constrained to remark that "the whole day's proceedings were highly creditable, and the speeches of the members were very neatly put together. The Worshipful the Mayor looked remarkably well, and conducted himself with dignity and affability."
On the following Sunday (the 18th December), Mayor Condell and his Corporate "clutch" attended the Episcopalian Church service at St. James. The Mayor on this occasion left the borrowed Masonic over-all behind, and stepped out in the van of his brother Aldermen and Councillors, in the blue and white swallow-tail, black trowsers, white vest, white choker, and belltopper, the authorised wearables of his associates. This puny attempt to establish a spurious religious ascendancy brought so much ridicule on its promoter that he never repeated it, and the wonder was how the sturdy Presbyterian element in the Council could have sanctioned such folly.
As it was essential under the Act that there should be a Treasurer, Mr. James Simpson consented (pending a regular paid appointee) to perform the (little more than nominal) duties gratuitously, on condition that the Civic account was kept at the Bank of Australasia, of which he was a Director, and he was accordingly appointed. The following were candidates for the office of Treasurer:— Messrs. Gilbert Beith, A. M'Lachlan, James Smith, R. J. Bertlesen, J. D. Pinnock, and George Arden. The smallness of the salary (£150), however, drove several of these out of the field, and the first permanent occupant of the office was Mr. Beith.
For the Town Surveyorship there were twelve aspirants, viz.:— Messrs. G. M'Lagan, C. Laing, W. W. Howe, J. N. Craig, A. Sim, T. Burn, J. T. Everist, R. Russell, A. Thomson, W. Wright, C. Lundie, and J. W. Hooson. A whole heap of testimonials was sent in, but Howe made a great point of his having " instruments to carry on the work, and he had been connected with an extensive over-ground colliery in England." The billet was given to him.
One of the most pressing questions was the erection of a Town Hall, for which £500 would be sufficient, and the site suggested was portion of the St. James' Reserve, between Bourke and Little Collins Streets. As to temporary premises, the only places in town sufficiently commodious were the Lamb Inn and the Mechanics' Institute. Portion of the latter building was subsequently rented, into which the Corporation moved, and remained there for several years. Thomas Davis was appointed Messenger at £65 a year, out of twenty-two applicants. Old Hooson was sometime after berthed as "Street-keeper" at £1 a week—just 20s. more than he was worth.
"Looking after the Funds" (a sinecure as yet) was entrusted to the Mayor, Aldermen Russell, Mortimer, and Councillor Smith as a Finance Committee, whilst Alderman Kerr, and Councillors Dickson, James and Patterson were to try their hands at the compilation of a code of Standing Orders. Subsequently the Public Works, Finance, Market, and Legislative Permanent Committees were elected and continued to be so annually.
The Corporation Seal.
By the Act of Incorporation there was to be a Common Seal, and there was much curiosity as to what device should be represented on it. By a motion of Alderman Kerr, a Committee, consisting of the Mayor, Alderman Russell and himself, was commissioned to suggest a design. The Seal-Committee on the 9th January, reported in favour of a design, which was approved. It was on a field argent surrounded with wreaths of acacia or wattle, a St. George's cross gules, bearing the Imperial Crown proper. In the first quarter was a golden fleece, second a whale, third a bull, and fourth a ship, all proper—as representing wool, oil, and tallow, the chief exports of the time, and their means of transmission from the colony; the crest of a kangaroo demi coupée—the whole within a circular inscription, "Seal of the Corporation of Melbourne, 1842." This was adopted with an alteration of the inscription to "Town of Melbourne, Incorporated, A. D. 1842," and the subsequent addition of the now well-known motto, "Vires acquirit eundo." It has often been asked how the Town Council hit upon such a happy epigraph; and it certainly is not generally known that it was the result of a whim of the first Judge (Willis) to whom it occurred that they were just the three words that would suit the baby Town Council.
