Many amendments made to City Charter. Mr. Hamersley, city solicitor, sent to Victoria to see them carried through. Site for [Rogers] sugar refinery established, to be purchased from F. C. Cotton, proprietor of San Juan Lime Co. Dominion (federal) Government to be informed that immigration facilities are needed. Five Aldermen appointed to look into awarding of the contract for the East Park.
This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland
and Joy Marie Vasquez
and sponsored by Arnold Silber
original handwritten minutes here
City of Vancouver Archives
Series 23-A Volume 3 pages 299-309
[volume 3 page 299]
Vancouver Feb 24th 1890
The Council met on Monday February 24th 1890 at 8 P. M.
Present Aldermen Browning, Carroll, Garden, Horne, Fox, Sentell, Costello, McLeod and Doering.
Moved by Alderman Costello, seconded by Alderman Garden. That Aldermen Horne be appointed Chairman in the absence of the Mayor. Carried.
The Minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted.
Communications
From B. T. Rogers of the Sugar Refinery asking that the City Engineer be instructed to ascertain whether the bottom of the Sugar Refinery Site was rock or mud. Filed.
From Wm. Smith, Deputy Minister of Marine acknowledging receipt of a communication of Council re: Survey of False Creek. Filed
From MacKenzie Bowell, Minister of Customs acknowledging receipt of communication from Council re duty on lead. Filed.
From Alexis Tremblay and James Clandenning asking for an enquiry into the awarding of the contract for the clearing of the East Park. Filed.
From R. E. Palmer resigning his position as City Engineer (Assistant). Filed.
[volume 3 page 300]
From the Secretary of the Vancouver Water Works Co. asking if it was the intention of Council to have hydrants on Princess St. Referred to F. W. & L. Committee.
From the City Clerk informing Council that the Mayor wished the several Committees to make provision for signing requisitions for supplies as he no longer intended to do so. Referred to the different Committees.
From Geo. D. Law asking for information regarding the Country. City Clerk instructed to reply.
Reports
Finance No 5
The Finance Committee met on Friday February 21st 1890.
Present Aldermen Browning, Costello and Fox.
We beg to report that a communication has been received from Mr. John Dyke, Government Agent,
Liverpool England, enclosing a list containing the names of 350 Working Men’s Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland and advising that copies of our leading papers be sent to each of these clubs for one year.
Your Committee to further this object has ascertained that copies of the Weekly World and News Advertiser can be obtained for one year at $1.00 per year respectively with postage prepaid and copies mailed each week to addresses furnished.
The World Printing and Publishing Co will furnish its Christmas Number and a map embracing a bird’s eye view of the City for ten cents a copy extra.
Although the Committee is thoroughly in
[volume 3 page 301]
Accord with the scheme as an advertising medium it does not feel justified in recommending the expenditure of any money until an expression of opinion is obtained from Council.
We beg to recommend:
1. That the following accounts be paid:
S. T. Tilley, Stationery $42.60
H. McCraney, Express 2.50
A. C. Muir, Charter Amendments 10.00
2. That the City Treasurer be instructed to pay over to the Collector of Customs all fines and penalties imposed by the Police Magistrate under the Customs Act; if in the opinion of the City Solicitor he is legally entitled to the same.
The Minutes of the Board of Works were read and confirmed.
Sgd. J. M. Browning, Chairman
Moved by Alderman Garden, seconded by Alderman Carroll. That the Report of the Finance Committee be adopted. Carried.
Charter Committee No 2
The Charter Committee met on Friday February 20, 1890.
Present Alderman Browning, Garden, Horne and Costello and Messrs Blake and Hammersley,
Solicitor.
The following amendments to the City Charter are recommended for adoption by Council.
1. Section49, is hereby amended by striking out the word “registered” in the second line thereof.
[volume 3 page 302]
2. Section 112 is hereby amended by striking out the works “or not sufficiently assessed” in the first line thereof.
3. Subsection 3 of Section 142 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “construction” in the second line thereof if the word “or purchase”
4. Subsection 4 of Section 142 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “constructing” in the first line thereof the words “or purchasing”
5. The following new subsection to be known as subsection 22 shall be added to Section 142, immediately after subsection 22a.
