WINES AND SPIRITS. In this department several prizes were bestoyved, viz.:—Mr. Edyvard Willis, Geelong—Burgundy, gold medal ; Frontignac, silver medal; Brandy and Champagne, also a silver medal. Messieurs. Briquet and Aimet, of Geelong, ATin d'Etoile, made in March, 1849 (product of vine black cluster), gold medal; Australian wine of 1849, made from Pineau gris, silver medal; Muscadine wine of 1850, musca blanc, silver medal: Pineau of 1850, made from Pineau gris et noir, silver medal; and Mr. John Bear, of Collingyvood, Victoria wine, 1849, silver medal. Mr. AVilliam Barrett of Richmond, exhibited White wine, 1848, Rhubarb wine, 1849, made yvith moist sugar. MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITS. Some basket-yvork was on view by a Mr. Arnold, a Melbourne manufacturer, amongst yvhich yvas a fife-screen, of very beautiful colonial material and workmanship, fully equal to the imported basket-yvork, and ought to supersede it. A very pretty glass bottle yvas sent by Mr. AV. Overton, of Collingyvood. The glass yvas very clear, and free from specks, and it yvas expected that such an industrial beginning would soon obviate the necessity for bringing such articles a distance of some thirteen thousand miles. A lot of veryfinely-workedred clayfloyver-potsyvere also exhibited, manufactured by Mr. Arend, of the Merri Creek, and forwarded by Messrs. Helm and Co. There yvere some very tastefully arranged bouquets. One sent by Major Firebrace contained no fewer than 60 sorts of flowers, and a very handsome one, arranged by D. Boyle, gardener to Mr. D. C. McArthur, contained 143 varieties. A bouquet of mixed geraniums, also from Mr. McArthur's garden, and some very fine fuchsias and geraniums, sent by Mrs. Howitt, attracted much admiration. The Superintendent, Mr. Redmond Barry, Mr. G. P. Ball, and Judge A'Beckett also contributed. Fruit yvas but scantily represented, Mr. W . Hull and Mr. John Orr being the only exhibitors. The wines yvere yvell spoken of. AA'illis' Burgundy yvas full-bodied and richly-flavoured ; the Geelong article good, but yvith scarcely sufficient body for keeping ; and Bear's yvas a very superior full-bodied, sweet article. In June, 1851, the Superintendent granted to the Committee, on a seven years' lease, at a pepper-corn rent, thirteen acres of land in the Richmond Paddock, opposite the Botanic Gardens, as an Exhibition ground. THE
THIRD
EXHIBITION
Was held at the Botanic Gardens on the 30th September, 1851, amongst the incipient symptoms of the gold discoveries. Each branch yvas this time placed under the jurisdiction of a separate bench of judges. Forflowers—Messrs.D. C. McArthur, John Dallochy, and Thomas Barrett. Fruit—Messrs. J. Rule and R. Barry. Vegetables—Messrs. C. Hutton, F. Bryant, and A. McLachlan. There yvas a great falling off in the display, and the prizes yvere thus awarded :—Forflowers,to Messrs. J. Rule, J. Duerdin, J. Jackson, John Orr, G. P. Ball, J. Plumridge, and Major Firebrace. Fruit—Messrs. Thomas Barrett, John Orr, and John Jackson (lemons and oranges). Vegetables—Major Firebrace, Captain AV. Buckley, Messrs. John Orr, D. S. Campbell, T. Barrett, J. Duerdin, and Joseph Raleigh. For exhibition only, a beautiful assortment of flowers yvas presented by Mr. Henry Ginn. Bouquets, Captain Buckley and Mr. McArthur; violets from Mount Gambier, Mr. William Hull; fuchsias, Mrs. G. Howitt and Mr. J. Jackson. THE FIRST VINE AND WINE. The planting of the first vines in Port Phillip has been erroneously assigned to Captain Lonsdale, Mr. J. P. Fawkner and others. Mr. Robert Russell kindly undertook to bunt up some reliable information on the point for me, and a letter received by him settles the question. The writer, Mr. Donald Ryrie, (one of two brothers who were amongst the earliest of our settlers) occupied a large portion of the Upper Yarra as a "squatting" ground, and a once well-known paddock bearing their name, embraced an extensive
