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 HI 
 
ANNUAL REPORT 
 
 OF 
 
 CHAS. E. REDFERN, 
 
 Mayor of the City of Victoria, 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 
 
 For the Year ending olsf Deeeinher, 188S. 
 
 VICTORLA, B. C: 
 R. H. McMillan, book and job printer. 
 
 1884. 
 
 
 
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ANNUAL REPORT 
 
 or 
 
 CHAS. E. REDFERN, 
 
 MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, B. C. 
 
 Mayor's Office, Victoria, B. C, 
 
 January 9th, 1884. 
 
 Gentlemen :— 
 
 At this the last meeting of the Council in the present 
 Municipal year, I consider it my duty to bring before you a 
 short statement of the work that has been undertaken and 
 completed during our term, and of work that is in progress 
 which will have to be finished by our successors in office. I 
 have also included a report upon the condition of the diflfer- 
 ent institutions that are under Municipal control, to which I 
 have added some suggestions and recommendations on var- 
 ious matters, the carr3'ing out of which would, in my opin- 
 ion, materially advance the best interests of the city. 
 
 I must congratulate you upon the general prosperity 
 that has attended the Province during the past year, in 
 which Victoria has largely participated, and it must be pat- 
 ent to all that Municipal matters in this city have made solid 
 and substantial progress in the year just closed, and that 
 although a large portion of the revenue has been req^uired 
 for unusual and extraordinary expenditures, viz : Machinery, 
 purchase of land, new filter beds, horses and wagons, and 
 bridges, amounting in the aggregate to about $18,618 (dol- 
 lars), and which has diminished the funds available for or- 
 dinary street work by that amount, the subjoined statement 
 of streets and sidewalks made and repaired will show that 
 by the exercise of a judicious economy the present Council 
 has been able to do a large amount of such work, and those 
 who succeed us not having to meet such extraordinary out- 
 lay will have a much larger sum at their command available 
 for street work, and will reap the advantage of the unusual 
 expenditure that we have been compelled to meet out of the 
 revenue of the current year. 
 
 
11 
 
 1^' 
 
 '.r if,' 
 
 
 DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE. 
 
 One of the most important questions in any city is that 
 of drainage and sewerage, and we were all at our election 
 
 {)ledged to do something in that direction. I am ha])py to 
 )e able to state that the present Council has done all that 
 was possible under the circumstances, as when we took office 
 there were no data whatever to guide us in the matter, not 
 even a copy of the survey notes of the city, "the original 
 notes are deposited in the Land Registry Ofece, and a copy 
 should have been given to the City upon the completion 
 of the official survey, but owing to the failure of the con- 
 tractors it was not delivered," so that we had to start from 
 the very threshold, obtain copies of those notes, afterwards 
 have the levels taken throughout the entire City, and bend 
 marks established in various parts of the City, showing the 
 height above the fixed base of grades, and from the data thvSi 
 obtained, a general plan exhibiting the area, wdiich will b*" 
 affected by the proposed work has been laid down to a scale 
 of two hundred feet to the inch and upon which are figured 
 the levels of the centres of all streets and roads at their in- 
 tersections and angleg, and at every change of inclination. 
 Permanent bench marks having reference to the surface levels 
 have been established at different points throughout the 
 City and marked on the plan, from which the incoming 
 Council can have working plans and specifications prepared 
 for a thorough and comprehensive system of drainage and 
 sewerage, and when that is done and an approximate estimate 
 of the cost made, a scheme can be elaborated and submitted 
 to the ratepayers for the purpose of raising the funds 
 necessary to carry out the work. 
 
 The whole of the above mentioned work has been done 
 by the City Surveyor, Mr. D. R. Harris, with the assistance 
 of Mr. Hargreaves. C, E. The cost has been $1,040. 
 
 WATER WORra. 
 
 It having been reported by the Water Works Commis- j 
 sioner that owing to the increasing population it was impos- 
 sible to filter sufficient water to meet the requirements of I 
 the City, the Council, under the advice of the Water Works 
 Engineer, in the early part of the year undertook the con- 
 struction of a new receiver and the conversion of the old] 
 receiver into a new filter bed, which has increased the filter- 
 ing capacity at the head works nearly three-fold, and 
 enables the Corporation to supply the City with 537,600 j 
 
 Gallons of filtered water every twenty-four hours. The ad- 
 itions and alterations were made under the superintendence 
 of Mr. A. Hendry, and are of a most substantial nature. 
 
