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65
The Committee, however, tried the experiment of
having the sixth gang, but without adding a fourth
man to each gang, with the view to the saving of
the greatly increased cost, if possible. The result
has exceeded the most sanguine expectations of
the Committee, there being sometimes for many
weeks in succession not only no complaints, but not
even a single application for the removal of dust.
And this excellent result has therefore been achieved
by the addition of three men and two horses and
vans only.
Site of Old Vestry Hall.—In 1896, the Vestry
decided that, subject to the consent of the County
Council being obtained to the necessary loan, a
building be erected on the site of the old Yestry
Hall in the same style of architecture as the Town
Hall, where a basement could be provided and the
ground floor left open as a yard, the upper floors
being capable of being let off until they were
required, and of then being readily converted into
an annexe of the Town Hall, the estimated cost
being £4,500. The Town Hall Committee have
therefore been in correspondence with the Council
upon the matter, and have also had an interview
with the Council's Finance Committee, the result
of which has been that that Committee has
intimated that it will favourably consider the
application when made. Thereupon the Committee
instructed Mr. Evans Vaughan to prepare the
necessary plans, and as soon as the plans received
the approval of the County Council, tenders were
invited for the work from 12 firms, and that of
Mr. B. E. Nightingale, of Albert Embankment,
being the lowest, was accepted at the sum of £5,493.
Charities.—In 1895 it was referred to the Finance