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DANIEL LANG. Warden, 1898.

OSCAR McKENNEY. Warden, 1898.

ARCHIBALD J. LEITCH. Chairman Building Committee. 1898-1899.

NEIL R. DARRACH. Architect.

ROBERT CARROLL. Contractor.

The Elgin Court House, 1898-1900.

THE NEW COURT HOUSE.

The first meeting of the County Council, after the burning of the Court House, was held in the Grand Central Hotel, St. Thomas, on July 8th. The Insurance appraisers' award fixing the amount of damage at $5,509, was then presented. Mr. J. M. Green, contractor, was valuator on behalf of the County. The County officials were consulted in reference to temporary accommodation, and the Clerk was authorized to rent offices from Mr. Charles Spohn, on the south-west corner of William and Talbot streets. A special Building Committee was appointed, with power to employ an architect, visit other Court Houses, to have plans prepared, and report. The committee, consisting of Messrs. A. J. Leitch, S. B. Morris, D. Turner, R. Locker, D. F. Moore. W. B. Cole and Warden Lang, accompanied by N. R. Darrach, architect, and J. A. Bell, County Engineer, proceeded to Brantford, to examine the county buildings, which had recently been enlarged. Instructions were given to prepare plans to include enlargement of building and re-modelling Jail and Jailer's residence and kitchen. The County Council met on the 27th of July, to receive report presented by Architect Darrach, who estimated the cost of plans submitted at about $33,000. Opposition was offered by some members of the Council, who were desirous of limiting the cost of building to $20,000, but the architect's plans were adopted. A by-law was passed appointing a special building committee, and authorizing the Warden to sign contracts. The architect's fee was fixed at $1,200 for the whole work. Tenders were received, and as all of them exceeded the architect's estimate, a special meeting of the Council was called for the 8th of September, to consider the matter. At this session the building committee reported in favor of the adoption of the following tenders: