of sherry and water! After doing only moderate justice (all that was in their power) to the fare set before them, the company retired, and the procession, considerably shorn of its attractive accessories, re-formed and proceeded to interview
Mr. Superintendent Latrobe
At his office on Batman's Hill, where the magnates were received by the Sub-treasurer (Captain Lonsdale) and by him ushered into the august presence of the Superintendent, who sat in state, arrayed in the uniform of a Lieutenant-Governor, and wearing the "hat and feathers," which in after years were so ridiculed by the Argus newspaper. Captain Lonsdale announced them seriatim by name and official designation, and the Superintendent met them with a cordial courtesy. A lengthy and interesting conversation ensued, confined mainly to topics Municipal, and one or two of the introductory sentences are worth transcribing, for pacific relations did not long exist between the parties, and irritants and counter-irritants soon constituted the stock compliments bandied between the Superintendent and the Council.
Mr. Latrobe.—"I have much pleasure in welcoming the first Municipal Corporation of Melbourne. You have a great deal of hard work before you, Mr. Mayor. I do not think you will find it a bed of roses."
The Mayor.—"I am aware of the onerous duties before us; but we must set our faces steadily against the storm, and endeavour to go through it."
The conversation took a practical turn, in the course of which the Superintendent promised every co-operation. It transpired that the Government would be willing to give the Council £2000 to start business with, conditional on a like sum being collected or contributed. The propriety of calling in some of the convicts, who were out on "assignment" in the district, with the view of employing them in street labour was mooted, but such a project was disapproved of by the Superintendent and Councillor Fawkner.
After the interview the remains of the procession with the Mayor leading, commenced its return-trip along Spencer Street to Lonsdale Street via Elizabeth Street, back to the Royal Hotel, where the Mayor was given three cheers, and the fag-end of the day's pageantry quickly disbanded.
The First Meeting of the Council
For general business was held on the 15th December, 1842, when an Address to the Queen was adopted, congratulating Her Majesty on her Providential escape from assassination on the 30th May, 1842, when a youth named Francis discharged a pistol as Her Majesty and Prince Albert were returning in an open barouche down Constitution Hill to Buckingham Palace. Francis was convicted of high treason and sentenced to death on the 17th June, but was subsequently transported for life. On a further commutation of punishment, he passed over from Tasmania to Victoria, and it is singular that this should have been the first act of a Corporation of which this same Francis was destined to be a future member, by virtue of his enrolment, for several years as a citizen of Melbourne—a man too of industrious habits, exemplary conduct, and held in esteem. Francis died in 1883.
The Council next considered the allowance to the Mayor, and after some discussion it was fixed at £350 for the Civic year. The stipends of the Town Clerk and the Town Surveyor were £250 each per annum.
For the appointment of Town Clerk there had been great intriguing, lobbying, and dodging for several weeks, and the following ten individuals (the four last named being Attornies), were publicly announced as candidates, viz., Messrs. J. M. Smith, W. C. Hendley, John Stephen, R. H. Budd, J. C. King, Alex. M'Killop, Henry Moor, Richard Ocock, Edward Sewell and George Barber. The list was reduced to eight, and the result of the voting was, for King eight, for Stephen three. Mr. King, who had both plotted and plodded in every conceivable manner for the berth, obtained it, but he never had a day's peace for the few years he kept it. This, in a great measure, he brought upon himself, for having secured what he so much coveted, he ought to have devoted himself to the business of his office, be Town Clerk and nothing else, but he did exactly the reverse. The manner in which the Council conducted this first meeting made such a favourable impression that a newspaper, more unfriendly than otherwise, was