“For encouraging manufactures within the limits of the City by exempting from taxes and water rates in whole or in part for a period of one or more years, such manufactories as are now or may hereafter be carried on in the said City and which in the Public Interest the Council may deem advisable to encourage.”
6. Subsection “l” of Subsection 5, Section 142, is hereby amended by striking out the words “by by-law” in the third line thereof and by striking out all the words in the said subsection after the works “to the Company” in the 6th line thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the following words:
“And in case the Company refuse to accept the price so offered them, then the price and value of the said works shall be referred to the arbitration of Commissioners to be appointed as provided by Sub Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 Section 199 and shall be proceeded with and decided under
[volume 3 page 303]
The provisions of this Act respectfully expropriations as to compensation for lands taken and if the Company has refused to accept the value so fixed by the said Commissioners nor until the price accepted or awarded has been paid or refused by the Company.”
7. The following Section to be known as Section 143A shall be added immediately after Section 143.
“The Council shall be deemed and considered as always continuing and existing notwithstanding any annual or other election of the members composing the same and upon and after the annual or other election of the members thereof and their having organized and held their first meeting as a Council every Council may take up and carry on to completion all by-laws, reports and proceedings which had been begun or have been under consideration by the Council either in the next preceding year or subsequent or prior thereto and it shall not be necessary to begin de non with any By-Law, proceeding by the Council in such preceding year or subsequent or prior thereto as aforesaid.
8. Section 171 is hereby amended by striking out the word sole, in the third line thereof and by adding to the said section the following words:
“And shall report to the Council the same when passed and subject to confirmation by the Council before being brought into force in the City.”
9. Section 179 is hereby amended by striking
[volume 3 page 304]
Out the word “board” in the second line thereof and substituting in lieu thereof the word “Council”
10. Section 180 is hereby amended by adding after the word “board” in the second line thereof the following words:
“but subject to confirmation by the Council”
11. The following subsection to be known as subsection 9 “shall be added to section 223 immediately after subsection 8:
“The word “Judge” shall mean and include a Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Judge of the County Court having jurisdiction in the City”
Moved by Alderman Costello, seconded by Alderman McLeod. That the License Committee be not made up from the Chairman of Standing Committee as provided in 184 but by Committees subject to the Council as are all other Committees. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Garden, seconded by Alderman Costello. That the Report of the Charter Amendments Committee be adopted. Carried.
Works No 5
The Board of Works met on Thursday February 20th 1890.
Present Aldermen Browning, Horne, Costello, Sentell and Doering.
We beg to recommend:
[volume 3 page 305]
1. That the City Engineer be instructed to purchase fifty maple trees to replace trees that have died or have been destroyed on the Streets in this City.
2. That Mr. E. Mohun be authorized to order four tons of sulphur from Mack & Co. Saw Franchiser.
3. That the City Engineer be authorized to make a temporary approach from Dunsmuir Street to the rear of the Manor House.
4. That the box drains on Burrard Street be continued from Georgia to Melville Street on the West side and from Georgia to Eveleigh on the East side and from the Manor House to Burrard on the South side of Dunsmuir St.
5. That the following account be paid:
W. C. Muir relaying sidewalk on Robson St. $26.19
Sgd. J. W. Horne, Chairman
Moved by Alderman Costello, seconded by Alderman Sentell. That the report of the Board of Works be adopted. Carried.
The Committee appointed to select a site for the Sugar Refinery met on Thursday the 13th day of February and Monday the 17th day of February 1890.
Your Committee begs to report that Mr. F. C. Cotton, President of the San Juan Lime Co. has been interviewed in reference to a Piece of Land lying to the Eastward of the Company’s Lime and bounded on the South by the
[volume 3 page 306]
C. P. R. track which he has agreed to convey to the City on condition that a Piece of Land 200 feet long and equal in area to the portion agreed to be conveyed, to the westward of his property now covered with water be filled in to a level with the yard of the Co. in a solid and workmanlike manner to his satisfaction.
