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206
The resolution stating the 75 per cent. to be collected has been made somewhat
inoperative owing to the following resolution by the New Streets Committee
of the 4th March, 1891:—
"That they call the attention of the Vestry to the fact that, according to
"the resolution of the Vestry, it is an instruction to the New Streets
"Committee to advertise for tenders for making up roads as soon as 75 per
"cent. of the total apportionment is collected, and that the resolution allows
"the making up of any street being advertised for whether 75 per cent. of
"the apportionment has been collected or otherwise, provided that the
"Vestry wish it and resolve accordingly."
From this resolution it will be gathered that should any special circumstances
favour the making up of any street before the 75 per cent. of the estimated cost
has been subscribed, the Vestry may by resolution authorise such street to be
made up.
The past severe winter has also been very much against us. For a period of
nine weeks it was impossible to proceed with any out-door work owing to the
frost, but during the whole of this period money was being collected. Our
balance at the bank at the commencement of the frost was about £13,000;
when it broke up we found ourselves with a balance of £16,000. This sum has
been gradually decreasing, until now our balance is only £11,000. It must be
admitted that by the resolution of the Vestry it has been impossible to regulate
our balance other than has been done. It must be far better that we should
have a balance rather than be indebted to the Vestry to the extent of £3,000 or
£4,000, as was the case prior to the formation of this department.
INCREASE IN PRICES.
I regret again to report the very great increase in the cost of materials used
in the construction of these roads.
3 in. York stone was formerly laid for 9d. per foot, whereas the price has now
increased to 11d. per foot; 12 by 6 kerb, formerly 1s. 7d., now 2s.; hard core
could once be obtained for 6d. per load—in fact, a great amount of it was formerly
shot free into the roads for the benefit of the shoot; but owing to the
great number of roads now being made up in this parish, the supply has been
exhausted, and had it not been for the large heap lying at the Gas Works, the
whole of the work in this parish would have been suspended for the want
of hard core—even contractors have had pickets stationed at the entrances to
the main thoroughfares leading out of London directing carmen to Fulham, and
the exorbitant prices of 2s. to 2s. 6d. per load have recently been paid for
hard core.
The labour question has also very much affected the cost of these roads. The
position of the labourer is now far better than it was last year. The insertion of
the following clause in the specification has also, to some extent, increased the
cost:—