Council sends condolences to New Westminster Council on the loss of life and property due to its recent fire, and regrets it could not send its fire engine to help. Request received from John McCulloch asking to be reimbursed for his clothing lost through being imprisoned in the City Jail. Alderman Garden resigned. Newly-elected Alderman Scoullar assigned to Finance, Police, and Health committees in his place. Alderman Templeton moves a petition to the Minister of Railways on the subject of the CPR’s blockage of traffic on city streets by shunting cars and their refusal to provide safety crossings. Alderman McDowell gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that the City Engineer and his staff be given notice that their services would no longer be required after the 31st of March.
This transcript was made in 2016 by Transcribimus volunteer Chris Stephenson
and sponsored by Shirley Barnett
original handwritten minutes here
City of Vancouver Archives
Series 23-A Volume 4 pages 230-234
Vancouver February 16th 1891
The Council met on Monday February 16th 1891
Present His Worship the Mayor and Aldermen Brighouse, Carroll, Godfrey, Andrew W. Scoullar, Templeton, Hobson, Brown, McDowell, DePencier and Doering.
The Minutes of last meeting were read and adopted.
Communications
From F.W. Hart asking for the construction of a vault in the Cemetery.
Referred to the Board of Works.
From F.C. Cotton informing the Council that he had applied for appropriations from the Government for fixing the Court House yard constructing cells for prisoners under said Court House.
Filed
From Edward Heastie furnishing time for work done on the South Park for George Pratley.
Referred to the Board of Works.
From the Chief of Police furnishing a report on the Street Lights.
Filed.
From the Market Clerk furnishing weekly report.
Filed
From John McCulloch asking to be paid for clothing lost through being imprisoned in the City Jail.
Referred to Finance Committee.
From J.E. Crane, Victoria offering to lay asphalt, concrete pavement for 40 cts per foot.
Referred to the Board of Works
From J.C. McLagan asking the City to renew its subscription to the Weekly World which weekdays are now being sent to Great Britain.
Referred to Finance Committee.
From Bodwell Bros. asking for a settlement of the Oppenheimer Street matter on behalf of their clients.
Referred to Board of Works.
The following Report was received and read.
Finance No 5
The Finance Committee met on Friday February 13th 1891.
Present Aldermen Brown, Hobson, and Doering.
It was recommended that the following accounts be paid:-
F.W. Hart: Rollers 30 cts.
I.O.G.T. Rent for polling place. 5.00
Thomson Bros. Stationery 21.50
Crowder & Penzer, Coal. 52.25
sgd Wm Brown
Chairman.
Moved by Alderman Brighouse
Seconded by “ Doering.
That the Report of the Finance Committee be adopted.
Carried.
Introduction of By-Laws.
Alderman McDowell introduced a By-Law to amend the By-Law known as the Pound By-Law which was read a first time.
Motions.
Moved by Alderman Brighouse
Seconded by “ Doering.
That the Market Hall be rented to the Princess Street Methodist Church Congregation on the 19th inst. for the sum of $10.00.
Carried.
Moved by Alderman DePencier
Seconded by “ McDowell.
That the following labor account be paid:-
B. Romang et al. $42.55
Carried.
Moved by Alderman Templeton
Seconded by “ Doering
That Alderman Scoullar be placed on the Finance, Police and Health Committees in place of Alderman Garden resigned.
Carried.
Moved by Alderman Templeton
Seconded by “ Brown.
That a copy of the correspondence which has passed between the City and the C.P.R. Co. be sent to the Minister of Railways, also that the City Clerk be authorized to procure a small plan of the various streets crossed by the railway and for which we ask protection and forward said plan with the other correspondence.
And also that this Council would most respectfully call the attention of the Honorable the [sic] Minister of Railways to the fact that while the C.P.R. Co. has within the City limits reserved a large tract of land for their own purposes at the same time they continue to blockade and impede the traffic on several of the principal streets of this City by making them their shunting ground and, as we believe from the way in which they meet our request for proper protection to life it would be a waste of time to appeal to them for redress of our other grievances.
We therefore implore your earliest attention to this matter.
Carried
Moved by Alderman DePencier.
Seconded by “ Carroll.
“That the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Vancouver in Council assembled tender to the citizens of New Westminster their sincere condolence under the severe and disastrous conflagration and loss of life which occurred yesterday.
They deplore that the loss of any life has taken place but are thankful that in view of the populous districts affected it was not greater. They desire to express their sympathy for the citizens who have suffered pecuniary loss, and regret that an opportunity was not afforded this City to manifest its sympathy in a practical form by sending the fire engines, for had any such request been received it would have been promptly rendered.
Carried.
Consideration of By-Laws.
Moved by Alderman McDowell.
Seconded by “ Hobson.
That the amendments to the Pound By-Law be read a 2nd time
Carried.
The council went into Committee of the Whole on the By-Law with Alderman McDowell in the Chair.
The By-Law was read clause by clause and passed without amendment.
The By-Law was then read a third time on Motion of Alderman McDowell, seconded by Alderman Hobson.
Notice of Motion
Alderman McDowell gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move that the City Engineer and his staff of assistants be given notice that their services would not be required after the 31st of March.
The Council then adjourned.
D. Oppenheimer
Mayor
Thos. F. McGuigan
City Clerk