 
 /■»"■■ 
 
,ny city is that 
 ,t our election 
 am lia])py to 
 done all that 
 I we took office 
 lie matter, not 
 •'the original 
 36, and a copy 
 :he completion 
 re of the con- 
 to start from 
 ;es, afterwards 
 ity, and bend 
 ', showing the 
 a the data thu\j 
 wiiich will bo 
 own to a scale 
 oh. are figured 
 is at their in- 
 of inclination. 
 3 surface levels 
 iroughout the 
 the incoming 
 bions prepared 
 drainage and 
 imate estimate 
 and submitted 
 ig the funds 
 
 las been done 
 the assistance 
 $1,040. 
 
 3rks Commis- 
 it was impos- 
 ouirements of 
 Water Works 
 took the con- 
 on of the old 
 ised the filter- 
 ree-fold, and 
 with 537,600 
 irs. The ad- 
 perintendeuce 
 antial nature. 
 
 The new filter bed being made to a great extent self-cleans- 
 iug will, with other improvements at the head works, effect 
 a saving of S-litO per annum in the expenditure there. The 
 cost of the improvements has been six thousand throe hun- 
 dred and thirty dollars. The area of the old filter beds 
 is 2,800 square feet and the filtering capacity 8,000 gallons 
 per hour. The area of the old receiver, converted 
 nito a now filter bed, is 4,800 square feet, and the filtering 
 capacity 14,4000 gallons per hour. The measurement of the 
 new receiver inside the walls is 95 feet long, 38 feet wide, 
 and 10 feet deep, and will contain 16,200 gallons of water. 
 
 In the construction of the new receiver and filter beds 
 (450 cubic yards of rock were blasted out. During the year 
 (500 ieet ot four inch and 2,000 feet of two inch sheet mains 
 have been laid, and seventy-one new services have been con- 
 .pected, the length of pipe used in services being 1,530 feet 
 of half inch lead pipe, 325 feet of three-quarter inch gal- 
 vanized iron pipe and 300 feet of one inch pipe. There are 
 now 1,013 services connected with the City mains, supplying 
 water to 1,430 houses and tenements. 
 
 Six new hydrants have been attached to the mains for 
 the use of the Fire Department, making twenty-six in all. 
 
 Although the condition of the Water Works is at pre- 
 sent most satisfactory, it would be well to bear in mind that 
 the exigencies of the City, owing to increasing population 
 and a consequent increased demand for water, will probably 
 require in the near future either another twelve inch or a 
 fourteen inch main to be laid from the head works, or the 
 construction of a large reservoir in the City capable of con- 
 taining at least a week's supply as in the event of a serious 
 accident happening to the present main the City would be 
 entirely without water, and should a fire break out under 
 such circumstances the consequence would be most disastrous 
 and the loss probably greater than the cost of either of the 
 before mentioned work. When such work is undertaken it 
 would be advisable to construct also a small high level re- 
 servoir to supply the upper part of the City. 
 
 It is gratifying to find the revenue from water rents still 
 increasing, the receipts from that source for the year ending 
 Dec. 31st, 1883, being .^3,500 in excess of the amount de- 
 rived from the same source the year preceeding and it might 
 be still further augmented by a careful revision of the water 
 rates and a more extensive use of water meters in the case of 
 large consumers. 
 
 I Thirty tons of four inch cast iron pipe ordered to be de- 
 livered in January, 1884, has arrived and is now ready for 
 
 
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 6 
 
 YATES S'I'llEET EXTENSION. 
 