The City Engineer estimates that the cost of filling as required by Mr. Cotton will not exceed $3,500.00 and Your Committee would beg to recommend that his offer be accepted.
We submit plan showing location of land to be filled in and juice given in exchange with letter of Mr. Cotton containing his proposition.
Sgd. James F. Garden, Chairman
Moved by Alderman Browning, seconded by Alderman Costello. That the Report of the Committee be adopted. Carried.
The Committee appointed by Council to meet the heads of the Civic offices met in the City Clerk’s office on Wednesday February 19th 1890.
Present Aldermen Costello, Garden and McLeod. Alderman Costello in the Chair.
We beg to recommend:
1. That the City Engineer’s duties as defined in By-Laws No 32 and 40 and other By-Laws touching his duties should be strictly carried out by him.
2. That the Street Superintendent should have complete control subject to the orders of the Engineer of all repairs inspections and making in a cleanly
[volume 3 page 307]
condition all streets and lanes.
3. That the Health Inspector’s work should be as defined by By-Law except in respect to inspection and supervision of streets which duty is hereby transferred to the Street Superintendent.
4. That no Committee of the Council should appoint any officer to any position where his duties would in any way interfere with the City Engineer’s Department without making it obligatory for such officer to report to the City Engineer.
Sgd. M. Costello, Chairman
Moved by Alderman Carroll, seconded by Alderman Doering. That the Report of the Committee be adopted. Carried.
Motions
Moved by Alderman Browning, seconded by Alderman Garden. That the charge preferred against Alderman Horne, through the columns of the World be referred to the Finance Committee to investigate and report to Council. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Browning, seconded by Alderman Doering. That the following account be paid:
P. Atkinson et al Labor, $41.30 Carried.
[volume 3 page 308]
Moved by Alderman Browning, seconded by Alderman Fox. That the Police Magistrate make a return to the Council of all fines imposed for infractions of the customs laws. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Browning, seconded by Alderman Doering. That Mr. Hammersley be requested to attend at Victoria and look after the proposed amendments to the City Charter and the proposed amendments to the Vancouver Water Works Company’s Charter which services shall be paid for in addition to his allowance as City Solicitor. Carried.
Moved by Alderman McLeod, seconded by Alderman Doering. That R. E. Palmer’s resignation as Assistant City Engineer be accepted. Carried.
Moved by Alderman McLeod, seconded by Alderman Fox. That Alderman Garden, Carroll, Mason, McLeod and Fox enquire into the tender awarded to Messrs Barton and McDonald for the East Park and Report at next meeting of Council. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Carroll, seconded by Alderman Garden. “That the Dominion Government be memorialized by this Council to the effect that as Vancouver is the principal distributing centre and Chief terminal point in the Province that Immigration Buildings be erected.
[volume 3 page 309]
and better accommodation and facilities be provided for informing and assisting the incoming settlers. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Garden, seconded by Alderman Browning. That the Council make the necessary arrangements to have a copy of each of the local papers sent to each of the 350 Working Men’s Clubs as recommended by Mr. Dyke, Government Agent at Liverpool on the terms stated in the Finance Committee’s Report on the understanding that the publishers occasionally print general statistical articles regarding Vancouver. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Garden, seconded by Alderman Costello. That the City Engineer be instructed to make the necessary examination of the bottom of the water front opposite the proposed sugar refinery site as requested by Mr. Rogers and the results be mailed to his address in New York as soon as possible. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Costello, seconded by Alderman Browning. That the Committee appointed to confer with the Vancouver Water Works Company regarding the purchase by the City of that Company’s system of Water Works be authorized to employ a thoroughly capable expert to examine carefully the whole work and material used in construction of said work and report fully upon the same to Your Committee. Carried.
The Council then adjourned.
I. M. Horne, Chairman
Thos. F. McGuigan, City Clerk
