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87
Furnace.—It has been found necessary to effect considerable
repairs to the furnace, and the work has been done by
Messrs. Kemp and Son, at a cost of £82 12s.
Vans and Carts.—The number of vans and carts
belonging to the Vestry is—20 vans, 8 carts, 12 water vans, and
2 sweeping machines.
Fodder.—The Fodder account amounts to £1458 3s. 5d.,
an increase of £305, being an average of 22s per horse per
week, an increase from last year of 4s 6d per horse per week.
This increase has been caused by the great advance in the price
of fodder, especially of hay, straw and clover, due to the
prolonged drought in the early part of 1893. The contract
entered into for the supply of fodder for the half-year ending
29th September was at 105s. per load for hay, 42s. for straw,
and 110s. for clover, which were prices considerably above those
ordinarily ruling, but at the expiration of the contract hay was
155s , straw 50s , clover 152s. 6d. The prices of hay and
clover were afterwards slightly reduced, but straw continued to
rise, 60s. being paid in January and February In the early
part of the present year the Vestry commenced to purchase
foreign hay at 125s. and 130s. per load.