The City Engineer was asked to supervise the repair of doorways to several buildings which had been affected by the recent grading of Granville Street. Alderman McPhaiden proposed a bylaw that if the owners of derelict properties do not repair them within a certain time, that the City “shall destroy and remove the said buildings at the cost of the owners of the said buildings”.
This document was transcribed in 2022 by Transcribimus volunteer Gerald Soon
Illustration: COV AM54-S4-: Bu P153
[McKinnon Block under construction on the southwest corner Hastings Street and Granville Street].
Original handwritten minutes: COVA Series 31
Volume 7 pages 264 – 272
To see or download photos of the original handwritten pages, click on the button(s) below:
[Volume 7 page] 264
Vancouver August 10th 1896
The Council met on Monday August 10th 1896.
Present – His Worship, the Mayor and Aldermen Painter, Banfield, Schou, McPhaiden, Clandenning, Brown, MacDonald, Bethune and Coldwell.
The Minutes of last meeting were read and adopted.
Communication
From the Chief of Police reporting on the electric lights.
Filed.
From Spicer & Co stating that they would have their bonds signed in a day or two.
Referred to the Board of Works
From Davis, Marshall, McNeill and Abbott protesting against the change of grade of the sidewalk on Granville Street
Referred to the Board of Works
From McPhillips and Williams on behalf of the Burrard Inlet Railway and Ferry Co stating that they were the owners of D.L.673 on which the Water Works Dam is situated and asking for compensation therefor.
Referred to the Water Committee & Solicitor
From C.A. Lett drawing attention to the unsanitary condition of the lots on the corner of Dunsmuir and Hamilton Streets.
Referred to the Health Committee
From Henry Avison late Park Ranger asking for a month’s pay or a month’s notice.
Referred to the Park Commissioners
[Volume 7 page] 265
From Dr Thomas stating that he had arranged with St Luke’s Home to take the woman Julia in at $5.00 per week and asking the Council to arrange for medical attendance.
Referred to Aldermen Banfield and MacDonald to arrange
From B. Frederick, Secretary of the Salvation Army asking for a donation for a Shelter Home.
Referred to the Finance Committee
From R. Law of New Westminster stating that he was going to Honolulu and would act free as the City’s Agent and asking for letters of introduction.
Referred to the Mayor
From H.J. Wickham of Toronto forwarding a memorial for presentation to the Government praying for the strengthening of the Army and Navy defences.
Laid Over
The following Reports were received and read:-
Health Committee
The Health Committee met on Wednesday August 5th 1896.
Present – Aldermen McPhaiden, Painter, Banfield, MacDonald and Bethune.
The following accounts were recommended for payment:-
Champlain & White Supplies $3.25
Pioneer Steam Laundry Washing 57.32
City of Victoria Lepers 21.13
J. C. Woodrow Supplies 32.82
Con Ry Co “ 2.
B. C. M. T.&. T.Co “ .60
M. S. Rose “ 12.00
News.Advertiser “ 3.50
B. C. M. T.& T. Co “ 4.75
J. A.Skinner & Co. “` 1.65
Champion & White “ 3.00
[Volume 7 page] 266
Thos Veitch Drayage $4.70
J. W. Smith Washing 1.65
C. F. Foreman Supplies 8.68
Market Hardware Store “ 90
R.J. Wood Med Attendance 2.50
Champion & White Scavengering 4.52
McDowell & Co. Supplies 43.56
Thomson Bros “ 6.75
Pioneer Steam Laundry Washing 47.12
C.F. Foreman Supplies 55.26
J.C. Woodrow “ 32.28
Thos Dunn & Co “ 9.80
Clarkson & Mayne Painting 222.90
W.J. McGuigan Inquest 10.
W.A. Williamson Repairs 44.
Communications
From the Milk Inspector and matron of the City Hospital furnishing Reports.
Filed
From S. Tallman asking for a Scavengers License.
Granted
From W. Hepburn Secretary of the Trades and Labor Council stating that some bakeshops were in an unsanitary Condition
Laid over for report from Health Inspector
From James Ellison asking that a laundry have license be issued to Wah Lee on the premises 224 Prior Street.
Resolved that a license be granted if all the provisions possible of the By-Law are fulfilled.
From the caretaker of the Crematory asking for six days leave of absence.
Granted
From J. W. Campion, Secretary of the B.C. Iron Works Co acknowledging receipt of communication re Sanitary grate.
Filed.
[Volume 7 page] 267
From the Health inspector furnishing report and asking for a badge as a special constable also reporting that he found only one bake shop in an unsanitary condition
Request for a badge granted.
Communications were received from Dr. Thomas, Medical Health Officer, and Dr Watt, Secretary of the Provincial Board of Health condemning certain shacks on the foreshore of False Creek.
Resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the Chairman, Health Office, Health Inspector and City Solicitor with power to act;
We have made inquiries as to the charge of $5.00 made by Coroner McGuigan for enquiring into the cause of death of certain Chinamen and find that on the 23rd of June 1891 the Board of Health passed the following resolution : “That Dr McGuigan’s bill be paid but that in future he be asked to charge only $5.00 where an enquiry into the cause of death is made.” Under Section 4 of By-Law No 121, Known as the Cemetery By-Law the Clerk must be furnished with the cause of death and the naming of the attending Physician if any before a burial certificate is issued. IF there has been no attending physician such certificate can only be issued by the Coroner and for this the $5.00 fee is charged.
sgd D. McPhaiden
Chairman
Moved by Alderman McPhaiden
Seconded by “ MacDonald
That the Report be adopted.
Carried
[Volume 7 page] 268
Board of Works
The Board of Works met on the 6th of August, 1896
Present – the full Board
Communications
From F. W. Maynard etal asking for a better sidewalk on 6th Av from Westminster Avenue to Quebec Street.
