Turning to the back page, we find that the first column forms the conclusion of the Parliamentary Debates.  A column and a half has a large heading—­’The Creswick Calamity,’—­and is chiefly composed of subscription lists for the sufferers and accounts of meetings held in various parts of the country on their behalf.  A column and a quarter is headed ’Sporting Intelligence ’(results of small provincial race-meetings being telegraphed); a column is devoted to ‘Cricket,’ and a third of a column to’ Rowing.’

We now take up the outside sheet, and find the whole of page 4, taken up by a report of last night’s Parliamentary debates.  On the opposite page (9) the first three columns contain a full report of the inquest in connection with a fatal railway accident on a suburban line.  Then comes a list of eighty-seven school-buildings to be erected or completed at a cost of L25,000.  Three deputations take up nearly half, and the Russell Street fire two-thirds, of a column.

Opening the sheet, pages 10 and 11 are the only two with reading matter.  On 10 is a report of the Police Commission Meeting, occupying two columns and a half; and reports of School Speech Days—­over three columns for eight schools.  On page 11 the first four columns are Law Reports; a column and a half is devoted to a wool and station-produce report, and two half columns to reports of meetings of the Melbourne Presbytery and the Melbourne Hospital Committee.

The remaining space is taken up by paragraphs under a third of a column in length, with cross-headings as follows:  ‘Casualties and Offences;’ ‘Police Intelligence;’ ‘The Death of Mr. Chabot;’ ‘New Insolvents;’ ‘University of Melbourne;’ ‘Friendly Societies;’ ’The Belfast Savings Bank Case (by telegraph);’ ‘The Workmen’s Strike;’ ’Collingwood City Council;’ ‘A Recent Meeting;’ ‘The Wellesley Divorce Case;’ ’The Victoria Agricultural Society.’  ‘Australian Electric Light Co.;’ ‘Public Tenders;’ ‘Ballarat News;’ ‘Victoria Masonic Lodge;’ ‘Early Closing Association;’ ‘The Tariff Commission;’ ‘Iron on Continuous Brakes;’ and letters to the Editor on ‘Holiday Excursion Tickets,’ ‘Window Blinds for Omnibuses,’ ‘Swimming at the State Schools,’ ‘The Musical Festival (3),’ and ‘Immigration to Victoria.’

An analysis of the advertisements of the Argus is almost equally interesting as showing the heterogeneity of the wants of the community.  There are Births, 3; Marriages, 5; Deaths, 6; Funeral Notices, 5; Missing Friends, Messages etc., 8; Lost and Found, 13; Railways and Conveyances, 6; Shipping, no less than four columns, including eight different lines of steamers to Europe, of which six are English, and seven of intercolonial steamers, of which three are owned in Melbourne, one each in Sydney, Adelaide, New Zealand and Tasmania.  The next lines are Stocks and Shares, of which there are 18 advertisements; Lectures, Sermons, Soirees, etc, 5; Tutors, Governesses, Clerks etc.,