 Tliroui^'h tlio cxcn-tions of tlio ]misent Conneil this vexed 
 {]U(!sti()ii lias Ix'nii scttlt'd hv «)l)taiiiiii;^' mi Act of the Proviii- 
 ciiil Ji(';^'isliiluro !intlit)ri/in;^ the (loviriiiiiciit to sull to tiw 
 City ii ])i)rtion of tlu) Public School la'sorve nccciHsary for 
 the street, wliicli liuid lias boon uc([nivod by iind is now in 
 
 Coss(!ssiou of the <'ity, tlu! aniomit paid for the saiuu havinf^ 
 cell si'tthnl by arbitration, vi/: — i^i'lijliSo, 
 
 All aj^reement has also been entered into b(!t\v«MMi the 
 Corporation and the owner of the projx'rty lieyond the re- 
 Kerv(> f(n' the [. o'chase of the ])ortion necessary for the con- 
 tinuation of the street to its junction with the Cadboro iJay 
 Hoad. The ])lans, sections and speciti(;ation!^, necessary for 
 makiiifj; the street, arc now rea('y, so that the inconiiiiff 
 Council will be in a ]>osition to award a contract for the 
 construction of the work iinruediattOy after they take office, 
 and as the street will be a jfr(!at improvement to the City 
 and a convenience to residents, it is to be h.ped that it svili 
 be nijide without delay. Tin? Government has expended the 
 amount received for the portion of the School Reserve, ])ur- 
 cIuischI by the Corporation, in the erection of a Primary 
 School in James Bay Ward. 
 
 OFFICIAL MAP ACT. 
 
 Doubts having been expressed as to the validity and 
 legality of the Otlicial Ma]), on account of some slight 
 alteration having been maile subsequent to its passage 
 through the Legislature and prior to its registration, this 
 Council applied for and obtained an Act to legalize it in its 
 present shape so that it is now the legal Oilicial Map of the 
 City. 
 
 While sjieaking on the subject of maps, I wish to draw 
 the attention of the Council to the fact that in the City Sur- 
 veyor's office there are maps, documents, and instruments 
 to the value of many thousand dollars, some of which it 
 would be almost impossible to replace if destroyed, and I 
 would urge upon our successors in office the necessity of hav- 
 ing a tire proof vault constructed as soon as possible the cost 
 of which would be small compared with the value of the pro- 
 perty it would protect. The cost of the Yates Street Exten- 
 sion Act and the Official Map Act was six hundred dollars. 
 
 EO.VI) IlOLLEIl AND EOCK CIIUSHER. 
 
 These machines, which were ordered by the last Coun- 
 cil, arrived in the summer, but owing to the revenue being 
 required for other purposes the present Council has not been 
 able to utilize the roller for the purpose of making the streets. 
 
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 "^"^•'■nS^^-^' '^^'^■■'■■''> *■•■ «j»<i. ' . i c . >. <^ " y-->»— •«j . 
 
'il tliiH vexed 
 f the Proviii- 
 
 () Sllll to till! 
 
 i(ic(<Hsary for 
 u] is now ill 
 sauiu haviii;^' 
 
 l)('t\v(MMi the 
 yoiid tlici ro- 
 tor tlio cou- 
 Uudlioro May 
 iHicessurv for 
 ho incoming 
 trnct for the 
 y take office, 
 t to the City 
 id that it svill 
 axpeudod the 
 losorvo, pur- 
 )f a Primary 
 
 validity and 
 some slight 
 its passage 
 ^tration, this 
 alizo it in its 
 d Map of the 
 
 wish to draw 
 the City Sur- 
 1 instruraouts 
 of which it 
 troyed, and I 
 iessity of hav- 
 isible the cost 
 ue of the pro- 
 Street Exten- 
 red dollars. 
 
 he last Coun- 
 evenue being 
 1 has not been 
 ag the streets, 
 
 < 
 
 tl)(3 incoming Council having a larger revenue availabk; for 
 MU'h work will lio in a position to n^-niotal tho priiicijial 
 slitiots and roll thorn with tho stoam roller, which will mako 
 tliom iiH llat and smooth as a table and far more dniablo 
 than roads that arc madc^ without tho aid of such machinos. 
 
 Tho value of tlm rock ciushor has already b(>eii provcul 
 MS the result of t\\v work done in IJoocIkm- iind Horald streets 
 shows that rock which costs iirl .30 per yard to break by iiand 
 into metal for the streets can by tlio machine bo done for 20 
 cents per yard. About (JOO yards of motal have l)0(Ui 
 crushed, of which quantity about one half has been used, 
 leaving '-'AH) yards on hand in ditVeront ])arts of ho City ready 
 for putting on th(^ streets, and when one or two streets are 
 tiiorougiily lolled, I iini eonliilont the ratepayers will be 
 convinced that the niachinory is one of tho best investments 
 tho Corporation has made. 
 
