MR. LATROBE AS SUPERINTENDENT 265 



the same place the aldermen and councillors were to proceed to 

 the election of a mayor, holding office for one year, but eligible for 

 re-election. A second, and even a third term for a popular man 

 has not been uncommon, and the Corporation Archives show that 

 Mr. John Thomas Smith, who was returned as a councillor for 

 Bourke Ward at the first election, filled the mayoral chair no less 

 than seven times. 



The Council, then in complete deliberative form, had in its own 

 hands the appointment of the town clerk, the town treasurer and 

 the Surveyor. These are the only executive officers contem- 

 plated by the Act, but as the town grew in importance a consider- 

 able clerical staff has gradually accumulated. As a check upon the 

 absolutism of the Council, the burgesses had the electing of the 

 assessors or valuators and the auditors. 



The franchise for the burgesses extended to every male person 

 of full age who occupied premises of a clear annual value of 25, 

 or had been for twelve months a resident householder in the town 

 or within seven miles thereof, subject to his securing his enrolment 

 on the electoral lists, which were compiled annually. The qualifi- 

 cation for councillor or alderman was the possession of real or 

 personal estate, either in their own right or that of their wives, to 

 the value of 1,000, or to be rated on an annual value of 50. 

 The disqualifications included ministers of religion, any one hold- 

 ing an office in the gift of the Council or interested in any contracts 

 therewith, any judge or officer of any Court of Justice or minis- 

 terial law officer of the Crown. A subsequent Amending Act added 

 any "attaint of treason or conviction of felony or any other infamous 

 offence ". 



Many Amending Acts during the next dozen years amplified the 

 powers, extended the area and increased the usefulness of this 

 important body, but the original constitution was sufficiently com- 

 plex to tax to the utmost the administrative powers of the men 

 called to their novel duties, and it cannot be said that it was an 

 immediate success. 



The Act provided for the election of councillors taking place on 

 the 1st of November, and that of the aldermen and mayor on the 9th 

 idem. To enable the Act to be made operative the Superintendent 



