MELBOURNE EXTRACTS.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 698, 22 December 1852, Page 2

MELBOURNE EXTRACTS.

Ltapdet's Pjer. — This landing place is becoming one of considerable importance, from the easy access to it from the vessels in the Bay. On Saturday it was the scene of no little excitement in consequence of a large number of passengers and luggage from the Great Britain landing there ; at one period of the day there could not have been less than twelve or fifteen boats plying between the pier and the lately arrived ships, while at the entrance of the jetty drays were loading for town ; altogether the bustle was

1 similar to that to be met with in the seaport towns of England on the occasion of ships arriving. We should not be surprised to find the neighbourhood of this landing place rapidly rise into importance ; already stores are erected there, and tents and recently built weather-boarded houses lino the road tliouce to Melbourne, whilst the traffic is continuous. It is a thousand pities that either a railroad or a canal were not already in active operation. In America such an opportunity and natural capabilities -would be made available while we have been talking about it. — Argus, Nov. 19. Shoeblacks — One of the customs of London in the olden time has revived within the last few weeks, in Melbourne in the form of shoeblacks, who stand at the street corners in the early part of the day, offering to black the boots of the passer-by for the small charge of sixpence. The very three legged stool is the same as those used in the days when Ranelagh Gardens were in their glory, and the beau of those times was accosted at each street corner with the cry of " Clean your Honor's shoes." These shoeblacks have been the subject of the poet's verse ; in one , of Gay's poems the mother of the shoe-boy thus addresses him : — Go thrive ; at some frequented corner stand ; This brush I give thee, grasp it in thy hand ; Temper the foot within, this vase of oil, And let the little tripod aid thy toil ; On this methinks I see the walking crew, At thy request support the miry {shoe ; . The foot grows black that was with dirt enibrown'd, And in thy pocket gingling halfpence sound. His treble voice resounds along the Mews And Whitehall echoes — ' Clean your Honour's shoes." We heard it stated when the first of these shoeblacks commenced in Melbourne that he made as much as sixteen shillings a day, but we fear competition runs too high at the present time for that sum to be daily realised.— Argus, Nov. 19. Wesley an Immigrant's Home. — The buildings in course of erection for the houseless immigrants of the Wesleyan denomination, are fast hastening towards completion. A portion of them will be ready for occupancy in about ten days hence* These are situated at the North-eastern extremity of the city and but a short distance from the Supreme Court House and Gaol. When finished the Institution will consist of four buildings, forming a spacious court-yard, comprising ah office, dining room, apartment for single men, eight rooms for families and single females, a storehouse for luggage, washhouse, cookhouse, and residences for the superintendent and matron. The land upon which these structures are erected, is the gift of the Government for Wesleyan ! Church purposes, being two acres, a portion of which ground is reserved from an iron chapel and minister's residence. The whole will cost about 2000?. fifteen hundred pounds of which sum have been already collected. When the 2000 Z. are raised the Government have promised to aid the institution with 1000?. more, which will be expended in furnishing the different apartments. The principle of its management will be a&a-large boarding house, and it is supposed that it wfll be able to accommodate 450 persons. It is intended to , impose a trifling fee upon the inmates, just sufficient to meet the current expenses, thus making the Wesleyan Immigrants* Home self-supporting. A Superintendent and Matron have already been appointed at a salary of 2501. per annum. The whole will be governed by a code of laws, one of which is that no immigrant will be permitted to remain in the Home for more than ten days, that time being deemed sufficient to enable the inmates either to obtain residences or employment. Mr. Wharton has been the architect employed and Mr. Taylor of Collins-street, the contractor. This denomination of -the Christians really deserve the highest praise for the zeal and care bestowed upon the members of their persuasion in thus affording them that shelter and protection which every new arrival so much needs. We are glad to find the benefits to be derived from so excellent an institution will not be confined to the Wesleyan, body alone, but be open to respectable individuals from all classes, the preference of course being to Wesleyans. In every respect the Wesleyan Immigrants' Home is a most creditable Institution. It may not be unworthy of notice here, that this denomination was the first to make a movement of this nature respecting the houseless immigrants having held a public meeting to consider the matter as far back as the 2nd August last.— Argus f Nov. 19.

