The " Boundaries were beaten" for the second time on the 6th February, 1848. These Boundaries n o w encircled the trans-Yarra country, and it was a two-day job. T h e start was m a d e at 10 a.m. from the Mechanics' Institute, across the bridge to the Punt Road, and thence onward to the R e d Bluff below St. Kilda. Returning, the " beaters" halted at the Royal Hotel, kept by a Mr. Howard, at the now Esplanade, for refreshments. T h e Northern Boundaries were examined the next day, and the " feeding " ceremonial gone through at Flemington, where there was quite a jolly gathering. T h e City Surveyor's horse bolted yvith its rider into a swamp, and both were with difficulty extricated. Chief-Constable Bloomfield and his nag took to the bush where they dissolved partnership; the riderfixedhis quarters on the bough of a large g u m tree, and the animal sped away on a spree to M o o n e e Ponds. Aldermen and Councillors, newspaper-men, and the citizens fraternized and nobblerized rather extensively ; but the newspapers were silent as to the accidents arising from the celebration. It is, therefore, to be presumed that, as the " beating" ended yvithout thrilling disaster, those most interested were thoroughly satisfied. There was a dense groyvth of ti-tree and brushyvood, between the beach at St. Kilda, and what was modernly called Fisherman's Bend. T h e Council accordingly begged of the Superintendent to give permission to abate the grievance by cutting it ayvay ; but Mr. Latrobe, beyond a vague promise, did nothing. T h e axe of time, hoyvever, gradually commenced chopping, and a few years beheld the Southern obstruction cleared off. M u c h more offensive was a range of disgusting sheds for the killing of butcher's meat, on the river bank, near the n o w gas works, and the Corporation applied for a site whereon proper Abattoirs could be erected. T h e localities suggested were contiguous to Sandridge, and on a portion of the Western S w a m p ; but Alderman Kerr m a d e bad worse by carrying an Address from the Council to the Superintendent, asking for a space between Batman's Hill and the Yarra, and so bringing the abomination nearer home. T h e Parliament Houses yvere nearly deprived of the present site through pre-occupation by the T o w n Hall. In 1849 tne Public Wforks Committee strongly advised an application to the Government to reserve fifteen acres of the open verdant waste land east of Spring Street, betyveen Melbourne and Collingwood, running parallel to the ends of Bourke and Lonsdale Streets, to be devoted to ornamental purposes of a public nature, and the T o w n Hall to be erected within that area. M r . Latrobe had no objection, but it was strongly opposed by Alderman Greeves, in favour of the corner of Swanston and Collins Street, because of its central and convenient position. T h e report yvas adopted, but subsequently rescinded on a call of the Council being m a d e for its re-consideration. Melbourne was locally unrepresented in the Sydney Legislature through the election of Earl Grey as m e m b e r for the city; and the interests of the Corporation were consequently unattended to. Hence eventuated this " rebuff." Alderman Kerr led the Council to believe that Mr. Robert Lowe, a Sydney member, would take charge of any business the Melbourne Council might require to be looked after. T h e reason why none of the district members were asked, yvas, that as squatters, their interests yvere not identical with those of the town. Consequently they were passed over, and a motion passed requesting Mr. L o w e to do the needful. It seemed that Alderman Kerr had not a scintilla of authority to make any promise on behalf of Mr. Lowe, and that honourable gentlemen, on being advised of what had been done, refused in terms verging on impertinence, and had the bad taste to forward his reply in an unfranked envelope, upon yvhich the Council had to pay double postage. Mr. Lowe's reason for declining to act, was his disapproval of the election of Lord Grey yvhich he regarded as a voluntary disfranchisement, though others looked upon it as an extremely clever coup, yvhich so far from retarding, materially hastened the Colonial Independence of the Province. Alderman Kerr, when brought to book for misleading the Council explained the possibility of his having mistaken what had transpired between himself and Mr. Loyve. S o m e were uncharitable enough to believe that Alderman Kerr had deliberately and maliciously misled the Council. T h e present Old Cemetery which was reserved as a burial ground in 1837, and where Batman's remains were laid in 1839, was n o w considered too near the town, though originally it was deemed inconveniently far away. Accordingly Alderman Kerr brought the question before the Council in the form of a motion : " That the Melbourne burying ground from its dangerous proximity to the inhabited portions of the City, and from the inconvenience of its position, ought not to be longer used as a place of sepulture, and that the Government be asked to appropriate a sufficient portion of land in a suitable locality to form
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