The November Elections (1850)
Caused much interest to be shown in some of the Wards. In Lonsdale Ward, Hodgson, the retiring Councillor, was re-elected unopposed. Bourke W a r d was contested by Messrs. Dalmahoy Campbell (cattle salesman), and Robert Robinson (saddler), when the latter polled 125, to the former's 70. Bowler retiring from Gipps Ward, and not re-offering himself, Mr: Richard Heales entered the lists ; but Mr. O'Shanassy (who yvas not present) was nominated, and the polling ended in 204 votes for Heales, and 137 for O'Shanassy. Latrobe W a r d was fought for by the retired m e m b e r (D. S. Campbell), and N. Guthridge, when Campbell polled 179, and the other 142. Rankin being disqualified for Bourke Ward, the nomination for his vacancy was held on the polling day of the other election for the same Ward, when there were nominated Messrs. Frank Stephen (city solicitor), J. O'Shanassy, C. W . Rowling, R. Robinson, and Dal. Campbell (the tyvo last being candidates at the previous election). O'Shanassy had the show of hands, and when the Returning Officer (Alderman Bell) asked if a poll was demanded, no one answered in the affirmative. Bell, prompted by some dislike to O'Shanassy, then did what no Returning Officer ever did before, and for which there could be no possible justification, he allowed half-an-hour in which to consider yvhether a poll was wanted, instead of declaring O'Shanassy elected. T h e consequence was that six of Stephen's electoral friends mustered courage to ask for a poll, which was fixed for the 4th November. Notwithstanding this, Stephen and Rowling retired and only Campbell and O'Shanassy saw the fight out, when 123 votes were recorded for Campbell and 121 for O'Shanassy. O n a scrutiny, one vote was knocked off the winner, yvhose majority was reduced to one. T h e gross favouritism of the Returning Officer evoked a loud expression of dissatisfaction, and the Daily News gave Alderman Bell such a merciless castigation, that an action for libel was instituted. M r . G. D. Boursiquot, the editor, conducted his own case with rare ability, and m a d e such a trenchant defence that he obtained a verdict. At the Mayoral election, Alderman Nicholson was chosen without opposition, and the ex-Mayor, on the evening of the 9th November, gave a valedictory entertainment at the Royal Hotel to forty-two persons.
Fitzroy's First Election.
The creation of Collingwood into a separate Ward, under the style and title of "Fitzroy," sent the "Collingwoodians" half delirious with excitement, and there was great work in the locality over the maiden election for Councillors. Mr. Alastair M'Kenzie, the Deputy-Sheriff, was appointed by the Government ex officio Alderman, to conduct the proceedings, and the nomination was set d o w n for the 2nd December, 1850. It was held accordingly on a c o m m o n opposite the Rose and Crown Hotel (now a blacking manufactory in Charles Street) when the following candidates were proposed and seconded :—Messrs. David Young, John Watson, Francis Reilly, Francis Bryant, William Kerr and Francis Clarke. The assemblage was as motley a one, and the proceedings as uproarious, as any similar demonstrations occurring in the same region since. T h e show of hands was in favour of Young, Reilly, and Kerr. A poll was demanded and fixed for the 4th, a day unequalled in suburban historyfordrinking, rowing, and boo-hooing. Every dodge, creditable and otherwise, was resorted to, to make the voters roll up, dead or alive, and it yvas stated as a fact that one of the candidates (whose n a m e I omit) had had the votes of ten names, belonging to as many mouldering corpses, recorded in his behalf. T h e poll closed at 4 p.m., and shortly after, amidst a deafening din of confusion, the little-bodied, shrill-tongued Returning-Officer screamed out at the highest pitch of voice he could command, the following result:—For Kerr, 6 9 ; Reilly, 68 ; Young, 62 ; Watson, 58 ; Bryant, 50 ; Clarke, 48. T h e three first-named were returned, and most certainly they included tyvo of the worst, whilst amongst the defeated were two of the best in the whole squad. T h e constituency of the new Ward yvas very anxious that itsfirstAlderman should be appointed from amongst thefirstCouncillors. This was a ruse got up in the Kerr interest, and a petition was presented with a good array of signatures to support it. But the wish yvas not respected by the Council, for on the ioth December, when the Aldermanic
