View report page

5
During the frost great complaints were made of the bad light
the lamps gave, and many went out. This was no doubt caused
by deposits of naphthaline.
DUSTING.
In the Parish of Lewisham the Dust and Ashes have been
collected by the horses and carts belonging to the Board. It is a
difficult thing to arrive at the exact quantity removed during the
year. In Lewisham it cannot be less than 12,750 cubic yards.
On an average there are eight horses and carts employed daily in
the collection. The dust has all been sold more or less advantageously,
but it is so mixed with garden rubbish and other matter
that its value is much reduced.
In the Hamlet of Penge the Board contracted for the supply
of horses, carts, and harness, and employed their own men. Mr.
Craker supplied horses, carts, &c., at 7s. for horse, cart, and harness
per day for a portion of the year, and Mr. Winnifrith for 5s.
per day for horse, cart, and harness for the remainder of the year.
There were 2,950 cubic yards of Dust and Ashes collected in Penge
during the year, which were sold.
BOARDS HORSES, &c.
All the horses are in good health, and there really has not
been a case of sickness in the stable during the year. The number
of horses has not been increased. There are seventeen. I should
be glad to do without hiring, as far as possible, for Highway
work. I am of opinion if six horses were kept at the Stone Yard,
Forest Hill, it would be a great advantage. That is to increase
the stud of horses to twenty-seven, and keep six or eight of them
at Forest Hill, and the remainder at Catford. It is about eleven
years since the Board commenced to keep horses. The number
then was ten. All the horses required at that time for the collection
of Dust were hired. There are eight horses now employed
in Dusting, consequently I have fewer horses at my disposal at
the present time for Highway Work than I had years ago. Of
course if the Board kept horses at the Stone Yard, Forest Hill,
stables would have to be built, but this need not be a costly
affair. It has now become quite a common thing for Local and
District Boards to keep their own horses.