occasionally of an aged man or woman in the recent arrivals of immigrants. Upon enquiry we find by the first batch (the Berkshire), that an aged man who accom-panied his wife and four children (the latter of whom exceeded 14), had to pay for his passage £18. The wife and children were permitted to embark on payment of £1.