Mr. Charles Hotson Ebden, by Captain G. W. Cole and Mr. Alfred Langhorne.
Mr. Thomas Walker, by Messrs. Joseph Hawdon and Alexander Andrews.
Dr. Charles Nicholson, by Messrs. A. F. Mollison and Archibald Cunninghame.
It was arranged that each candidate, or representatives for the absentees, should address the assemblage in the order of nomination. They did so, and all obtained a fair hearing except Lang, who was subjected to such a storm of hooting and hissing that after several persistent ineffectual efforts to speak, he was obliged to give way, and submitted with a bad grace. A show of hands was next taken, and declared to be in favour of Ebden, Nicholson and Lang, whereupon Dr. Thomson demanded a poll, which was appointed for the 20th June.
The whole province was one electorate, with three polling places, viz., Melbourne, Geelong and Portland. On the polling day there was only one booth opened for Melbourne, viz., that at the Lamb Inn (now Scott's Hotel). The gross poll at the several localities named was:— For Ebden 228, Walker 217, Nicholson 205, Thomson 183, Lang 165, Mitchell 157. The first five were consequently elected.
The official declaration was made on the 24th June, in the same place as the nomination. Ebden had the Town band playing through the streets for some time before noon. He was the only successful candidate present, and returned thanks in a ponderous, inflated speech. Proxies appeared on behalf of Walker, Nicholson, and Mitchell. Thomson and Lang were both absent and unrepresented, the former having returned home to Geelong that morning and the latter started overland for Sydney. At the conclusion of the ceremonial, when Ebden, his brother, Edward Curr, and J. L. Foster, were about to be driven away in Ebden's carriage, their supporters unshafted the horses, relays of shouting volunteer bipeds took their places and the vehicle was hauled at a quick pace through the streets. But all the interest taken in the "chairing" was suddenly eclipsed if not extinguished by the welcome news that a mandate of the Executive suspending Judge Willis from office, had been received from Sydney.
The First Melbourne Election.
When a contest was known to be inevitable it evoked the fiercest feelings of political antagonism and religious acrimony. Every disturbing element was called into play, the exuviæ of the internecine feuds of the old country were re-heated, and the discordant party war-cries of "Orange" and "Green" were raised in the furore. Election meetings were held in the several Wards, where the tumultuous rows were most discreditable. House-to-house canvassing was made, and threats and intimidation of every kind freely interchanged. Exclusive dealing against the shopkeepers was vowed; the Irish publicans swore lustily they would never again buy a barrel of Condell's beer; and the Irish tipplers were as emphatic against ever drinking it. As a climax to these indecencies, the Resident Judge (Willis) dishonored the ermine of his high office by requesting the retailers, with whom he did business, to vote for Condell; and one day, whilst on a vote-touting expedition, Willis and Curr met face to face in the shop of Mr. Charles Williamson, a Collins Street draper (lately Alston and Brown's), where the Judge waxed so personally offensive that Curr's forbearance only prevented the public scandal of a pugilistic encounter between the judicial canvasser and the candidate.
The 15th June, 1843, was the period appointed for the Borough nomination, and a hustings was put up on a stretch of waste land where the Town Hall now stands. Alderman Russell was Returning Officer, in consequence of the disqualification of the Mayor, through his being a candidate. Curr was the people's favourite, and his Committee having secured the Town Band, the strains of "See the Conquering Hero Comes" were heard, accompanied by Curr and a numerous body-guard of friends. Condell arrived soon after with his principal supporters.
The writ was read by the Town Clerk, and the Returning Officer eulogised that high privilege, the pride and the boast of every loyal subject throughout the whole of Britain's Isles, namely, "The System of Representation," and concluded a brief though excellent address with a hope "that they fully appreciated the trust reposed in them—the first electors for the Borough of Melbourne—the capital of Australia Felix."
