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.ENCAMPMENT 6E BLACKS AT . BRIGH-
/- ' TOE. .
.About. fifty blacks from the Maloga Mission
Static .arrjved at .Brighton on Wednesday, and
pitched .thcir tents in a pleasant, shady nook beside
the sca, for the. purpose of an encampment, which
is to last for about ten days. The party, under
then- leaders, Mr and Mrs Matthews, had been, m
transitu, from the station— which is on the New
South -Wales side : of the Murray — since Monday
last. . 'They left Maloga in the afternoon of that
dayf passed through Moania to Echuca, where
they-stayed during the night, after having held a
very successful meeting - in the Temperance-hall
there. They left Echucajper rail, on free passes
granted by, the Government, : on Tuesday morning,
rindj came jdivrn as ; far j as: Suiibnry, where they
agaihTialtoft.'" Another evangelistic meetiiig was
held at the townfebip/ and Was attended with like
suecesfe to thfe former) 'Many of the blacks spoke
with very good effect ; and some pleasant surprises
were experienced when some, who had not there
tofore developed-; any aptitude for public speechs,
came forward,- and delivered, themselves in a
markedly creditable way. The following day
the party, .arrived at Spencer street at about 11
aim. They at once ; proceeded to the Flinders
street station, , in caravan order, at which they
were admitted into a train and. taken, straight on
to ; the. Brighton beach. Daring the afternoon all
busied thernselves.in choosing a site and erecting
tents. , A bufey spectacle was presented. By night
fall the little impromptu settlement was completed,
and: they all eniconced themselves quietly within,
; The Malbga. Mission lias been in existence about
ten years'. Jt was founded by the present manager,
Air Matthews : . and his . wife has been associated
with him ib the work. It is undenominational.
Neither does it at all depend upon the State for
regular, assistance. It is supported by voluntary
contributions, coming in from a large radius.
Donations are received from all the colonics, anil
from/England, Iceiaiid, and Scotland. It consists
- nf ' AVwtti evi rials' ftv-irri rnnritv nn Wo Tlio mnot
them' are'yjctdnan.; . Some of tlifem are from the
interior <5f New South Wales. Others from Queens
land. They - arc all , well-trained and respectable-
looking people) speaking English piaihly. Most of
the' adults arc inarried.. There are about forty
children,' These ase all provided with education,
a- teacher being appdirited and paid by the New
South Wales .Education' Departmerit to give tlieih
daily instnictibh.' THey range from four to four
teen 'years, :. About half the. population of the
' ritatidii Ate now at Brighton. Tlie full number is
about 120. , It is no w two years since a visit was
paid by 'thein to these quarters. This is the
third' visit, the first having takeii place in 1880,
when thfe'-Melbdurrie- Intcrhatidbal Exhibition was
on. The blacks, like Brighton, and appreciate
the change! ' They like their own home also. The
life' they lead at home— on the station— is a com
paratively industriousohc. In the shearing season
they go out to shear, and go as reapers in the
harvest time. The money they earn they are
allowed to keep— a privilege which is not abused,
for they use.it in the purchase of clothes and other
pemonal, requisites. They have, the reputation of
being good cricketers. They play very vigorously,
however, iand break a L good many bats, fete., in
the. course ,o£ a year." When nothing is doing
abroad they work on the mission station, and effect
improvements on -it. - The New' South Wales Go-
'veniinent 'Have recently , given them a thousand
acres of land along the Murray, - The station oc
cupies a position not far from Moania. The
whole station, including the thousand acres, ex
tends for about -'five miles' along the river in an
easterly direction. It is well timbered, and some
arable. The .blacks live in -slab liuts, with bark
roofs. The superintendent occupies a rustic villa —
the origmal farm bouse. It is intended to erect
sixteen nfell'' Kiiihliiigs on tlie station almost im
mediately. They will' life of weatherboard, with
cornigated roofs. The materials have, been given
by (the jNejv) j?outh Wales Government. There
are about 800 sheep on the station which are used
for breeding and ; home , purposes. The whole
station is in a satisfactory condition, financially
and morally. It is unconnected with any special
sect or church. The. Bible is its text-hook, and
Christian morality the basis of its education. Mr
Matthews' ebb ducts meetings of a religious character
e vety ih'otn ing' and evening; These meetings are
' ' en masse," aridthfe black pfeojlfe all join in heartily,
There.are.no white meii'on the station except the
eugeriiitfendfent'and ihatton, and a gardenfer; The
paid instructor's a. black; though not a native of
tHis-lari(I;' :The inaiiagcr has a scheme afoot fob
making the f station;; completely . self-supporting in
the future. -l\: hi
A meetipgjwgs'ield in Sydney on Wednesday
night of, Jhe-iBbolmakers'i. Union. , There was
only a small attendanoe. . Mr Trenwitii gave a
history of the circumstances of the lockout in
Alelbpyrno. and .appealed for support from the
tradS." there/ /He Assured tlio meeting that1 the
money theoontributed- to.' Melbourne would bo
as much/an act/ of selfrproiection as humanity, as
victory, by, the masters would mean exceedingly
low wages in Melbourne and a consequent influx
oi) labour in . the Sydney -market. A resolution
was parried, id fav,our of Bending subscriptions. ;
$