MR. LATROBE AS SUPERINTENDENT 245 



and meat were cheap, game and fish to be had for the taking, and 

 no outlay was necessary for keeping up appearances. The man 

 whose labour was worth having could rest assured of plenty to eat 

 and drink, and something to put by if he could avoid the grog-shop 

 when his exchequer was full. Many of the labourers of 1839 were 

 substantial capitalists before gold was discovered, and as they 

 generally invested their savings in real estate they became suddenly 

 wealthy in 1851. 



But the mercantile and trading classes chafed under the con- 

 ditions that left their more important interests to the decision 

 of a semi-military, bureaucratic and irresponsible administration 

 located six hundred miles away, ignoring their complaints, and, as 

 they thought, seizing upon the local revenue from land sales to 

 beautify the favoured city on the shores of Port Jackson. There 

 was a strong feeling of antagonism towards the despotic courses of 

 the naval and military martinets who had ruled New South Wales 

 in the past ; the knowledge that their new Superintendent was not 

 a military man, though unhappily subordinate to one, quickened 

 the sentiments of regard with which the settlers at Port Phillip 

 offered him welcome. 



The steamer Pyramus from Sydney, with Mr. Latrobe on board, 

 anchored in Hobson's Bay on the 30th of September. It was 

 intended that the official landing should take place next day, but a 

 heavy storm caused it to be postponed until the 2nd of October. The 

 delay, however, was unavailing, the elements continuing unpro- 

 pitious, and he landed in a heavy downpour of rain, which, while it 

 did not appear to damp the enthusiasm of the expectant crowd, 

 turned the route of the procession into a slushy quagmire. From 

 the muddy bank of the river the Superintendent was escorted 

 with some difficulty up William Street to the corner of Collins 

 Street, where, on the site now occupied by the Australian Mutual 

 Provident Society, stood the principal auction-room of the town, 

 the largest available indoor space. Just within the portals of a 

 room crowded to suffocation, and with a mob of several hundreds 

 outside in the pitiless rain, Mr. Latrobe received the inevitable 

 address of welcome, and made his formal announcement of taking 

 over the Government. Though by no means an orator, he spoke 



