T h e report was adopted by the Council on the 17th July, but like m a n y another equally valuable document of a like kind since, its suggestions were never dealt with in the thorough manner, by yvhich only a great public evil can be effectively stamped out. T h e acceptance of an office of profit by Councillor Kerr, caused a vacancy in Fitzroy Ward, and it filled by the unopposed return of Mr. John Fogarty. T h e gold discoveries in N e w South Wales in July, 1851, stirred u p the community to the necessity of finding some auriferous counter attraction in this colony. Therefore, on the 3rd July Alderman Johnston moved in the Council that an Address to the Lieutenant-Governor be voted, requesting the Government " T o explore the resources ofthe colony, so as to ascertain the possible existence of gold mines or deposits." T h e cleansing of the city n o w cost ,£97 10s. per month, and W . M . Harper was the accepted scavenger. T h e s u m of ,£5 was voted for the formation of a footpath from George Street, Fitzroy, to St. Peter's Church ; and some time after, a similar amount for a " shoot" at the intersection of Bourke and Spring Streets. O n the 21st August the question of continuing Victoria Street from Elizabeth Street to the Benevolent Asylum was considered. It would cut through the Cattle Market at the Elizabeth Street junction; but as the Government was willing to give an equivalent of land somewhere else, the abolition of the first Market was agreed to. O n the 4th September a communication was read from a Mr. Rosson, C . E , proposing to supply Melbourne with water from the Yarra above the Studley Park Falls, and it was referred to the Waterworks Committee. T h e City Council agreed to appoint an Assistant Surveyor at .£150 per annum. For this office there were, as candidates, Messrs. John Reilly, Charles Mays, J. H . Stacey, Johnston Wylie, J. H . Taylor, W. Gibbons, J. A. Manton, G. R. Cox, Geo. Mitchell, W m . Standering, and A. F. Ross. Mr. Reilly was elected, and afterwards was appointed City Surveyor, which he held for years, and ultimately received a retiring allowance. In the course of time he re-entered the service of the Corporation, and efficiently discharged the duties of Building Surveyor, to which he succeeded on the resignation of M r J. T. Everist. A n application to the Council by Messrs. Penrose Nevins, R. Campbell, W . B. Hatch, and R. Willan, on behalf of a number of citizens for the establishment of public and private baths for both sexes, and soliciting the sanction and patronage of the Council, was granted. S o m e time before this a Mr. N. L. Kentish had received permission to establish baths, but before they reached the opening stage the building was accidentally burned to the water's edge. T h e electoral franchise for the Legislative Council was lower than that for the Corporation, an anomaly which required to be removed, and to this the attention ofthe Council was directed. O n the 16th October, Councillor Chambers brought forward a motion asserting the propriety of the extension of the citizen's franchise in a corresponding degree with that which prevailed for the Legislative elections Councillor Annand moved an amendment to admit every householder of six months' standing, or residents of twelve months. A n amendment by Alderman Johnston was carried, against the motion and previous amendment, for the enfranchisement of all householders w h o had paid their rates for the prescribed period accordance with the provisions of the Act. THE CITY SURVEYOR IN TROUBLE.
The early holders of this office were unwilling to abandon private practice, or to resist from indirectly intermeddling in the Corporation contracts, and they got into scrapes in consequence. As it was with Laing, so it was with Blackburn; and charges were now and then alleged against him. At length he asked for an investigation, which was held before a Committee of the whole Council on the 31st October, when the following decision was come to :—" That as regarded the posts removed on loan to assist in the erection ofthe Bishop's Palace, such conduct was condemned as not being warranted. T h e charge of interfering in the contract for the T o w n Hall subjected him also to reprehension. T h e other charges fell to the ground, as the Council considered the manner in which the City Surveyor mixed his name up in certain contracts for rubble, etc, was perfectly justifiable, and was in accordance with precedents." T h e "Bishop's Palace" here referred to is the well-known "Bishop's Court" in East Melbourne, then in course of erectionforDr. Perry.
