installation he took so much to tippling, that Captain Lonsdale was obliged to have him removed, and on the 30th March, 1838, was succeeded by Mr. Robert Russell. Leroux, after his dismissal, went so far from bad to worse, that on the 17th August, 1839, at the age of 34, he was found dead in bed, and the next day Melbourne honoured his remains with a numerously attended funeral, considering the number of residents then in town. In overhauling his official papers, Captain Lonsdale and Mr. Russell found, amongst other scraps, a prescription for the concoction of rum-punch which poor Leroux, no doubt, compounded too often, and, unlike ordinary dispensers, always swallowed his own dose. Neither Lonsdale nor Russell ever experimented on the recipe. One of the first things the new clerk set about was the erection of a suitable office for himself, and this was the first Government brick building put up in the province. I have the plan and elevation before me, from which it seems to have been a brick-walled, chimnied, and roof-shingled cottage of one room, 14ft. x 20ft.; and here he settled down to his drawings, but in January, 1839, was compelled to clear out by the Police Magistrate, who required the place as a temporary Police Court, as the usual Court in the Market Reserve was about to be required for Quarter Sessions purposes. This Russell did, though not with the best grace, but the Police Magistrate was also the Commandant, and his commands, whatever they might be, should be obeyed. Some time after the new building was again used as a Clerk of Works' office, but in 1841 it was turned into "chambers" for the first Resident Judge, who used an adjoining brick building as a court-house. Russell soon grew tired of his appointment—and on the 18th June, 1839, he sent in his resignation, and was followed by Mr. James Rattenbury. In 1840 the staff was thus constituted:— Clerk of Works, James Rattenbury, Esq., 185 per annum; Overseer of Works (vacant) 5s. per diem, £91 5s. per annum; Overseer of Roads and Gangs, Samuel Sparkes, £60 per annum; Overseer of Prisoners, Corporal Hawkins (28th regiment), 18 5s. per annum; Gratuities to Military Artificers, £100 per annum; Rations and Clothing to Prisoners of the Crown, £3600 per annum; Tools, building materials and incidentals, £900 per annum.
Up to this period, the Custom House in progress was the only Public work of any consequence, and hitherto the various small jobs in the way of patching and white-washing the several queer hovels in use for public purposes, were mostly executed by ticket-of-leave artisans and handy men. The Custom House was the first regularly contracted-for building, but sums having been voted for the erection of a new gaol and court-house, the Clerk of Works had something in the way of works to look after. Still the duties were of the most mechanical character, for all plans and specifications were prepared in the Colonial Architect's office at Sydney, and shipped away, cut and dry, to Port Phillip, and precious muddles some of the plans and specifications were. Mr. Rattenbury was a common-place, plodding, pains-taking kind of official, but he had the good luck to secure the services of a Mr. Joseph Burns, a smart, practical, wide-awake fellow, who overseered under Rattenbury's superintendence, and Rattenbury comparatively had easy times of it. Rattenbury, though drawing only a rather minimum salary, did well, and prospered, so far as to be able to build houses in Victoria Parade, and became what is conventionally phrased "well-in;" but as time went on, ugly stories crept abroad about his doings with the contractors, his being "palm-oiled" by some, "rowed" by others, and treated in some other way by more. Incriminating letters appeared in the newspapers, complaints were made to the Superintendent, and twice or thrice, private investigations were held, but nothing, so far as the public were aware, had been specifically shown to compromise him. However, for some reason, Rattenbury was removed from office in April, 1846, and succeeded by Mr. Henry Ghinn, a gentleman still alive and respected in Melbourne. The new Clerk's salary was £200 a year, and he had Mr. Burns as next in command at 6s. per day, but there had been attached to the department a bridge branch, with a Mr. David Lennox (appointed in 1844) as superintendent, with £50 per annum more than Ghinn, and a Mr. J. H. Craig as a clerk at 6s. per day. The lunatic asylum at the Yarra Bend had also been commenced, and for superintending the works there, a Mr. James Balmain received a daily wage of 6s. Mr. Ghinn remained head of the department for several years, and was fortunate in rendering satisfaction to the higher powers, and securing the good-will, not only of the contractors, but of such of the outside public as were brought into official intercourse with him. He was conscientious, firm and courteous, and always ready and willing to co-operate in any movement initiated for the welfare of the community. When events rendered a re-construction of this department necessary, he was appointed Colonial architect, which office he held until he retired from the public service.
