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On the 10th July, I submitted the following report to the V???ks
Committee:—
I beg to submit dissected account of expenditure and nett cost or??? is
work as printed on agenda. (Shewn on page 209.)
The estimate which was made by my predecessor, Mr. Norrington???s
founded on the actual cost to the Vestry of Munster Road and Fulham P???e
Road Sewers which were let out to Contractors and are both of very si???r
nature as regards depth, nature of sub-soil, quantity of sub-soil water
structural features.
The Vestry were at a disadvantage with regard to the possessic???f
adequate plant, and the money expended in hire of plant is, of course, la???v
a loss, and the Vestry, in my opinion, certainly did not get so much valu???r
the wages expended as a private individual would have done. As to the???chase
of materials there can be no question that the Vestry is placed i???1
extremely favourable position, and can and does buy these as well an???;
cheaply as any Contractor.
I may say, that in the course of the sewer contracts previously r???
tioned, that the Vestry were paid for or took away the sand and ballast w???
was surplus material, and that the value of this, in the case of Wandswarth
Bridge Road Sewer, would not have been credited to the Contractor.
The estimated cost of this work was, as stated above, ,£3,841 and ac???
cost .£5,233, and I feel confident it might have been carried out by a g???
firm of Contractors for the estimated amount This is a class of work wl???
cannot well be done by a public authority, at any rate economically.
DISTILLERY LANE SEWER.
This sewer caused a considerable amount of trouble this year,
reason on examination being found to be an obstruction in the shape o???
large piece of timber which by some means had lodged in the sewer,
kinds of false rumours were circulated as to this, and an owner of propt
made a claim on the Vestry for compensation. However, no further st???
were taken. I only mention this to the Vestry as any amount of abuse v???
lavished upon me without cause, and before the facts could be ascertair???
by those who ought to have waited for them. This sewer, formerly kno???
as the Black Bull Ditch, is on the boundary of the Parish, and half ???
expense of maintenance and repair is borne by the Hammersmith Vestry, a???
as usual, the half cost of this stoppage was paid by them on application.
SURCHARGING OF SEWERS.
Surcharging of the sewers of the district took place on a few occasio
during the stormy weather, causing great inconvenience to the inhabitan
In consequence of many complaints, the London County Council appli???
to me for detailed information as to the floodings, and a very full accou???
was sent to them. The Council have passed a scheme, prepared by th???
Chief Engineer, to give relief in the shape of a Pumping Station to beerect???
on the bank of the Thames at the end of Imperial Road, but operations ha???
not yet commenced. In several instances where the basements of houses a???
exceptionally deep, on my recommendation, tidal flap valves have bet???