Meeting held at the office of the Shire at Golden Age Hotel, February 17th, 1873. A letter was read from William Phipps, Returning, Officer, declaring the under mentioned gentlemen as duly elected Councillors:
 

PRESENT: 

Crs. Lewis, Fisher, Fitzgerald, Selk and Jack.
The Councillors made and subscribed the declaration in accordance with the
provisions of the 46th and 47th Sections of the Shire's Statute.
Moved by Councillor Fisher, seconded by Councillor Jack That Councillor Lewis
be elected President.
Carried nemo. con.

LETTERS WERE RECEIVED AND READ FROM-
William Phipps, respecting election.
William Phipps, respecting licences.

J. Darbyshire, respecting Engineer's appointment.-First Order.
Secretary for Agriculture-Second Order.
Ast. Commission of Roads and Bridges.
R. C. Smallman.
Secretary, Shire of Bairnsdale, with copy of Bye Laws.
Edward J. Johnson, special temporary licence-Third Order.
J. R. Tyrer, respecting refund of licence fees-Fourth Order.
Evans Bros., respecting books-Fifth Order.
Under Treasurer, respecting refund of licence fees-Sixth Order.
Bright Bros., enclosing price list of safes.
Registrar-General, enclosing forms-Seventh Order.
William Phipps, enclosing account for election expenses-Eighth Order.

Moved by the President, seconded by Councillor Jack That all preliminary correspondence received and replies thereto by the Secretary up to January 28th be confirmed and adopted, also correspondence by the Secretary with printed forms ordered from Vogt and Co., books from Evans Bros., as by minute duly made be now confirmed and approved.

Carried nemo. con.

READ LETTERS FROM SECRETARY TO-

The Hon. the Solicitor General, respecting special temporary licences. 1. H. Tyrer. The Councillors, notifying meeting. Evans Bros. The Hon. the Treasurer. E. J. Johnson, forwarding receipt. The Registrar-General.

FIRST ORDER OF THE DAY

Motion put and carried: That Mr. Darbyshire's letter be acknowledged and that he be informed that the Council are not at present in a position to appoint an Engineer, but that a note has been made of his offer which will be held in remembrance.

SECOND ORDER

Motion put and carried: That the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture's letter relative to Fencing and Impounding Acts be considered at the next ordinary meeting.

THIRD ORDER

Motion put and carried: That the Secretary inform Mr. Edwin Johnson that the Shire is not yet proclaimed a place where special temporary licences may be issued that upon his application and return of temporary receipt (11th Feb.) the amount (£3.0.d) will be refunded to him in order that he may make application elsewhere.

FOURTH ORDER

Motion put and carried: That Mr. Tyrer be thanked for his trouble and that the Council will act under his valued suggestions.

FIFTH ORDER OF THE DAY

Motion put and carried: That Messrs. Evans Bros. be instructed to prepare a seal of the following pattern with box and two locks and keys of different patterns to contain it, also a cheque book on Bank of Victoria, Bairnsdale, containing lines for the signatures of three Councillors and the Secretary.



SIXTH ORDER

Motion put and carried: That the Secretary be instructed to prepare a statutory declaration to be signed by the President and Secretary setting forth that the places where the licensees reside who have paid their licences into the Treasury Bairnsdale are within the Shire of Omeo; and also to complete the £2 form for the repayment of the same and also to, reply to the Under-Treasurer's letter of 12th February 834 enclosing the above.

SEVENTH ORDER

Motion put and carried: That the collection of Agricultural Statistics be undertaken by the valuer at a cost of £2.2.0.

EIGHTH ORDER

Motion put and carried: That the Secretary acknowledge receipt of account from Returning Officer and inform him that as soon as the Treasurer is in funds he will receive a cheque.

On the motion of Councillor Jack, seconded Councillor Fisher, and carried:

That a Committee of three Councillors, consisting of Councillors Fitzgerald, Selk and the mover, be appointed to frame bye-laws.

Motion put and carried: That this meeting be adjourned until 4 p.m. this day..

Resumption of meeting February 17th, 4 p.m.:

Thomas Easton was appointed Secretary and Treasurer at a salary of One hundred pounds per annum on condition of giving guarantee to the amount of three hundred pounds from the Alliance or Victorian Assurance Society.

Henry Foster was appointed Valuer and Collector at a salary of Seventyfive pounds per annum on condition of combining the offices of Revenue and Dog inspector, to be allowed ten per centum on dog leases and to give guarantee policy amount of one hundred and fifty pounds.

Benjamin Middleton was appointed Poundkeeper at a salary of ten shillings per annum, guarantee policy to amount of one hundred and fifty pounds.

THE FOREGOING RESOLUTIONS were arrived at in Committee of the Council, when the following applications for the various offices were received:

Valuer and Collector

Henry Humphrey, £70.0.0 per annum. 

Hugh Fraser, £75.0.0. 

Wm. 1. Hall, £50.0.0 Collector only £36.0.0. 

B. Middleton, £55.0.0. 

Henry Foster, £75.0.0 Collector. 

Wm. Brown, £25.0.0.

Poundkeeper 

Benjamin Middleton, £0.10.0. 

Hugh Fraser, £0.5.0. 

Wm. Brown, £0.1.0.

Secretary 

Michael Costello, £30.0.0. 

Thomas Easton, £100.0.0.

The Secretary was instructed to write to the Ovens and Murray Spectator and the Bairnsdale Courier, requesting tenders for advertisement; also to request to Solicitor-General to proclaim the district a place where special temporary licences may be issued under the Act he mentions.

THOMAS LEWIS, Shire President.