View report page

15
that these duties, in connection with the Surveyor's
department have considerably increased during the
last few years, and are even now rapidly enlarging.
This fact cannot be ignored and should not be; the
increase of traffic during the last ten years has
been very great and still continues, thereby
gradually but surely rendering the execution of all
Paving Works, or works executed in busy thoroughfares,
more and more difficult and costly. It will
be found upon inquiry that the increase of labour
is extending through every branch of the Surveyor's
department, and as it is all legally responsible
work, the consequences are, or may be, very
serious. The Vestry cannot do otherwise than
recognise the fact, and give it that attention which it
deserves.
Their responsibility does not merely consist in
actually keeping the paved surfaces safe and free
from obstruction, though that involves a great deal,
but recent circumstances have shewn how much
depends upon the promptitude and ability with
which any difficulty is dealt with as it arises; and
I take it to be the chief duty of an Officer of a
Vestry as far as possible, to settle any matter of
business that may occur, as far as lies in the power
of his office, without troubling the Vestry unnecessarily,
and such has been the chief aim of
your Surveyor during the time he has acted as such;
the attempt to publish a printed list of every days
work for twelve months in his department would in