 Tho saving to tho City on tho GOO j.ifds of rock crushed 
 l)y the niachino is not loss than six hundi' d dollars. A rock 
 drill has also lioon purchased for bla iting ])urposes. The 
 cost of tlu! machines was S(),()S2.0!) ',\i d the cost of tho shod to 
 contain tho roller was >:<;')( ll.oO, all of which has been paid 
 ! I i; of this year's revenue. Total, under this head, >?6,583.o9. 
 There is anotluu' laboi-saving machine that would be very 
 useful in this City and that is a stioet sweeper, as with its 
 aid the streets could l)o kept more thoroughly clean and at 
 much less exi)ensc than hj the present method of scraping 
 and sweeping by hand. 
 
 BRIDGES. 
 
 During the year James Bay Bridge has been very 
 much improved by the building of two concrete piers on 
 stone foundations, at a cost of $1,000, in addition to which 
 >^.')()0 has boon exi)ondod in repiling and in rei)airs to the 
 ni)per works. In view of the increase of heavy traffic over 
 the bridge I would strongly recommend the continuation of 
 the work of substituting stone piors for the present existing 
 wooden piles as rapiilly as possible, the rock blasted oiit in 
 constructing the drain at the foot of Fort Street has been 
 utilized as a foundation for three more ])iers and the Cit}' 
 Surveyor estimates that the three could bo completed for 
 SI. 500. The two already finished are very satisfactory and 
 reflect credil; on the skill of Mr. D. R. Harris upon whose 
 plan they were constructed. 
 
 It must be borne in mind that although the cost of these 
 piers is much greater than that of wooden piles, they are 
 really more economical, as wooden piles require renewing 
 every six or seven years while stone piers are almost ever- 
 lasting. 
 
 •r 
 
Jr^ 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 Finlajson's Bridge has also been replied and refloored 
 at a cost of $240. 
 
 STREET WORK. 
 
 There has been a total outlay of $13,532 on street work, 
 "exclusive of bridges and of the amount paid for purchase 
 of land" which has been expended as follows : — 
 
 JOHNSON STREET WARD, 
 
 Blasting rock on Telegraph Street S 742.50 
 
 Grading and gravelling portion of John Street, 
 
 Bridge Street, 
 George Street, 
 
 11 
 
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 11 
 11 
 It 
 
 Chambers Street, 
 
 2,751.00 
 
 $3,493.50 
 
 YATES STREET WARD. 
 
 Rock and gravel on Wharf Street \ 
 
 Brick drain from Wharf Street to water, j 
 
 .^1,724.50 
 $1,724.50 
 
 JAMES BAY WARD. 
 
 Grading and gravelling Oswego Street $ 402.00 
 
 Blasting rock on Beeeher Street 407.25 
 
 Grading portion of llae Street, ) 
 
 " Niagara Street, ^ 1,646.00 
 
 "St. Lawrence St., ) 
 
 
 General repairs to streets through the city. 
 
 $2,4.55.2,5 
 
 5,858.75 
 
 $13,532.00 
 
 Repairs to James Bridge 2,100.00 
 
 Amount paid for Yates Street land 2,285.00 
 
 $17,917.00 
 
 SIDEWALKS. 
 
 During the year 7,744 feet or nearly one and half miles 
 of new sidewalks have been laid, viz: — 2,935 feet of walks 
 less than eight feet wide, 2,880 feet of walks, eight feet wide, 
 1,829 feet of walks, ten feet wide and one hundred feet of 
 walks twelve feet wide, at a cost of $2,629. 
 
 The cost of relaying 960 feet of old sidewalk and general 
 repairs amounted to $460.44, making a total, under this 
 head, of $3,089.44. 
 
 FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 There has been a marked improvement in the discip- 
 line and efficiency of this institution in the past twelve 
 months, as all who witnessed the way the two destructive 
 fires in Cormorant street last November were controlled can 
 bear testimony to, and it must be gratifying to this Council 
 
 L-l. 
 
