Drill Shed Needed for Artillery Companies – January 28, 1897

Council agreed to ask the Provincial Government to provide a site for a Drill Shed for the Artillery Companies of Vancouver, as it had done for other BC cities. This photo shows the Drill Shed on Pender at Beatty Street, perhaps 1899.

This transcript was made in 2022 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick

Illustration source: City of Vancouver Archives item Mil P5 –
[The drill shed (formerly the Imperial Opera House) on Pender Street at Beatty Street ]

[Volume 8 page] 429

Vancouver January 28^th 1897

The adjourned meeting of the Council was held on Thursday January 28^th 1897.
Present: His Worship the Mayor and full Council with the exception of Alderman Neelands.

Communications

From D.E. Macdonald etal, asking for the Market Hall for Saturday the 30^th inst., at 8 pm to hold a Public Meeting to discuss {Kootenay district} railway matters.

Moved by Alderman Shaw.
Seconded by Alderman Coldwell.
That their request be granted.
Carried.

From Mrs. Thain etal on behalf of the Local Council of Women asking the Council to petition the Provincial Government to have the School Act amended to give Vancouver the same privileges as are enjoyed in Victoria as regards the qualifications required for Women Candidates for School Trustees.

Moved by Alderman McQueen.
Seconded by Alderman Coldwell.
That the Council unite with the School Trustees in memorializing the Provincial Government to amend the School Act to allow married women appearing on the City Voters’ List to vote for School Trustees and to be eligible to act as School Trustees.
Carried.

From Mrs. Thain etal on behalf of the Local Council of Women, asking the Council to provide proper accommodation for the temporary care and treatment of insane patients.
Laid over to be considered with the estimates.

From Mrs. Thain etal on behalf of the Local Council of Women asking the Council to provide a Women’s Ward in the City Hospital.

Referred to the Health Committee.

[Volume 8 Page] 430

From the Trades and Labor Council asking:

1. That any voter shall be eligible for election to the Office of Mayor or Aldermen.
2. That the contract system on all municipal work be abolished.
3. That eight hours shall constitute a day’s labor on all municipal work.
4. That the principal of exemption of improvements from taxation be adhered to, and any deficit caused thereby be made a direct charge on land values.
5. That the Assessor’s List and an official statement of revenue, and expenditure for the City be published annually in details.
6. That steps should be taken at once to have a portion of Stanley Park cleared and made suitable for a free public recreation ground and also that the City purchase a sufficient portion of the foreshore at English Bay to make room for extending the bathing sheds.

Moved by Alderman Brown.
Seconded by Alderman W.S. McDonald
That the Council go into Committee of the Whole for the consideration of these demands.
Carried.

Alderman McPhaiden was appointed Chairman.

Moved by Mayor Templeton

That the request embodied in clause one be granted. {The present qualification was only a farce, easily gotten over and a relic of a less enlightened past. It had been abolished in England. The present system here prevented many good and capable men from serving the city. Alderman Clandening was more than pleased at the way in which the Mayor’s views had been knocked all to pieces.}

Lost.

Moved by Alderman W.S. MacDonald
Seconded by Alderman D.G. McDonald
That the request embodied in clause two be granted.

Moved in amendment by Alderman McQueen.
That the request be not granted.

Motion lost;
amendment carried.

Moved by Alderman Clandenning
Seconded by Alderman Shaw
That the request embodied in clause three get a six months’ [hoist].

Carried.

[Volume 8 Page] 431

Moved by Mayor Templeton
Re clause 4, That this Council if possible lower still further the assessment on improvements.
Carried.

Moved by Alderman Shaw
That the consideration of a further reduction be left to the Court of Revision for consideration.
Carried.

Moved by Alderman Clandening
Seconded by Alderman Coldwell
That the question embodied in clause 5 be referred to the Finance Committee to ascertain cost.
Carried.

Moved by Alderman Brown
That the question embodied in clause 6 be referred to the Finance Committee for consideration.
Carried.

Moved by Alderman Brown
That the Committee rise and report.

Carried.

The Report was received and adopted on motion of Alderman Shaw, Seconded by Alderman Coldwell.

Motions

Moved by Alderman Shaw.
Seconded by Alderman Coldwell
That the Finance Committee take immediate steps to ascertain the most available site for a Drill Shed.
Carried.

Moved by Alderman Shaw.
Seconded by Alderman W.S. MacDonald
That the Finance Committee take steps to secure a title for the City for Coal Harbour and False Creek flats.
Carried.

[Volume 8 Page] 432

Moved by Alderman Brown.
Seconded by Alderman McQueen.
That inasmuch as a site has to be provided for the erection of a Drill Shed by the Dominion Government for the use of the Artillery Companies of Vancouver, the City Council therefore petitions the Provincial Government to procure the required site, as it has done heretofore in respect to those cities which have had a similar building erected.

Carried.

The Board then adjourned.

W. Templeton
Mayor

Thp. F. McGuigan
City Clerk

Note

Comments in parenthesis { } denote further illumination provided by the writer and from The Vancouver Daily World; Not Favored, January 29^th 1897, pg 2