Kingston records (regionally related)

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Monday 8 o'clock P.M. Kingston June 1st 1896

A meeting of the Council of the Corporation of the City of Kingston was held this day. Present:

His Worship the Mayor Aldermen: Allen, Behan, Carson, Curtis, Donnelly, Hewton, Livingston, Martin, Minnes, Newlands, Richardson, Ryan, Skinner, Stewart Strainge, Tait, Walkem

The Clerk read the minutes of the last meeting.

Communications summarized by Clerk were read and referred as follows:

From John Blevins City Clerk Toronto inviting the co-operation of the City Council in securing a reduction in the rate of postage on drop or City letters. Referred to the Committee on Finance &c.

From Thomas Crate asking &c.

From George Thompson, Collector of Taxes stating Taxes Collected to date. Referred to the Committee on Finance. &c

From F.C. Ireland City Treasurer stating fees received from Market No 1 to date. Referred to the Committee on Finance &c.

From Mrs Saunders and others respecting taxes. Referred to the Court of Revision.

From Wm L. Gordon City Commissioner calling the attention of the Council to passing a By Law governing the erection of guards or fences around boulevards. Referred to the Board of Works.

From Wm L Gordon Secretary Local Board of Health stating the Local Board request the Council to pass a By Law governing the erection of Dry earth Closets Referred to the Committee on City Property.

From William G. Craig Secretary Kingston Foundry and Machinery Co Re: adjustment of taxes for the year 1895. Referred to Committee on Finance &c.

From Fred Osler on behalf of two blind men named Coleman asking Council to relieve them from the payment of $3.15 for work done by W. Follest (cleaning a pit). Referred to the Committee on Finance &c.

The Clerk submitted Auditors detailed statement &c in duplicate for the year 1895 left over.

Petitions were presented and referred as follows:

From John Mudie Esquire by Ald Skinner Re: taxes . Referred to Court of Revision.

From John Gilbert and others by Ald Richardson asking for an asphalt walk on West side of Barrie Street from Union to Clergy Streets Referred to the Board of Works and the City Commissioner.

From R.W. Gowan and 72 others by Ald Newlands requesting that Barrie Street be continued to Pine Street. Referred to the Board of Works.

From P.A. Haffner by Ald Strainge complaining of snow being removed in front of lot Albert and Johnston Street &c. Referred to the Board of Works.

From William Mundell and 10 others by Ald Richardson asking for a new side walk on the east side of Arch Street between Union and Deacon Streets and to be laid down outside present walk so as to afford a boulevard. Referred to the Board of Works.

Ald Livingston from the Committee on Finance and Accounts brought up

kinds - of congratulation, censure, and warning for the future.

And first, to the more grateful task of congratulation. We congratulate the gallant A.D.C. on the workmanlike manner in which he piloted his team of six through the adventures of the day, then as ever showing us poor people in Kingston with what spirit the war is carried on by the 71st Highland Light Infantry a corps, the officer of which, as our Canadian members will know, cleared the streets of Montreal Toronto and Kingston with the same pluck, energy, and success as the heroes of whom they are no unworthy descendents, cleared those of [Fuentes d'Onor?]. True it may be that cabmen and wood sleighs are not so serious obstacles as were Polish Lancers and the Young Guard but the energy which overcomes the one can never quail before the other. We congratulate a young member and ambitious whip, who benevolently furnished the last President with materials for a few well pointed [Clauses?], on his having arrived home without the upset or other calamity, always excepting the slight and with him daily occurence of

92.

that branch, the improvement of forest lands soon produced a wonderful change, and converted a great extent of wilderness into beautiful fields.

In 1791 Upper Canada had attained so much importance that when Mr. Pitt determined to bestow a constitution on the Colony, he formed this part into a separate government giving it the name of Upper Canada, and to the early settled districts that of Lower Canada, the former was not supposed to contain at that time above 10,000 inhabitants, General Simcoe however in 1794 founded the town of York, (Toronto) on the upper shore of Lake Ontario, which was fixed upon as the seat of Government, and made the most strenuous effort to encourage colonists to settle in the neighbourhood. They came in considerable numbers those chiefly from the United States.

It was not till 1803 that through the exertions of Colonel Talbot emigration from Britain was commenced on a large scale.

The result of these measures was that in 1811, The Country was found to contain about 9623 persons paying taxes. By a most careful examination Mr. Gourlay estimated the tax payers at one eighths of the entire population which on this principle must have amounted to about 77,000. A vast additional impulse however was given at the close of the last war, in consequence of the low rate of profit and wages, and the difficulty of finding employment at home,

198.

I am my old friend and whence are you

I was reared in the States and came into this country five years ago, I should not have left my old Boss a term signifying Master or owner had the kidnapping not been so frequent - All my boys come here and so obtained their freedom my oldest son purchased his freedom yet the black guard yankee kidnappers took him away five years ago - when there was a great deal of foul play, going on just at that time - He was a smart young fellow - my two young daughters became afraid to remain where there was no law - one of them came off to this country, she is doing very well as a Ladies maid at Toronto - and so she wrote a letter to the old woman, saying what a good country it was, to have the protection of the Queen just all the same as a white person.

At my time of life I thought I would come away and spend my days, in a country where I could have the same law as a white man - In the States there are two laws you see - one for the white man and one for the coloured - A coloured man can get no justice - The Almighty who created the world and made all things made one man white, and another coloured; all alike except the skin - The same bones, the same flesh, and the same blood, and all breath the same air - His blessed name be praised, and shed Glory on the head of our young Queen.

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Monday 7:30 OClock P.M. Kingston January 8 1877

A Special Meeting of the Council of the Corporation of the City of Kingston was held this day. Present

His Worship the Mayor

Aldermen

Allen, Carson, Clements, Drennan, Dupuis, Gaskin, McCammon, McIntyre, McKelvey, McRossie, Noble, Powers, Price, Tandy, White

The Clerk read the minutes of the two last meetings.

The Mayor stated he received the award of the Arbitrators in the erection of Court House which he submitted.

A Certificate from Michael Flanagan, City Clerk was read in Re votes in the Power Dry Dock By Law

A Circular from John Hallam Esquire Chairman of Committee Toronto was read enclosing report of Special Committee on taxation exemptions.

A Communication from C.V. Price Esquire was read stating the Directors of the Kingston Street Railway will not press any change of width of track at present.

A Communication from James Agnew Esquire, City Solicitor was read in re Adair verdict sustained.

A Communication from John Creighton Esquire was read in Re Arbitration Court House between County and City.

Petitions from John McMahon, W.B. and S. Anglin and John Holmes respecting Taxes and referred to the Court of Revision.

Ald: Gaskin brought up the petition of [strikethrough] Mary Dandy [/strikethrough] William McCartney praying permission to lay down building materials on Gordon Street Victoria Ward.

On motion of Ald: Gaskin seconded by Ald McKelvey Ordered, That the petition of William McCartney be granted on the usual Conditions

Ald: Allen brought up the petition of Mary Dandy praying for a remission of fine

On motion of Ald Allen seconded by Ald: Drennan Ordered, that the petition of Mary Dandy be referred to His Worship the Mayor with power to act.

Ald: McRossie from the Committee on Finance and Accounts brought up [strikethrough]a[/strikethrough] two Reports (Numbers 535 & 536 Book D) which [strikethrough]was[/strikthrough] were read and adopted.

The Chairman from the Committee on Fire, Water And Gas brought up a Report (Number 537 Book D) which was read.

Ald: Tandy moves seconded by Ald: McCammon That the report of the Committee on Fire, Water and Gas be received and adopted.

In Amendment

[right align] Ald: