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106
Removal of Slop.
Up to the 29th September, 1897, the removal of the street sweepings was undertaken by
the contractor who was required to load and remove to the Vestry's wharf, the payment
being 2s. per cubic yard; but since that date the collection has been by our own vans, to
the groat advantage of the district, as I am now enabled to utilise the horse hire to the best
advantage, increasing or decreasing the number of vans as necessity arises. Previously the
Contractor would send out only the number he thought would be sufficient, always bearing
in mind the amount he would receive under his contract, this was all very well should his
calculations prove correct, but upon a great number of days the opposite was the case, with
the result that the day's sweepings had to remain upon the roads until next morning;
further, the collection of the sweepings being paid at per cubic yard and the remainder of the
horse hire for carts, watering, etc., being at per day, it was not possible for me to utilise the
other horses for this work, especially on days when, owing to rain, the quantity of slop to be
removed was considerably in excess of the amount anticipated. The quantity of
sweepings removed for the half-year ending 29th September, 1897, amounted to 4102¾ cubic
yards ; and for the half-year ending 25th March, 1898, 1572¾ van loads which, if taken at
an average of 2½ cubic yards per load, equals 3932 cubic yards.