upon as premature, unless ,£1000 could be obtained from the Government, of which there appeared but a poor chance. Addresses were sent to the Executive upon the subject, and also as to placing a sum upon the Estimates towards town and wharf improvements. A reply was received refusing aid to the town, but consenting as regarded the wharf. T h e lighting of the streets was mooted in April, and a resolution passed authorising the erection of posts, and lighting of lamps at all the main street-intersections; the " Streetkeeper's" office was restored, and Daniel Egan yvas appointed thereto at a salary of ,£50 per annum. In M a y the Public Works Committee presented a report upon the grubbing operations entrusted to it, and from this document it appeared that 402 stumps had been eradicated at an expense of ,£60 6s, but the uprooting of the remainder, about 1000, would cost £m. This formidable expenditure so frightened the Council that further " stumping " operations were discontinued. T h e valuation of the town amounted to ,£47,343 15s. 5d, upon which a rate of 6d. in the £ was made, and tyvo Collectors were appointed, viz, Messrs. James Ballingall for Lonsdale and Bourke, and William O'Farrell, for Latrobe and Gipps Wards. T h e Aborigines began to show in large numbers in and about the town, yvhich so annoyed and alarmed Councillor Palmer, that he brought the matter before the Council. H e denounced the dark vagrants as " both drunkards and pertinacious beggars," and at his instance a communication was addressed to the Superintendent, asking for their speedy removal. In July, 1845, some law suits yvere commenced against the Corporation, and two members of the Bar, viz, Messrs. E. E. Williams, and A. Cunninghame were retained for the Council. T h e Council handed over to the recently established Fire-brigade the s u m of ,£50 being an unexpended balance of Police Rate. In August, Councillor Pullar died, and a vacancy occurred in Lonsdale Ward. A grocer named George Annand, kept a shop at the north-east corner of Queen and Collins Streets ; he was a most unmitigated Scotchman, and unflinchingly sided, through right or wrong, with the Scotch contingent of the Council. H e was put forward with the strongest hopes of success ; but without achieving it. Fawkner was fortunate in getting himself expeditiously "whitewashed " by the Insolvent Court. With his "certificate" in his pocket, " Johnny " was himself again. H e " ratted " from the Scotch party, and skipped into the arms of the Anglo-Hibernians, yvho, truth to say, did not care m u c h for him. But they had to make a selection, and as Fayvkner was the smaller man, of the two evils they chose the lesser. There yvas a smart spurt over the affair. It yvas a petty faction fight between " O r a n g e " and " Green " and " Johnny" yvas returned by a majority of seven,—the polling score being 69 v. 6 2 — a s close a shave as he ever had. In September, Mr. H o w e the Surveyor, resigned through ill-health, and M r . Charles Laing was elected to the post. The following incompletefinancialstatement yvas submitted to the Council -.—Receipts from Town Rate for the year ended 31st August, 1845, £"1165 16s. ioj^d. ; Deduct cost of collection, ,£130 16s. 2d.; Nett proceeds of Rate, ^£1035 os. 8>^d. Expenditure for Public Works for above period, ,£1417 18s. 3d.; In hands of T o w n Treasurer ayvaiting completion of works in progress and contracted for, ,£646 19s. gl/2d. Total appropriation of Revenue to Public Works, ,£2064 17s. n ^ d .
A "Tailor" in the Council.
One of the Councillors who had ordered an official rig-out from a Melbourne tailor, got it and showed off in it, but yvould not pay for it. Payment yvas demanded but not a cent could be drawn from the member's pocket. T h e tailor appealed to the Court of Requests, and a verdict yvas obtained, but all the bailiffs in the world could not get blood from this Corporation turnip. At length " Snip " yvas advised to bring his plaint before the Council, not that his little bill would be discharged from the Town-fund, but in the hope that the debtor might be awakened to some sense of shame. Accordingly amongst the correspondence produced by the T o w n Clerk was a letter enclosing the following :—Councillor " Blank" Dr. to "Snip," tailor. T o one Corporation Uniform Coat, with white satin lining, and velvet collar, £4 4S- ; T o one pair black doeskin trousers, £1 15s. ; T o one white Marseille vest, 183.; T o one set of V.R. buttons for the coat, 4s. Total, ^£7 is.
