At the close of the poll, the first three of the following were elected:— Orr, 136; Mortimer, 96; Fawkner, 95; Clarke, 34.
The result was received with expressions of mingled applause and disappointment, for Clarke was much liked and would have polled better but that he was late in the field. Orr was forcibly thrust into a chair, hoisted on relays of unsteady shoulders, and at imminent risk carried in triumph up Collins Street to his home.
Latrobe Ward.
Where the "Bull" with a "Mouth" now bellows a cordial welcome to its numerous customers, there stood in the olden times a smart-looking, cottage-like, tavern known as The Eagle Inn, and here Alderman J. D. Pinnock, assisted by Assessors W. B. Wilmot, and G. S. Airey, invited the burgesses of this sub-division of the town, to exercise their newly-acquired privilege. Pinnock was the Deputy-Registrar of the Supreme Court, Wilmot, the Coroner, and Airey, a Commissioner of Crown Lands. The candidates were Andrew Russell, George James, D. S. Campbell, and Benjamin Heape (all merchants), J. C u m m i n g (brewer), and J. J. Peers (master-builder). Here also there was a universal upturning of glasses and quart-pots, for the candidates opened their pockets freely. Russell, James, and Campbell "clubbed," and to an untenanted house, next door to the Albion opposite, large supplies of grog were sent from their own stores. Heape and Peers entertained their supporters in a house adjoining The Eagle, and Cumming was in no way behindhand in one of the Eagle's wings. Campbell, James, and Russell, were the favourites, and it was generally believed Heape was out of the running, as he entered too late for training at the Ward-meetings, otherwise, as he was a partner in the then well-established and trusted firm of Heape and Grice, he would have fared much better than he did. The result of the voting was:— Elected, Messrs. Russell, 99, Campbell, 87, and James, 76; Rejected:— Messrs. Cumming, 71; Peers, 47; Heape, 40. Russell obtained a higher place than was expected. He was a plausible mediocrity, neither over nor under-liked; he benefited by splitting and cross-voting, and so jumped to the head of the poll. When the return was declared the winners retired with their friends to another Collins Street hostelry—the Commercial Inn.
Gipps Ward.
The election was held at the Caledonian Hotel, on the South side of Lonsdale (a few yards from its intersection with Swanston) Street. The Alderman was Samuel Raymond (the Deputy-Sheriff), with R. S. Webb (Collector of Customs), and Dr. Cussen (Assistant Colonial Surgeon) as Assessors. The candidates were Henry Condell (brewer), John Dickson (doctor of medicine), George Beaver (building contractor), and James Dobson (licensed victualler). In front of the polling place was a space of tolerably timbered bush; and the four candidates held a sort of picnic off the road in front, where a large tent was pitched. This was well stocked with creature-comforts, solid and liquid, which were attacked as unstintingly as would have become any conclave of champion-eaters and drinkers in the Southern Hemisphere. This was a "Liberty-Hall" and no mistake, for what with "free grub and free grog, free fist and free gab," this popular idea of a "Paradise for the working man," was several times on the verge of being transformed into a "Pandemonium of devils." Condell was the proprietor of a brewery in Little Bourke Street, and the beer must have been turned on with high pressure from his vats (only 200 yards off) for a newspaper of the following morning declared that "About noon Condell's ale grew too strong, and caused much confusion at the polling; but the confusion was caused principally by those who were not voters, as all were invited to partake and make welcome." About three o'clock the place was in a state of general row, and the poll closed "amidst riot and confusion." The result of the proceedings was:— Elected, Messrs. Condell 69, Dickson 65, Beaver 64; Rejected, Dobson 39.
The defeated candidate was terribly wrath at his discomfiture, and issued the following indignant address:—
"The Worthy Burgesses of Gipps Ward:— "To those voters who were enabled by personal strength to proceed to the table, and record their votes in my favour, I return my most sincere thanks.
