PREFACE. The necessity for a new and comprehensive edition of the City By-laws has long been felt by the City Authorities, and by all persons connected with the Municipal Government. Since the last compilation was made, in 1842, the City Charter has, at different times, been remodelled, and new provisions introduced which necessitated some modifications in several of the By-laws, to make them conform to the new enactments, and to the practical working of the various departments of the Corporation. It was, therefore, deemed expedient to re-enact the whole of the By-laws in a modified and revised form. The draft of the By-laws contained in this book was submitted to the City Council on the 14th December, 1863, and referred to the Chairmen of the several Standing Committees for their examination; and after a careful consideration and revision, by the Chairmen, of the By-laws relating to their respective departments, the same were brought back before the Council in their present shape, and finally confirmed and passed on the 10th day of May last. It will be observed that the order in which the By-laws were originally passed has not been followed, and such parts of their primitive form as were purely technical have been omitted, and a classification of subjects attempted for the purpose of rendering the compilation concise and easy of reference. In connection with the By-laws, it was thought proper to publish the City Charter, with its various amendments, and such other acts of the Legislature as related to the City. There is also added an Appendix, embracing the Catalogue of the City Government since its establishment in 1840, the Internal Rules of the Council, the Rules and Regulations of the Fire and Police Departments, &c., together with a copious and correct Index; all of which, it is confidently hoped, will make the Volume particularly interesting and valuable to all those whose duty it is to administer the Municipal Government of this fair and growing City. MONTREAL, June, 1865. |