Laid over to see what funds there are.
From the Secretary of the Trades & Labor Council asking again in reference to the clearing of a public recreation ground to the Park.
Resolved that he be informed that the Board of Works has no margin to undertake anything of the kind this year and new sidewalks and other necessary improvements have taken up all of the regular appropriation and there is no special appropriation for this purpose.
Resolved that the chaingang as soon as they finish the work they are at in Ward 5 be ordered to go deepen culvert at Mr Sudelman’s place at Powell Street in Ward 3 and then to open Albert St East in same ward.
Resolved that the matter of the strengthening of the Granville Street Swing be left to the City Engineer to see to.
Resolved that the contractor for Granville Street Sidewalk be asked to put down 50 feet of dressed walk opposite Woodrow’s Store corner of Robson St at the same rate as their contract
Resolved that T. Hallam who has been on the street cleaning work be notified that his services are no longer required.
The following tenders were received and opened:-
Replanking Sidewalk portion of Granville Street bridge
[Volume 7 page] 269
S. Sheridan 13¢ per foot $93.60
J.D. Fraser 97.
W.G. Fraser 98
Resolved that the tender of S. Sheridan be recommended for acceptance.
Hastings Street Single dressed sidewalk
G. Wright 45 ½ per ft
W.G. Fraser 47 “ “
J.D. Fraser 48 “ “
Resolved that the portion called for from Carrall to Abbott Street be not let and that the Contractor G. Wright who laid the sidewalk on the other side of the Street for 38¢ per foot be given the job laying the price from Abbott Street to the Province Building on the South Side if he agrees to do it at the same rate namely 38¢ per foot.
Resolved that Alderman Schou and the City Engineer arrange for fixing the doorways of the buildings affected on Granville Street – by the change of grade at the new sidewalk now being laid.
The following accounts were recommended for payment :-
J. D. Fraser Westminster Av bridge $64.15
G. Wright Hastings St. 619.02
T. Gibbons Barnard St. 19.69
W. Brown 7th Av. 41.96
The World Ads 37.26
E. Clough Express 2
News.Advertiser Ads 6.12
Thos Dunn & Co. Sundries 134.46
sgd H.J. Painter
Chairman
Moved by Alderman Painter
Seconded by “ McPhaiden
That the Report be adopted.
Carried
[Volume 7 page] 270
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee met on Friday August 7th 1896.
Present – Aldermen Banfield, Painter, Brown and Bethune.
The following accounts were recommended for payment:-
Telephone Co. Rents $36.50
Con Ry Co Lights 32.
Clarke & Stuart Supplies 10.80
C.F. Foreman “ 1.50
The following contract was approved and authorized to be signed by the Mayor and City Clerk and the Corporate Seal affixed thereto:-
Wm Ralph repairing roof of Market Hall
sgd J.J. Banfield
Chairman
Moved by Alderman Banfield
Seconded by “ Bethune
That the Report be adopted
Carried
Introduction of By-Laws
Moved by Alderman Banfield
Seconded by “ Painter
That the Rules be suspended and a By-Law introduced to fix the polling places, the time and to appoint Deputy Returning officers in the By-Law to exempt certain property of the B.C. Iron Works from taxation.
Carried
The By-Law was introduced and read a first time.
Motions
Moved by Alderman Clandenning
Seconded by “ Banfield
That the following account be paid:-
Con Ry Co. Lights $1431.12
Carried.
[Volume 7 page] 271
Consideration of By-Laws
Moved by Alderman Banfield
Seconded by “ Bethune
That the By-Law to amend the Fire Limit By-Law be read a second time.
Carried
Moved by Alderman Clandenning
Seconded by “ Bethune
That the Polling By-Law be read a second time.
Carried
Moved by Alderman Banfield
Seconded by “ Painter
That the By-Law to exempt certain property of the B. C. Iron Works to be read a second time.
Carried
Moved by Alderman Banfield
Seconded by “ McPhaiden
That the Council go into Committee of the Whole for the Consideration of the above By-Laws. Carried
Alderman Brown was appointed Chairman
In Committee the By-Laws were read over clause by clause and reported to Council as complete with amendments.
Moved by Alderman Banfield
Seconded by “ MacDonald
That the Polling By-Law be read a 3rd time
Carried
Moved by Alderman Banfield
Seconded by “ Clandenning
That the Amendments to the Fire Limit By-law be read a 3rd time.
Carried.
[Volume 7 page] 272
Reconsideration of By-Laws
Moved by Alderman Coldwell
Seconded by “ McPhaiden
That the By-Law to license and regulate Runners be reconsidered and finally passed and be signed by the Mayor and City Clerk and the Corporate Seal affixed thereto.
Carried.
Notice of Motion
Alderman McPhaiden gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the following resolution:-
“Whereas it has been reported that certain buildings situate on Lots 20 to 26 inclusive in Block 11. D.L. 196. have become a nuisance and dangerous to public health; and whereas the owners, agents and occupiers of the said buildings have neglected to place the same in a sanitary condition after having been duly notified by this Council so to do. Be it therefore resolved by the Mayor and Council of the City of Vancouver and it is hereby declared that the said buildings are a nuisance and dangerous to the public health and do hereby order that the owners, agents of the owners or the occupiers of the said buildings shall pull down and remove the same and in default of their so doing within eight days from the ___ day of August 1896 it is hereby further directed and ordered that the said City shall destroy and remove the said buildings at the cost of the owners of the said buildings. Also that the City Clerk send a copy of this resolution to each owner of the properties in question and to the occupants of said buildings”
The Council then adjourned
Thomas F. McGuigan
City Clerk
Henry Collins
Mayor