 -a^«^:a__i«b> 
 
 
9 
 
 iiid refloored 
 
 I street work, 
 for purchase 
 
 .S 742.50 
 2,751.00 
 
 §3,493.50 
 
 ..$1,724.50 
 $1,724.50 
 
 .$ 402.00 
 . 407.25 
 
 . 1,646.00 
 
 $2,4.55.25 
 
 , 5,858.75 
 
 $13,532.00 
 , 2,100.00 
 , 2,285.00 
 
 $17,917,00 
 
 nd half miles 
 feet of walks 
 ght feet wide, 
 adred feet of 
 
 k and general 
 under this 
 
 n the discip- 
 
 past twelve 
 
 ro destructive 
 
 sontrolled can 
 
 this Council 
 
 to feel that some of the improvement may be attributed to 
 their endeavors to place the relations existing between the 
 Corporation and tlie Fire Department upon a more satisfac- 
 tory and harmonious basis than that which prevailed when 
 we came into otHoe. 
 
 The conference between the Council and the Board of 
 Delegates, held last Spring, resulted in removing misunder- 
 standings that existed between the two bodies, and paved the 
 way for a better understanding and the establishment of 
 more mutually satisfactory relations between two institutions 
 so ijitimately connected as the Municipal Council and the 
 Fire Department, and the inci eased interest evinced by the 
 Council in the welfare of the Department has certainly borne 
 good fruit. 
 
 The apparatus of the Fire Department, which is in ex- 
 cellent condition and admirably kept, has been increased 
 this year by the addition of a four-wheeled hose cart, and 
 a Silsby heater, the latter has been attached to the Deluge 
 steam en}i;ine and by its aid steam is constantly kept up and 
 the engine consequently always ready for immediate use. It 
 is the intention of the Department to place one of the hand 
 engines in the south part of the City, in James Bay Wai-d, 
 as soon as the shed for its accommodation is completed, the 
 increased number of hydrants in the north and central parts 
 of the City, rendering it no longer necessary in its present 
 location. The increase in the number of insurance offices 
 paying a direct tox has enjibled the Council to discontinue 
 the collection of the one-eighth of one per cent, tax on fire 
 policies, thus relieving the citizens of a most obnoxious im- 
 post, without in any way impairing the efficiency of the De- 
 partment. 
 
 ' POLICE. 
 
 This force, consisting of the superintendent, sergeant 
 and 'seven constables, is, for its number, a most efficient 
 body of men, and their usefulness and fitness for the service 
 in which they are engaged, together with the discipline that 
 prevails, speak most favorable as to the management of the 
 former superintendent, Mr. O'Connor and the present 
 superintendent, Mr. Bloomfield, who was promoted from the 
 rank of sergeant to his present position upon the resignation 
 of Mr. O'Connor last August, at the same time Constable 
 Fie win was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and both 
 oriicers have given entire satisfaction in the new positions 
 in which they are placetl. The increase in the population 
 of the City and consequent increase of petty thefts, parti- 
 cularly among the Chinese, caused the superintendent to ask 
 
tmm 
 
 I 
 
 ■-* 
 
 ■t 
 
 10 
 
 for two special constables, in addition to the regular force, 
 which request was granted by the Council, and in the event 
 of the superintendent reporting that the interests of the City 
 require that the regular force should be increased, I trust 
 the Council will see fit to appoint one or two additional con- 
 stables as may be required. 
 
 STREET LIGHTING. 
 
 The introduction of the electric light for the public 
 lighting of the City marks an important era in the progress 
 of Victoria, and demonstrates that the people of this Pro- 
 vince, although so far from the great centres of the world's 
 population, are yet alive to the necessity of keeping apace 
 with modern improvements and adopting those that will best 
 serve the public interests. 
 
 The agreement with the contractor, Mr. R. B. McMick- 
 ing, calls for the production of light of not less than 50,000 
 candle power, which is supplied by thirteen arc lamps of 
 4,000 candle power each, and distributed as follows : — five 
 lamps on the mast at the junction of Government and Yates 
 Streets; four lamps on the mast at the junction of Blanchard 
 and Chatham Streets, and four lamps on the mast on Blan- 
 chard Street near Christ Church Cathedral. The lamps are 
 placed at an elevation of about 150 feet above the level of 
 the streets, and the light is consequently diffused over a very 
 large area; the system has been in operation about three 
 weeks and is now working very satisfactorily. The power is 
 supplied by a steam engine of 25-horse power, which drives 
 two dynamos, a large one which generates the electricity for 
 nine lamps, and a smaller one that supplies the other four 
 lamps. 
 