Robbery op a Gold Digger.— lssac Pear was charged before the Mayor, on Wednesday, with robbing John Gower of forty-two ounces of gold, six sovereigns, a 51. note, and an Adelaide note, under the following peculiar circumstances : — Theprosecutor, an Adelaide man, arrived in Melbourne on Thursday evening lastfrom the Diggings, andon Friday morning went to the Private Escort Company's office, in Elizabeth-street, to obtain two bags of gold he had consigned, to them. Whilst waiting his turn to enter the office he was accosted by two men who entered into conversation with him, just by way of drawing from him who he was and where he was going. He did not obtain hie' gold that day, but on the following morning' (Saturday) he received it. He saw these men again, and on learning Gower was about to proceed to Adelaide, they said they were going also, and as they were strangers they should like to accompany him, which was agreed upon. He, prosecutor, was then invited to a public house where tbese men treated him' to a nobbier of brandy, after which a second was called for, and one of them then said he would go out and see a captain of a vessel thathe knew, and arrange about tbepassage. Whilst sitting in this public house the prisoner joined them .and, entered into conversation with Gower, telling him he had just arrived from New Zealand, but that he liked Melbourne very much, as it was a very nice place, and the people in it were so very honest. The prosecutor here admirably mimicked the plausibility and mannerism of the prisoner, who. was a .well, dressed man. After some little time Pear pulled out a pack of cards from his pocket and asked the prosecutor to play which he declined ; meanwhile the other men returned. It was then proposed to take a walk on the Wharf, which was agreed upon, and they all accordingly left the hoxise together ; on getting into the open air the prosecutor felt very stupid, but still had his senses ; they then walked on to the neighbourhood of Batman's Hill, when they sat down on some grass, and the prisoner again introduced the cards, but .the prosecutor said he did not wish to play. About this time he felt much more stupified than before, and all of a tremble; he was then seized by the two men,, and the 42 ounces of gold which .were tied round his body were taken From him and given to t"he prisoner, also the sovereigns and notes. The prosecutor was so far sensible that he could see the whole transaction. Pear and one of the men walked away, whilst the other took the prosecutor into another public house and gave him some more brandy, and there left him. The prosecutor then made the best of his way home to his 1 lodgings, but he was so affected, evidently by some drug, that he felt quite powerless. On Sunday he gave notice to the police, and accompanied some of the detectives on Monday in search of the men, but without being able to find them. However, on Wednesday afternoon, as he was walking along Queen street, he saw the prisoner and immediately gave him in charge to a constable. On the way to the police-station, the prisoner dropped a pack of cards from his pocket, wrapped in a white handkerchief, which were picked up by a lad named Cravvcour, who was examined as a witness in the Court, and who stated that just before he came there he was walking along the Wharf when a tall man came up to him, and said, " You are the boy who picked up the cards in the street yesterday ; if you go to the Police-court and give evidence I will give you something you will not like for your pains." On the prisoner being

searched, 21lJ.in notes 4UOs. in gold, an American golden dollar, 8s in silver, two gold rings, eight shirt studs a gold watch and chain, three watch keys, a silk purse and a bill of lading, were taken from him. Mr. Read defended the prisoner ; but he was fully committed for trial. In order that gold diggers and new arrivals may be properly on theu'ffuanl against these villains, wewouldintimate that this man Pear and his accomplices are what are commonly termed " sharps," of which class we have the best authority for stating that there are not less than seven hundred, males and females, infesting Melbourne and its outskirts at the present time. The means resorted to by them are to intoxicate or drug their victim, that they may rob him of all he possesses. The banks, escort offices, and wharves are the principal resorts of these vagabonds.— Argus, November, 26.

Deserters.—An announcement in tne h-azate notices that the Government will pay a reward of 25Z. per head for deserters from her Majesty's forces. —lbid. Roman Catholic Missions.—We find the following items of pecuniary assistance recorded in a late number of the Tablet as having been allocated for the year 1851 by the Society for the Sropagation of the Faith, to the advancement of atholicity in the Australian Colonies, viz.—Rt. Rev. Dr. Pompallier, Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand, 28,200/.; Dr. Viard, Bishop of Port Nicholson, (ditto) 26,500?.; Agency of the Rev. Fathers Marists at Sydney, 12,393/.; Most Rev. Dr. Polding, Archbishop of Sydney, 7,503/.; Dr. Murphy, Bishop of Adelaide, 3,000/.; Dr.Goold, Bishop of Melbourne, 5,000/. For Diocese of Perth (Western Australia) G,200/.; Dr. Wilson, , Bishop of Hobart Town, 12,500/. The following intended Missionaries obtained order, at AH Hallows College, from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin in the month of July last, Deacon, Rev. Cornelius Tuomays for Sydney; Minor orders; Messrs Michael Tully, for Hobart Town, Patrick Madden, for Melbourne, Patrick for Sydney; Richard Fennelly and Michael OHara, for Auckland, (New Zealand.) —Melbourne Herald, Nov. 24.

Morning Good News for Sydney. —During the proceedings of the Police Court yesterday, the Superintendent of Police stated in reference to a prisoner of the Crown apprehended under the Prevention of Convicts Act, that between two and three hundred of the principal vagabonds had made their exit in consequence of hearing of the arrival of some police from Van Diemen's Land, who were expected to communicate and co-operate with the Melbourne Police in the apprehension of runaway convicts from Van Diemen's Land. The rascals referred to are supposed to have started for Sydney, a large proportion of them having patronized the Great Britain for the purpose of visiting the northern metropolis. —lbid.