without the consent of more than one of them, viz., Messrs. Lauchlin, M'Kinnon, James Williamson, John Dixon, J. F. Palmer, and E. Curr. The "Non-electionists" started the five distinguished English personages already named, and Mr. William M'Arthur, of Camden, in New South Wales, was also proposed and seconded. The show of hands was in favour of the first bunch of candidates, and on a demand for a poll it was fixed for the 3rd October, at Geelong, Melbourne, Portland and Belfast. The local candidates were in high favour and polled about three to one as against the others. The official declaration of the poll made on the 10th October, was as follows:—For M'Kinnon 239, Williamson 234, Dixon 232, Palmer 226, Curr 189, Duke of Wellington and Co. (each) 58, M'Arthur 25.
Mr. M'Arthur had virtually withdrawn before the polling.
The Returning Officer declared the five "pro-electionist" candidates to be duly elected, and Geelong, now supremely happy, continued to be the chief polling place for all subsequent District Elections until the separation of the province in 1851.
The team thus yoked like bullocks to the lumbering waggon of legislation, worked no better than their predecessors, and some of them soon tired of their newly-imposed labours.
In the beginning of 1849 Mr. Williamson resigned and Mr. William M'Arthur, the gentleman withdrawn at the preceding election was proposed as his successor. Mr. J. P. Fawkner was also nominated. Mr. Fawkner did not care about the proffered dignity, but, in declining it, proposed the Duke of Wellington. Fawkner's nominators refusing to withdraw him, he obtained the show of hands, whereupon the M'Arthurites demanded a poll, which was appointed for the 27th. Few cared a straw how this polling went. Fawkner retired, and as an evidence of the manner in which it was viewed in Melbourne, it need only be stated that though there were 236 district electors on the roll for the County of Bourke, only 14 votes were recorded, viz, for the Duke 9, and for M'Arthur 5. Geelong went in, of course, for the colonial, and the gross poll showed M'Arthur at 87, and the Dukee 10.
Mr. Edward Curr was the next to resign, and Mr. J. L. Pfoster, on the 11th June, was elected in his place. Dr. Palmer immediately after did likewise, and was succeeded by Mr. Henry Moor on the 5th July. About the same time Mrs. M'Kinnon died in Sydney, and her husband determined to withdraw from public life. The nomination for a fresh election took place on the 19th July at Geelong. M'Kinnon, after resigning, was persuaded to change his mind, and agreed to re-offer himself, but Mr. Fawkner was again on the look-out on behalf of the "Iron Duke," whom he nominated. He was also nominated himself. M'Kinnon had the show of hands, and the result of the polling on the 31st July was:—For M'Kinnon 139, Duke of Wellington 3, Fawkner 1.
The next election was held at Geelong on 30th May, 1850, consequent upon the resignations of Messrs. Foster and M'Kinnon. Dr. Lang having extricated himself from pecuniary involvements, his Port Phillippian friends made an effort to get him returned; but the Doctor's popularity had died out—his sun was set, and there would be no other rising. The following candidates were nominated:— The Rev. Dr. Lang, Mr. C. H. Ebden, Mr. L. M'Allister, and Major Mercer.
Messrs. Kerr and Fawkner went down specially from Melbourne to kick up a row, but failed. Lang and Mercer had the show of hands; but at the polling on the 11th June, Ebden and Mercer were returned by large majorities.
Earl Grey, though he did not accept the Representation of Melbourne, was in no hurry to decline it, a fact which in itself proved his election as a master stroke of political manoeuvring. It was not until after the Separation Act had passed the Imperial Parliament that His Lordship declined the compliment paid him. A writ to fill the vacancy caused by the non-acceptance was issued, appointing the nomination for the 6th November, 1850. The election was held in the porch of the Supreme Court, when Mr. William Westgarth was returned without opposition; and no man in the colony was more entitled to recognition of valuable public services. In returning thanks, Mr. Westgarth declared that within his own personal knowledge Earl Grey had rendered much service to the colony; and as to His Lordship's return for Melbourne, so far from having done injury, as some persons supposed, it had exercised a vast beneficial influence in favour of Victoria. If Earl Grey had had his own way, Port Phillip would have been an independent colony long before.
There were no more elections in Port Phillip.
