Police Investigation committee presents their report. David Oppenheimer offers a choice of two city lots on Powell Street as a donation for future City Buildings. Board of Works may spend twenty five dollars to clear all flammable materials from Cambie Street from the Bay to Cordova Street, providing the property owners pay the rest of the cost.
This transcript was made in 2012 by Transcribimus volunteer
Margaret Sutherland
original handwritten minutes here
City of Vancouver Archives
Series 23-A Volume 1 pages 55-59
Vancouver July 28th ‘86
The Council met on Wednesday July 28th 1886 at 7.30, P.M.
Present His Worship the Mayor presiding Aldermen Balfour, Coldwell, Gardiner, Griffith, Hinlow, Humphries, E.P Hamilton and Northcott.
The Minutes of last meeting were read and adopted.
The following Communication was received from Mr. Oppenheimer.
Vancouver July 28th 1886
To The Mayor & Council
Of the City of Vancouver BC.
Gentlemen:
Understanding that you are about to select a site for City Buildings I have the honour on behalf of myself and friends to offer either of the following sites on Powell Street in the 85 acre tract Block 3, Lot 12 and 3 lots adjoining
do 6 do 39 and 3 lots adjoining.
Should you select either site for the purpose named I shall have much pleasure in handing you a conveyance of the four lots selected as a gift to the City.
I have the honour to be
Sirs
Your obedient Servant
sgd D. Oppenheimer
Moved by Alderman Balfour seconded by Alderman E.P. Hamilton that this Council accepts the offer of Mr. David Oppenheimer regarding the site for the erection of Council Chambers.
Carried unanimously.
Moved by Alderman Northcott seconded by Alderman Gardiner that this Council tender to Mr. Oppenheimer and his friends their sincere thanks for their most generous gift.
Carried.
Moved by Alderman Hemlow seconded by Alderman Balfour that His Worship the Mayor, Aldermen Hemlow, Coldwell, Gardiner, Balfour and Northcott be appointed a Committee to select one of the two sites offered by Mr. D. Oppenheimer.
Carried.
Mr. D. Oppenheimer sent in another communication asking the privilege of erecting a wharf at the foot of Carrall Street agreeing to pay a certain rental per month and giving the City use of wharf for fire engine with privilege of purchasing said wharf at the end of two years.
Moved by Alderman Balfour seconded by Alderman Northcott that this Council grant Mr. Oppenheimer’s request re wharf on Carrall Street provided Mr. Oppenheimer releases the City of all Claims for work done on roadway for fire engine on said street and that the City have the right to purchase wharf at a fair calculation within two years from date.
Carried.
Two other petitions were sent in asking for the privilege of building wharfs one from J. M. Ayers for a dock to be constructed outside the Railroad tract at the North end of Abbott Street and the other from J.H. Humphries for the Construction of a wharf at the foot of Cambie Street.
Moved by Alderman Coldwell seconded by Alderman Griffith that this matter be laid over till next meeting of the Council.
Alderman Humphries called for the yeas and nays and Alderman Coldwell’s motion was carried.
Yeas 5. Belfour, Gardiner, Coldwell, Griffith, Hemlow. Nays 3. Northcott, Humphries, E.P. Hamilton.
Joseph Huntly put in a Communication giving notice that after the first of the month he would not be in a position to keep City prisoners and asking why a former communication which he claimed to have sent to the Council was not read.
The Clerk produced Mr. Huntly’s letter which was addressed not the Council but to the Police Commissioners
Moved by Alderman Coldwell seconded by Alderman Northcott that Mr. Huntly’s communication be referred to the Police Commissioners.
Carried.
A petition was sent in from Mssrs. Leeman and Clements, Edmond Cosgrove, Allan Blyth, and D.B. McIlroy asking that an account of the amount of inflammable material on Cambie Street from the Bay to Cordova Street that the same be cleared.
Moved by Alderman Northcott seconded by Alderman Hemlow that the Board of Works be authorized to spend twenty five dollars towards clearing Cambie Street from the Bay to Cordova Street provided the property owners on said Street pay the balance and that Alderman E.P. Hamilton supervise the work in the interests of the City.
Carried.
The following accounts were received.
The Daily Evening News
Printing 300 Sheets Asstd Rolls 38.00 Finance Com.
August Otto, Clearing Cats 4.50 Board of Works
Petitions
A petition was read from the property owners on New Westminster Avenue between Alexander Street and False Creek Praying for the improvement of the same.
Moved by Alderman Balfour seconded by Alderman Hemlow that the Petition of the property owners on New Westminster Avenue be received and referred to the Board of Works for Action thereon.
Carried.
Petition from property owners on Hastings Street between Westminster and Carl Ave received and referred to Board of Works on Motion of Alderman Caldwell seconded by Alderman Hemlow.
Petition of property owners on Powell Street between Carrall Street and Campbell Avenue. Received and referred to the Board of Works on Motion of Alderman Northcott, seconded by Alderman Coldwell.
Report of the Investigating Committee
The Committee appointed to investigate the charges against John Boultbee, Police Magistrate met on July 28th 1886, at 4 o’clock, P.M. Alderman E.P. Hamilton in the Chair.
After hearing the statements pro and con,
It was moved by Alderman Coldwell seconded by Alderman Griffith that Mr. Boultbee having stated that it was not his duty to issue a warrant under the circumstances this committee consider his explanation satisfactory and exonerate him from all blame in the matter.
Sfd E.P. Hamilton
Chairman
This report was adopted by the Council.
The Council then adjourned.
M. A. MacLean
Mayor
Thos. F. McGuigan,
City Clerk
