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94 Excellency, shall he disposed of by Public Auction on the spot.” In timation also is given of a similar sale of some Williams Town lots on the plea of “ the advantages it would afford to the commercial interests of the district.” On May 7th, 1837, Robert Hoddle, Esq. was appointed Crown Lands Commissionner. He was our first Surveyor-General, and our first Government Land Auctioneer. In 1811 he was attached to the Engineers Corps of the Military service. Governor Brisbane made him Assistant Surveyor in 1822. He became Senior Surveyor in 1828- All remaining doubts as to the legal settlement of Melbourne were re moved by Sir Richard Bourke’s message to the Council, June 7th, in which he writes, “ I received His Majesty’s gracious permission to open up for location the country adjacent to the waters of Port Phillip, and in the vicinity of Twofold Bay. The former of these districts already contains a population of 500 souls, whilst more than 100,000 sheep may he found grazing on its ample pastures.” A wonderful act of grace was concealed by the worthy Sir Richard Bourke. The first sale of Melbourne allotments was to take place in Melbourne itself, for the convenience and for the especial advantage of those persons who had already located themselves. The streets, 99 feet wide, were laid out, the plan exhibited, and due notice given. The eventful first of June 1837 arrived. The settlers were anything but men of capital. Those in the Bush had their flocks, but those in town with the exception of Messrs. Batman, Fawkner and Gardiner were men of small means. This accounts, perhaps, for what we now consider the very moderate rate at which the allotments were sold ;— the average being only £33 each. The lots were not quite half an acre, four perches being deducted to form a lane or right-of-way, be hind the streets ; such lanes being now designated Little Collins-street Little Bourke-street, &c. At the first sale of South Australian land, which took place in England, the purchaser of a preliminary section of 134 acres at the upset price received one acre Adelaide town lot. At the first Public Auction sale of land in New Zealand, held on the private estate of Mr. Busby, in November 1839, twenty-three allot ments of the township of Victoria, Bay of Islands, realized £850, being an average of £37 each. The remark of the Sydney “ Colonist” upon the Melbourne Land Sale was, “ The prices realized were very high ; they fetched from £18 to £78 each.” Mr. Hoddle did not
