THE EARLY COUNCILLORS.
Richard Heales
Was a remarkable man. He was something of the "Nicholson" stamp, more plausible, but less energetic, and perhaps a trifle less straightforward. He had read more than Nicholson, but, like Fawkner, imperfectly digested what he mentally swallowed. His ideas had a crudeness that required toning down. Possibly his abstemiousness in the use of stimulants would in some measure account for this, for Heales was an ardent teetotaller, but only as to the quality not the quantity of the fluids imbibed. Spirituous or fermented liquors he abhorred as emissaries of the Father of Evil; yet at a Municipal spread, or a "tea-fight" he would place himself outside such a cargo of sandwiches, buns, biscuits, bread and cheese, vegetables, tea, coffee, and ginger-beer, as to cause it a subject of speculation where he found corporeal stowage for so much assorted freightage. Mr. Heales was born in London, in 1818, and served an apprenticeship to a coachmaker. Arriving in Melbourne in 1842, he obtained employment in a factory, of which he afterwards became a partner. From the first he allied himself to the Temperance Cause, and it had no more persistent and unchanging advocate than he. After terminating his connection with the City Council, he plunged into the whirlpool of political life, and twice obtained office as Minister of the Crown, first as Chief Secretary and second as President of Lands. To the benevolent movements of the time he gave his active co-operation, and those who knew him best declare that in all his business transactions and private life, there never lived a fairer man nor a more estimable citizen. He died in 1864, universally regretted, and in connection with the so-called Liberal cause, the name of Richard Heales remains a watch-word unto this day.
{{c|D. S. Campbell
Was the first to resign his seat in the Council, but in a few years he was re-elected, and was more remarkable for fits of short-lived energy than application to Civic work. He was not as steady a goer as his brother, "The Doctor," who also got elected, and until his death (1888) resided in Melbourne, plodding away in the medical profession, and amusing himself as every Christmas-tide approached, by a good-natured raid upon the pockets of the well-disposed for contributions wherewith to enable the inmates of the Immigrants' Home to indulge in a tobacco spree. D. S. Campbell's public career was not bounded by the City Council, for he represented Richmond for some time in the Legislative Assembly; but he never made much of a name in politics, for like "The Doctor" (only much more so) he was very excitable when speaking in public.
George Annand
Was, perhaps, as queer a customer as any in the old Council, and he also made his way to the Legislative Assembly. He kept a grocery and "miscellaneous" shop at the corner of Queen and Collins Streets. He both sold and took snuff; dealt in peppers, pickles, and mustards of every variety, and presented a curious combination of condiments in himself. An "out-and-outer" of a Scotchman, he was more short-tempered than the usual run of his countrymen, and the wearer of a scratch wig. When he scratched it, instead of his head, it (the scratching) was the signal that the steam was up with "Old George," and a warning to beware of adding to his irritability. Yet, he was a valuable member of the community. Punctual in business, and prompt in payments himself, he exacted punctuality and promptitude from his customers and tenants; and he had the latter, for he was well off. He always sided with the Kerr clique in the Council, and neither sought for nor obtained much of the public favour, unless in the way of trade. But as he retailed good wares, his counter was well patronised by those desirous of obtaining value for their money.
Further down Collins Street was another Councillor-Grocer,
David Young,
The antithesis of Annand in many ways, but Annand's equal in turning in the "bawbees"—though of the two, George was preferable to Davie. Mr. Young died in Fitzroy some years ago.