 A comparison between the light now prodifced and sup- 
 plied under the present electric light contract and that for- 
 merly produced and supplied under the contract with the 
 gas company shows, that whereas the light supplied from 69 
 gas lamps was equal to about 1,000 candle power, at a cost 
 of $3,519 per annum, which was supplemented by 13 coal 
 oil lamps producing about 100 candle power at a cost of 
 $601.70 per year, giving a total of 1,100 candle power, cost- 
 ing 4,120.70 per year, the City is now receiving from the 
 electric light an illumination of 50,000 candle power at a 
 cost of $6,000 per annum. 
 
 All impartial observers must admit that the City is much 
 better lighted now than it was when gas was the illuminating 
 agent, for although one or two streets that formerly enjoyed 
 almost a monopoly of gas lamps may not be so well lighted 
 as they were a very much larger portion of the City is now 
 

 sgulfir force, 
 in the event 
 3 of the City 
 sed. I trust 
 ditional con- 
 
 the public 
 bhe progress 
 of this Pro- 
 l the world's 
 leping apace 
 ;hat will best 
 
 B. McMick- 
 
 than 50,000 
 irc lamps of 
 (Hows : — five 
 it and Yates 
 )f Blanchard 
 ist on Blan- 
 le lamps are 
 the level of 
 d over a very 
 about three 
 rhe power is 
 vhich drives 
 lectricity for 
 3 other four 
 
 ced and sup- 
 nd that for- 
 ict with the 
 lied from 69 
 ;r, at a cost 
 
 by 13 coal 
 t a cost of 
 power, cost- 
 ng from the 
 
 power at a 
 
 City is much 
 illuminating 
 erly enjoyed 
 well lighted 
 City is now 
 
 11 
 
 fairly lighted, that was, prior to the introduction of the elec- 
 tric light, enveloped in absolute darkness. The present sys- 
 tem miglit at a small expense be supplemented by a few 
 more electric lamps, the cost of maintaining which would be 
 small, as the engine in use at present is capable of driving 
 another small dynamo which could supply light to four 
 lamps, and if two were erected either at the head of Fort 
 street or Johnson street, and two in Michigan street, and one 
 lamp removed from the Yates street mast and placed at the 
 junction of Wharf and Fort streets the entire City would be 
 well lighted. 
 
 It will be for the next Council to consider whether it 
 will be more advantageous to continue the present contract 
 or to purchase the plant and maintain the light themselves, 
 should the latter course be adopted the monev could bo 
 raised by a loan pa^'able in twenty years, and t thiak the 
 City could provide interest and sinl^ing fund and maintain 
 the light for a much smaller sum than the contractor receives 
 for lighting the City. The present contract is for a period 
 of eight years but the Council has the right to purchase the 
 plant and machinery at a fixed price at any time during the 
 continuance of the contract, and in the event of their doing 
 so the contract is terminated. 
 
 BY-LAWS. 
 
 The following By-laws passed during the year have 
 now the force of law : — 
 
 By-law to repeal the Bv-law for the Erection of Wooden 
 Buildings, passed 4th April, 1883. 
 
 Return of the Assessment Roll, passed 25th April, 1883. 
 
 Yates Street Extension By-law, passed 23d May, 1883. 
 
 Victoria Building By-law, passed 29th June, 1883. 
 
 Electric Light By-law, passed 11th July, 1883. 
 
 Thistle By-law Amendment By-law, passed 11th July, 
 1883. 
 
 Building By-law Amendment By-law, passed 5th Sept- 
 ember, 1883. 
 
 Vehicles Regulation By-law, passed 17th October, 1883. 
 
 By-law prohibiting the Erection of Wooden Buildings, 
 1879, Amendment By-law, passed 3rd December, 1883. 
 
 Election By-law, 1884, passed 12th December, 1883. 
 
 REVENUE. 
 
