CHAPTER XXI.
THE MELBOURNE CORPORATION.
SYNOPSIS:— Ante Corporation Meetings. —Petition to Legislative Council. —Act of Incorporation Assented to. —Qualification of Burgesses. —First Burgess Roll. —Division of Town into Wards. —Preliminary Appointments. —First Municipal Elections. —First Aldermanic Election. —Alderman Condell First Mayor of Melbourne. —The Mayor's State Procession. —Swearing in of the Mayor. —Judge Willis' Address. —A Sumptuous Repast. —Interview with Mr. Superintendent Latrobe. —First Meeting of the Council. —Address to the Queen on Her Escape from Assassination. —Francis, who Fired at the Queen, a Corporator. —The Mayor's Salary fixed at £350. —Mr. J. C. King First Town Clerk. —Mr. Gilbert Beith First Civic Treasurer. —Mr. A. W. Howe First Town Surveyor. —The Corporation Seal. —Origin of the Civic Motto. —The First Resignation. —Charges of Immorality against a Candidate. —Councillor Stephen in Civic Regimentals. —First Town Valuators. —Embezzlement of Town Funds. —Newspaper Triumvirate Quarrels. —Fawkner, a Civic Firebrand. —Council versus Bear-garden. —Cliques and Cliquism. —Dr. Greeves a "Trimmer." —Council Snubbed by the Superintendent. —Impecuniosity ofthe Council. —Proposal to Subscribe for Payment of Salaries. —Judge Willis impugns the Validity of the Corporation Act. —Councillors Imperfectly Qualified. —Financial Crisis. —General Insolvency. —Mr. William Barrett First Town Auctioneer. —Discussions on Town Hall Site. —The First Mayoral Dinner. —Portion of the Clergy Uninvited. —Death of ex-Alderman Mortimer. —Town Surveyor's First Report. —Renewed "Rowing" in the Town Council. —Smith's Casus Belli. —Newspaper "Ding-donging." —Abolition of Police Magistrate Major St.John. —The First Annual Election. —Loss of Revenue First Year. —Reduction of Civic Salaries. —Inefficiency of Town Clerk. —Continued Depression.—Reduction of Civic Rates. —Distress Warrants issued against Officials. —Mr. Moor elected Mayor. —He declines Salary. —Further Reduction of Civic Salaries. —Abolition of Minor Offices. —A "Protection" Movement. —"Johnny" Fawkner in the Insolvent Court. —Petitions against Importations of Convicts. —Unsuccessful Attempts at Civic Finance. —Death of Councillor Pullar. —A "Tailor" in the Council.
EARLY in 1842, on its becoming known in Melbourne, that there was an intention on the part of the Government of New South Wales to introduce into the Legislature a Bill to make provision for the establishment of a Corporation in Melbourne, and in other parts of Port Phillip, a strong desire was manifested that Melbourne should urge the absolute necessity for some such measure, and a requisition was presented to the Deputy-Sheriff to convene a meeting for the expression of public opinion on the subject. This was held on the 29th April, at the Exchange Hotel, in Collins Street, near the (now) auction-mart of Messrs. Gemmell and Tuckett. The Deputy-Sheriff presided, and addresses were delivered by Messrs. J. H. Patterson, George Arden, George Were, A. Andrew, O. Gourlay, William Kerr, A. Cunninghame, T. H. Osborne, the Hon. J. A. Murray, Dr. Greeves and Dr. Kilgour. There was no diversity of opinion as to the issue, and a Petition was adopted praying the Legislative Council of New South Wales to sanction the early extension of Corporate privileges to Melbourne.
On the 12th August, 1842, the 6th Vict., No. 7, "An Act to Incorporate the Inhabitants of the Town of Melbourne," was assented to. At this distance of time it may not be amiss to recapitulate the substance of some of the leading provisions of our original Municipal Statute. The Qualification of Burgesses was—Every male person, twenty-one years of age, the occupier of houses, warehouses, counting-houses, or shops (if resident within seven miles) of the annual value of £25, clear of all charges, for one whole year: Persons receiving eleem osynary relief in or from any Benevolent Asylum, or other Charitable Institution, within a year, or who may have any child admitted to any school or other establishment for orphan or destitute children within the preceding three years, to be incapable of enrolment: Councillors to be elected for three years; the Councillor of the lowest number of votes to retire the next year. Voting at elections to commence at 9 a.m., and close at 4 p.m. of same day, by means of papers setting forth the names of candidates and voters. The names of the persons elected were to be published not later than 2 p.m. of the day next but one following the election day. On the 9th November following their election, the Council had to elect, "with doors closed against all other persons," out of their own body, or from persons
