Corporation business was increasing, thought proper to increase the pay to £300 a year ; but required the new holder to enter bonds, himself in £ 3 0 0 and two sureties of £ 1 5 0 each. T h e election wasfixedfor the 23rd October, yvhen applications yvere read from Messrs. N. L Kentish, Joseph Burns, J. A. Manton,"James Blackburn, William Stewart, Alex. Cheyne (Hobartown), J. H . Robbins, J. Standon, F. Thompson, Morix Hathem, and James T. Everist. There were 15 members of the Council present, and the voting was thus:—For Blackburn, 10; Burns, 3; Cheyne, 2 ; all the rest, o. Mr. Blackburn yvas a Civil Engineer of much ability, and though in " hot water " occasionally with the Council, he remained in office until his death. At a subsequent meeting, on the 9th November, a motion was proposed tendering the thanks of the Council to the late Surveyor (Mr. Laing); but it yvas opposed by Alderman Kerr, because it had been alleged that Laing had not given satisfaction as to the street levels, that he had had his own carts employed at ios. per day on Corporation work, and had some unrequired billets of wood appropriated to his o w n use ! T h e "previous question" was moved, and on a division the voting was :—Ayes : Alderman Kerr, Councillors Annand, Murray, Armitstead, Nicholson. Noes: T h e Mayor (Greeves), Councillors Rankin, Smith, M'Combie, Stephen. The question was shelved by the casting-vote of the Mayor. T h e Daily News had applied itself to bastinadoing the Council for reasons real and imaginary, and one morning came out yvith a " brimstone" leader denouncing that body as the incarnation of everything diabolical, and accusing it of corruption and venality. This stung through the thick skin of Alderman Kerr, who, on the 18th October, proposed that a prosecution of the libeller be forthwith commenced, but on a vote he was beaten by 10 to 6. THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS (1849)
Were all contested. In Bourke Ward^Mr. J. T. Smith, for some time out of the Council, offered, and though opposed by Mr. C. Laing (ex-City Surveyor), was elected. In Lonsdale Ward, Mr. R. A. Balbirnie started against Mr. M'Combie, the retired member, and yvas beaten ; whilst in Gipps Ward, Mr. John Stephen was re-elected in preference to Mr. John Bear, w h o had been persuaded into a contest. Russell opposed Clarke, the retiring member for Latrobe Ward, who defeated O'Shanassy at a previous election, and he was now beaten in his turn. A vacancy also occurred in Gipps Ward by the effluxion of six months from the period of M'Namara's absconding. It was disputed by two new men, Messrs. H . J. Chambers, and Lawrence Rostron, and thefirst-namedwas elected. THE ELECTION OF MAYOR
Was held on the 9th, yvhen there yvere tyvo candidates, viz. Aldermen Greeves and Bell. Eight voted for the former, and six for the latter, and in the evening Greeves gave a dinner at the Royal Hotel. A n allowance of £ 3 0 0 was voted to the Mayor, and the T o w n Clerk's salary was raised to £ 3 0 0 . A n Act "For regulating buildings and party walls, andforpreventing mischiefs byfirein the City of Melbourne," had been a topic of much acrimonious discussion both inside and outside the Council, and at length became layv on the 12th October, 1849. It came into operation on the ist January, 1850. T h e first and most important step yvas to secure the services of an efficient Surveyor. Alderman Kerr accordingly moved that applications be invitedforthe office of Building Surveyor "From discreet persons of the full age of 25 years, properly educated and skilled in the art and practice of building." This officer was also to act as an Assistant to the City Surveyor, and, for £ 1 5 0 a year, to give all his time to his new duties. T h e tenure was, in thefirstinstance, to be from the ist January to the 30th October, 1850, and thence annual. The candidates were Messrs. Joseph Anderson, Thomas J. Everist, Samuel Dyeball, and William Stanley. T h e election was held on the 28th November, when Everist obtained 12 votes and all the others nil. Mr. Everist continued in the office until he resigned through advancing age a few years ago; and there could not be found a more zealous, considerate and incorruptible public officer, through trying times and many temptations. Mr. Henry Ginn (Clerk of Works) and Mr. H u g h Laing (builder) were appointed Building Referees.
