dozen five were Scotch, four English, two North Irish, one New South Welsh; and their religious professions might be specified as five Presbyterians to five Episcopalians and two Independents. Of them, three (i.e., Condell, Russell, and Smith) became Mayors of Melbourne, and six (viz., Condell, Dickson, Russell, Smith, Fawkner, and Campbell) obtained seats in the Colonial Legislature. Kerr was the only one of the group that changed an elective seat for that of a salaried subordinate — the Town Clerkship. Campbell had the shortest connection with the Council, as he resigned soon after his election, and Patterson quickly followed through disqualification as a Burgess; whilst Smith, with the exception of his name being once off the Burgess roll, continued a member to the time of his death in 1879. Of this primary dozen not one is now alive (1888.)
The members of the Town Council assembled for the first time at the Royal Hotel on the 3rd December, took the oath of allegiance, and subscribed the usual declaration.
The First Aldermanic Election.
This took place at a meeting of the Council, held at the Royal Hotel on the 9th December; and, as required by the Act, with closed doors. The following members were present, viz., Crs. Condell, Kerr, Mortimer, Patterson, Russell, Beaver, Dickson, Fawkner, James, Orr, and Smith. Absent — Cr. Campbell. The mode of election was, viz.: The Councillors present appointed a Chairman and two Scrutineers, and the Chairman,firstof all deposited in a box or urn, a card inscribed with the names of the Councillors for whom he voted, and then received the voting-cards from the other Councillors, and either "boxed" or "urned" them. If a member did not wish to give effect to his vote, he wrote upon the voting-paper the name of a non-candidate, and this was termed "throwing away his vote." No candidate could vote in his own favour. The Aldermanic selection having been made, Cr. Patterson was appointed Chairman, and Crs. Mortimer and Russell Scrutineers.
The voting was then proceeded with, but as there was not a full Council the scrutiny was delayed for an hour, and eventuated in the choice of Condell, Russell, Kerr, and Mortimer.
The Council decided that Alderman Condell be assigned to Gipps Ward, and Alderman Russell to Latrobe Ward, with a tenure of office for six years each; Alderman Mortimer to Lonsdale Ward, and Alderman Kerr to Bourke Ward, each for three years.
The election of Mayor was next accomplished by the same process, the same Chairman and Scrutineers. Aldermen Condell and Patterson were the only declared candidates, and as there was a tie in the voting, thefinaldecision rested with the Chairman and Scrutineers, and, after a brief consultation the Chairman declared the majority to be in favour of Alderman Condell, who thus became
The First Mayor of Melbourne.
No list of the voting has ever been published, no doubt through a desire to preserve the secrecy indirectly suggested by the Act; and the voting cards employed on this remarkable occasion have been either lost or mislaid, or gone astray, or accidentally perished. From my personal knoyvledge of the petty partyism of the period, and the likes and dislikes of the eleven gentlemen named as present, I append a list compiled after exit of forty years, which, if verification were possible, would, I have no doubt, be found to be absolutely correct:— For Condell. — Alderman Kerr, Alderman Mortimer, Councillor Fawkner, Councillor Beaver. For Patterson. — Alderman Orr, Alderman Russell, Councillor James, Councillor Dickson.
Non-voter — Councillor Smith. Absent — Councillor Campbell.
Neither Condell nor Patterson could vote for himself. The casting vote, vested in the presidential triumvirate, was disposed of by Patterson remaining neutral, and the Scrutineers turning the scale for Condell.
When the result of the election of Mayor was known, public opinion was much exercised as to its wisdom, for Condell's unfitness was not even questioned, and a very general impression prevailed that Patterson had been "sold." Though not the Mayor-elect, he was certainly the Mayor-designate for the week before, and it was only at the last moment that a successful opposition was forthcoming, Condell's eligibility for the office was not maintained even by his friends, and, excepting the advantage which a
