Amor De Cosmos complains about the bill to incorporate the City of Victoria - May 24th 1862

Boundaries of the City of Victoria at incorporation

In the May 24th 1862 edition of the British Colonist there is a long column on page 2 about the incorporation of Victoria.   The article is on the left hand of the page.  The column is a bit ranty, but that is not really surprising given that Amor De Cosmos had a huge hate on for the HBC and James Douglas and he wanted a City with powers to go up against the powers that be.

• The City was to have 1 mayor and six councillors
• The City was to have three wards - Johnson Street, Yates Street and James Bay - two councillors to be elected from each ward
• To run in the first election you had either own £50 worth of freehold land or  £600 worth of leasehold land, the leasehold requirement would fall to  £150 in future elections.
• First elections to be held on November 8th
• Anyone that refuses to serve as mayor or councilor will be fined £50
• Only the people registered to vote for the Vancouver Island Assembly will be allowed to vote in the first City election

• The City will have no power over the police but will also not have to pay for them
• The City will have no power over schools
• The City is responsible for the upkeep of roads and the hospital
• The status of Beacon Hill Park is not clear
• The City had to look after the road to Esquimalt all the way to the Town of Esquimalt
• The Governor of Vancouver Island has a veto over all bylaws
• As of May 24th the actual boundaries of the City had not yet been decided on