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82
weeks of frosty weather and continuous falls of snow,
the surface of the roadways, especially the wood-paved
roads, frequently became very slippery and difficult
for travelling. At such times, men, horses, and sanding
machines had to be sent out late at night and very
early in the morning, scattering sand or shingle over
the frozen surface; 442 horses and carts were sent out
on 48 occasions, the total number of hours working
being 2,173, and 680 cubic yards of material were
used.
Road Watering.—This work has been regularly
and systematically done, but it is extremely difficult
to be able to meet the various and sudden changes of
the weather generally experienced in the early and
latter parts of the year, and to carry out the work
under the circumstances is most trying and vexatious.
The quantity of water used for road watering,
making, and washing during the season has been
23,751,580 gallons from the Grand Junction Water
Company's mains, and 5,147,720 gallons from the
West Middlesex Water Company's mains, making a
total of 28,899,300 gallons.
The water vans were out from the 1st of March to
the 30th of November whenever occasion required, in
all 140 days, 4,260 horses and vans being employed,
giving an average of 30.42 per day; the wages paid
amounting to £854 2s. During abnormal states of
the weather, horses had to be hired; 428 were thus
engaged, the extra expense being £235 16s.