The earliest fire of importance recorded in Auckland was that which destroyed Government House in June, 1848. The building was constructed of wood, which was brought out in sections from England, and in appearance resembled an ordinary cottage. Fortunately, a sketch by Baron de Thierry survives, and is preserved in the Auckland Old Colonists' Museum. The destroyed building occupied a site within the grounds of the present Government House property. [Illustration: Auckland, 1852, from Queen Street Wharf Showing Queen Street and corner of Shortland Street, the Wesleyan College (now the People's Palace) and the Windmill, Karangahape Road, still a city landmark. (The two uniformed men in the foreground are native policemen) _P. J. Hogan, delt._] Chapter II _Development: 1851-1870_ The advent of the second decade of Auckland's history finds the town passing from the cradle stage to one of more independence. Until the year 1851 Auckland had been variously described as "the town," "the seat of government," or "the capital." In other words, it had been fostered by the Government. Now, by a Proclamation of the Governor, Sir George Grey, it was elevated to the position of a borough, with a corporation--the first to be created in New Zealand--to which was given the powers of self-government on all matters of local interest. The elections were held on November 18th, and resulted in the return of the following gentlemen:--Messrs. Edwin Davy, Archibald Clark, Patrick Dignan, F. W. Merriman, A. B. Abraham, James O'Neill, S. Norman, T. M. Haultain, J. A. Hickson, A. Macdonald, Joseph Newman, William Powditch, William I. Taylor, and W. Mason. On November 25th the councillors were sworn in, the event taking place at the Court House, Auckland, before the Chief Justice (Sir William Martin), and in the presence of Lieutenant-Governor Wynyard and the naval, military and civil officers of the Government, as well as the officers of the 58th Regiment, the clergy, a numerous assemblage of ladies and a great concourse of burgesses, the day being observed as a special public holiday in honour of the occasion. To the accompaniment of a flourish of bugles the names of the gentlemen chosen to be first Mayor and aldermen of Auckland were announced as follows:--Mayor, Mr. Clark; aldermen, Messrs. Dignan, O'Neill, Powditch and Mason. Thereafter the Charter of Incorporation was read, and the Lieutenant-Governor delivered an address, in which he stated to the councillors that "it cannot fail to be a matter of gratifying personal distinction to yourselves to be selected from upwards of fourteen hundred burgesses to fill the office and discharge the duties of the first Council of the first Corporation established in this country, under the immediate sanction of the Royal authority." The ceremony ended with the guard of honour presenting arms, while the band played the National Anthem, and a salute of twelve guns from the battery at Fort Britomart was fired.