Early R.M. of Daly History

Related Collection: Remembering CFB Rivers

Excerpt from the work of J.C. Cousins, one of the earliest settlers in the district

Local Government

Before the Province of Manitoba was divided into separate Municipalities, it was governed by County Councils. I will show the County of Brandon of which Daly formed a part. The County was comprised of five Municipalities: Daly, Elton, Whitehead, Glenwood and, Cornwallis and in 1882 the names of the County Councillors were as follows: James Pettitt represented Daly, Mr, Clegg represented Eiton, Mr. Hannah represented Whitehead, Mr. Steel represented Glenwood and as Brandon was unorganized and situated in Cornwallis Municipality, Charlie Whitehead, a C.P.R. Contractor, represented it.

Macdonald was Solicitor, George H. Halse was Secretary Treasurer of the County. He subsequently went to Vancouver and took over the management of the British Columbia Telephone System. In 1883, a Mr. William Thompson and William Hunter contested the Seat for Daly Thompson won. He died before the yearly term was up and Williiam Sargent (a brother of W.J. Sargent who was Reeve of Daly at a later for ten years) and Matthew Kennedy were nominated to fill In the unexpired term. Sargent was elected.

Mr. Sargent

Also a reference to the Western Judical District Board. Major Lawrence Buchan was Secretary Treasurer at this time of what was called Western Manitoba, west of Carberry. This originally formed, part of the North West Territories, and was then added to the other part of the Province of Manitoba. A polling booth was at a Mr. Valliant’s on Section 8-12-20 for the election of a County Councillor for 1885. John A. Dyer and a Mr. McLean were scrutineers for Mr. Kennedy and. Thomas Cousins represented Mr. Sargent.

In 1884 when the bridge was being built across the Little Saskatchewan at the original Pendennis Post office, Walter Sargent had the Contract and he sub-let the work of filling in the approaches to Charles Tufts and Harry Simonite (Mr. Simonlte’s son is an alderman in Winnipeg). This Bridge site was situated between Section 14 and 23-12-21 (the present C.P.R. trestle bridge was built over the same site. George, my brother, worked on the bridge.

In 1884 the Province was divided and organized into separate Municipalities. James Pettit and William Sargent were nominated to contest the seat for the Reeveship. Pettitt won. He had been educated for a Presbyterian Minister. The Councillors elected for each Township were as follows;

Township 11 Range 20 – James Browning,
” ” 21 – John Bradley,
” 11 “ 22 – James Sibbald
” 12 “ 22 ” – Zachary Bailey
” 12 ” 21 – Fred Westwood
” 12 “ 20 – William Brown.

Clerk – Douglas Ayer,

James Sibbald – grandson of the Midshipman James Sibbald who was with Admiral Nelson and was the one who placed his kit bag under the dying Admiral’s head as he lay dying.

Council

At the house of William Creighton, Sec. 11-21,in the Municipality of Daly, on January 8th, 1884, the first meeting of the Council took place. Reeve Pettit in the chair having signed, his declaration of office at Brandon. The following persons then signed the Declaration of Office and were sworn in as Councillors for this year 1884: John Bradley, James Sibbald, William Braun, F.T. Westwood and Zachary Bailey. Applications for the position of Clerik were received.

T.N. Shepherd, Robert Kerr. Douglas Ayer. Moved by John Bradley and William Braun that Douglas Ayer be Clerk for the ensuing year and, he was then sworn in as Clerk for the year 1884.

The report of Matthew Kennedy, returning officer was read and accepted. Motion – Bradley and Braun, returning officers will be paid. Motion Z. Bailey, seconded by John Bradley that the Reeve be empowered to employ a solicitor.

Moved by Westtwood and Bradley that the clerks purchase the necessary books and supplies.

Council adjourned to meet at Willlam Creighton’s on January 28th, at 12 o’clock.

James Pettit – Reeve
D. Ayer – Clerik

January 28th, 1884 – Second Meeting of Council.

The meeting was called to order by Reeve Pettit. James Browning took the oath of office. The Minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted.
Applications for the position of Assessor were received.

From:

Matthew Kennedy,
Robert Chisholm,
F.C. Thorne

Applications for Treasurer from Aaron Tyerman and. Archibald Chisholm.

Motion – Bailey and Browning – that Matthew Kennedy by Assessor for the year. Carried.

Motion – F.T. Westwood and Braun that the salary of the Assessor be fixed at S65.00 Carried.

Motilon – Browning and Bradley – that the Motion appointing Matthew Kennedy Assessor, be rescinded. Carried

Motion – Browning and Bradiey – that Robert Chisholm be assessor at a salary of S65.00 per year.

Amendment – Westwood and Braun – that F. C. Thorne be appointed assessor at $65.00 per year. The amendment lost. Motion Carried.

Motion Westwood and Braun – that Douglas Ayer be appointed Treasurer upon his furnishing two securities of S200 each and himself in like amount satisfactory to Council and that he receive a salary for the combined, office of Secretary and Treasurer of S200 per annum.

Motion by Browning and Bradiey that T.M. Daly be appointed solicitor at a salary of S60.00 per annum. Carried

Motion by Browning and Bradiey that the Reeve be authorized to procure a Seal for the Municipality. Carried,

Motion by Braun and Bradley – that clerk be entrusted to procure eight copies of the Municipal Act.
Carried,