"the Tulip" that he procured Falkiner's dispensation and Wright's restoration. This occurred in the beginning of 1842; but "the Tulip" had hardly taken root in its recovered bed when, for some unexplained reason, probably a desire to provide for a hungry place-hunter, it was eradicated by peremptory instructions from Sydney, and a Mr. Charles Brodie made his appearance with the appointment of chief-constable in his pocket. This Brodie was a shrewd, active officer, but too self-opinionated, and often so persistently crotchety that it was trying to the magistrates to bear with him. Simpson had given up the police magistracy by this time, and Major St. John ruled in his place. Brodie so managed to ingratiate himself into the Major's favour as to become his right-hand man, and though no one was more conversant with the black-mailing and present-taking which precipitated St. John's ruin, he was always adroit enough to keep himself uncompromised, notwithstanding the suspicions and rumours of his complicity which were often so rife. After the incorporation of Melbourne, in 1843, there was a disagreement between the Town Council and the Executive about the levying of a police rate, which resulted in the abolition of the police magistracy, the duties of which office were thenceforth, for several years, performed by the Mayor for the time being. The withdrawal of St. John removed Brodie's mainstay, and in 1844 he so embroiled himself with the town magistracy that the Government was asked to remove him. This was done, but in consideration of his standing well at head-quarters, an office becoming every day a necessity was created for his behoof, and he was nominated Chief-Constable of the County of Bourke, then constituted a separate police district. Here he remained for many years, and in time obtained the appointment of keeper of the gaol at Geelong, where he continued, and was superannuated only a few years ago; but he soon made his exit from the world in comparative affluence, having acquired a handsome property in Fitzroy and other places. Mr. William Johnson Sugden came after Brodie as Town Chief-Constable, and held the office for several years, when he retired to commence business as a Boniface in the Royal Mail Hotel (corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets) of which he was the first landlord. He afterwards kept the Bull and Mouth, in Bourke Street, and an hostelry at St. Kilda, but he, too, has gone the way of his predecessor. He was a tall, straight, good-looking man, w h o strutted like a retired dragoon through the streets. He once served in a cavalry regiment, which accounted for the half-cavalier manner in which he did other things besides walking. He was sheriff's officer when he got the police preferment, and, whilst Chief-Constable, led an active, bustling life of it. He was at times rather impulsive in his duty, and too confident and pretentious in his conduct; was partial to "blowing" about himself, but, on the whole, served the public reasonably well, and gave pretty general satisfaction. He was also thefirstsuperintendent of thefirstfirebrigade founded in Melbourne, but in this capacity he never endangered life or limb, nor did anything specially remarkable as a public "extinguisher." In his treatment of the police he was deficient in that sameness of manner so necessary for the maintenance of proper discipline, for one week he would bounce, and the next do the other thing. Sometimes he was over exacting, and at others too indulgent, and many anecdotes used to be told of how he managed his men. As an instance of his occasional consideration for the comfort of his subordinates, the following occurrence may be cited:— One terrible hot-wind day occurred in February, 1847, when the Melbourne police force, consisting of twenty men, rank and file, though not insolvent were personally in absolute "liquidation" from the broiling heat. They would have melted to the wick like a tallow candle, but for the timely interposition of the Chief-Constable (Sugden), who, on the difficulty being represented to him, generously permitted them to keep their dress jackets unbuttoned, and to wear cabbage tree hats; but they were to be sure and have their numbers exposed, so that the public might be able to recognise their trusted guardians. For this act of grace the expressions of gratitude were loud and long, and Sugden's praises were sung, at all events until a change of weather came. The Corporation was incessantly crying out for more police protection, and the force was slowly and reluctantly increased, both in town and a few places in the country, so that, on the 1st January, 1847, Melbourne had for itself a chief, four sergeants, two watch-house keepers, twenty petty constables, and a messenger. A clothing allowance was also made, but not on a scale sufficient to encourage much extravagance, for it was only sixpence per day for the sergeants, and fourpence for the privates. The County of Bourke had also its chief-constable, two sergeants, twenty two petty constables, and two watch-house keepers; and though the rural sergeants were allowed the same clothing rate as the town officers, the privates were docked to threepence a day, as it
