Vulcan Foundry, Geelong) to weld a screw shaft out of the small bars of iron, then only obtainable; and the blower was accomplished by the energy of E d m u n d Ashley, w h o afterwards had a creditable and successful Colonial career. Next came the cutting of a square threaded screw for the wool-press with the small lathe already mentioned, and this feat could only be tackled by the partner Fulton, the principal mechanic. T h e lathe had to be lengthened to take up the screw, and the only motive power available was to place a belt on a grindstone and turn it by hand. W h e n the screw was cut about one-third its depth, the lathe was found to be too light and weak for the work, and Fulton, with h a m m e r and chisel was obliged to cut the screw to the full depth. After some time, horse-power was substituted for the manual labour, and at length, by a rare stroke of luck, a small rotatory engine was picked up, which was in time further improved on by the importation from Scotland of an antiquated seven horse-power steam-engine and some engineering tools. In 1843-4, when Port Phillip was in the direst throes of financial distress, and its golden fleeces fell to small account, it was ascertained that a dead sheep was better than a living one, and the melting-pot appeared as the public regenerator. Tallow instead of wool was the watch-word, and the boiling d o w n of carcases eventuated in shoving the Province through its menacing troubles. In the heating and steaming experiments thefirstfoundry played an early part, and the first six sheep were sent there by Messrs. Watson and Wight. This brief period might be historically labelled as the age of mutton, for legs of that material, some weighing 9 lbs., could be purchased at the boiling-down entrepots at from 4s. to 5s. per dozen, and retailed to the public at sixpence each. After a business connection of four years the co-partnery was dissolved, and Fulton (in partnership with George A n n a n d and Robert Smith) started at the north-east corner of Collins and King Streets, afterwards in the premises k n o w n as Manton's Mill, and remained there for a number of years. H e was accidentally killed at Sandhurst, through the false warping of a rope by which he was ascending a shaft. Ashley kept with Fulton, and only severed his connection in 1851. Fulton was the sort of m a n for an infant setttlement, skilful and industrious, strong of mind, iron in frame, outspoken, and honest to the backbone. A singular case of drowning and dreaming occurred on the 5th February, 1843. James Marnell lived with his wife just across the Yarra, and the m a n came into town on some business. After he left, the'woman went to sleep and dreamed that her husband was drowned. O n awaking she was visited by a neighbour to w h o m she recounted the dream, and had just concluded when a messenger arrived with intelligence that Marnell had accidentally fallen into the river and was drowned.
T h e bakers were a troublesome craft, and when the journeymen were not striking for high wages the masters were striking for high prices. In July, 1843, the latter began a strike against each other, and for a short time the consumers practically realized the adage about thieves falling out, etc. T h e "deil was amang the bakers," and very welcome he was, too, though his stay was brief. Competition brought d o w n the 4lb. loaf to 3j4d., and there was such a rush for bread that on the 18th all the shops were cleared out. A Trade Meeting was held, and it was decided to raise the price to 6d., or 5s. 6d. per dozen loaves.
In connection with the "boiling-down" experiments, I find the following metrical effusion by a bard w h o appropriately enough signed himself " Juvenis," and flourished in April, 1844. "At Melbourne, some few months ago, W h e n stock was selling very low, Our settlers hurried to and fro, A n d looked and talked despairingly. "But Melbourne showed another sight, W h e n , through the thickest gloom of night, Forth burst a voice ' All will be right ! Build melting-down establishments.'