 Another sign of increasing prosperity is to be found in 
 the fact that the revenue for 1883 has under almost every 
 head been in excess of the estimate and of the actual re- 
 ceipts for the p" "'■ uo year, but unfortunately the wants of 
 
12 
 
 
 ^1 i 
 
 I' 
 
 the City are iuoreasing move rapidly than the revenue, which 
 is uot hirge enough to enable th(3 Council to make improve- 
 ments im])eratively demundod as the population increases, 
 and will be wh(jlly inadequate to meet the demands that will 
 be made upon it should drainage and sewerage works be un- 
 dertaken. 
 
 One method by which it could be increased would be 
 through a revision ol the Ileal Estate Assessment Roll which 
 has not been altered since 1873, when everything was at a 
 very low ebb. During the jiast two years property has in- 
 creased largely in value and the prospects are such that it 
 will continue to advance ; the causes that have led to the 
 advance in vp.lues and consequent increased revenues to the 
 owners of p.operty are the same causes that lead to increas- 
 ing demands upon the revenue of the City which must be 
 met from some source, and in all fairness those who reap 
 the greatest advantage from increasing value of property 
 should contribute to the increasing demands for civic im- 
 provements which pr(>speritv entails, and upon which, to 
 some extent, prosperity ;ind values depend, for if Municipal 
 improvements were to cease the effect would be seriously 
 felt upon the value of real estate. Another reason is that 
 the Municipal Assessment Roll should represent approxi- 
 mately the proportionate value of land in different parts of 
 the City, and property should be assessed at from a-half to 
 two-thirds of its actual market value, whereas at ])resent lots 
 in the heart of the Ci ty are in may instances assessed at not 
 mope than from one-fifth to one-third of their market value, 
 while in the suburbs the valuation for assessment is much 
 higher. I therefore hope the incoming Mayor and Council 
 will take immediate steps in this direction, and that one of 
 the first subjects to engage their attention will be the revis- 
 ion of the Real Estate Assessment Roll. 
 
 For details under the head of revenue I must refer you 
 to the Auditor's Report and Financial Statement which is a 
 most satisfactory exhibit, and although a small deficit ap- 
 pears this year Victoria stands in the almost unparalleled 
 position of a city whose actual available assets are in excess 
 of its liabilities, as the w^ater woi'ks and other property v_ ,n- 
 ed by the City would, if sold, realize enough to pay all in- 
 debtedness and leave a handsome surplus. We may there- 
 fore congratulate ourselves, gentlemen, on having had the 
 honor of administering the affairs of a City that has practi- 
 cally no indebtedness. 
 
 In conclusion, gentlemen, I think we may look upon the 
 past year as an eventful one in the history of our City, and 
 when in after life we look back upon the part we have taken 
 
13 
 
 venno, which 
 ike iinprove- 
 lu increases, 
 luds that will 
 works be uu- 
 
 ecl would be 
 lit Roll which 
 ng was at a 
 )erty has in- 
 such that it 
 I led to the 
 venues to the 
 ,d to increas- 
 lich must be 
 3se who reap 
 i of property 
 01 civic im- 
 )n which, to 
 if Municipal 
 be seriously 
 sason is that 
 ieut approxi- 
 ent parts of 
 om a-half to 
 it ])resent lots 
 sessed at not 
 luuket value, 
 ent is much 
 and Council 
 that one of 
 be the revis- 
 
 a 
 
 in the administration of its affairs, I trust it may be with 
 feeling of" pride that we have been instrumental in introduc- 
 ing some improvements and that our labor has not been in 
 vain. 
 
 In taking my leave of you, I thank you all most heartily 
 for the courtesy I have received at your hands, aud I hope 
 that whoever fills the position of Mayor during the ensuing 
 year may be as ably supported by the Council he will have 
 the honor of presiding over as I have been by you. 
 
 To the officers of the Corporation I tender my sincere 
 thanks for their readiness and willingness to assist me in 
 performing the duties of my office, and providing me with 
 information necessary to enable me to do so, and I must 
 congratulate the City upon the posseosion of such an efficient 
 .>^taff. Wishing you all prosperity and success in the futiire, 
 I have the honor to be. Gentlemen, 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 CHAS. E. REDFERN, 
 
 Mayor. 
 
 ist refer you 
 it which is a 
 11 deceit ap- 
 unparalleled 
 are in excess 
 )ropert3 v. .n- 
 pay all in- 
 e may there- 
 dng had tho 
 t has practi- 
 
 look upon the 
 ur City, and 
 e have taken 
 
 
 
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