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23
The decrease in the number of empty houses, &c., to which
attention was drawn in last year's report, has, it is satisfactory to note,
continued. During the past year the average number per quarter has
been 1,806 as compared with 2,010 for the year 1889-90.
During the year 25,665 summonses were issued for the recoverv
of rates, an average of 6,416 per quarter. This is an increase upon the
figures of last year. Notwithstanding the large number of summonses,
however, an average of 1,056 persons per quarter only came before the
Justices to ask for time. Hence it may be inferred that by a large
number of ratepayers the summons is awaited as the final demand for
payment. 2,857 warrants of distress were handed to the brokers for
execution, but actual levies took place in only 341 instances, the rates
having been in most cases paid to the broker upon his attending to
make the levy. In very few cases have the goods been removed
or sold. Committal warrants were obtained in 40 cases, principally
against old offenders. Of these 17 paid prior to or upon arrest, 15
absconded, and 8 were conveyed to Holloway prison.
The sum of £1,152 1s. 6d. has been received by the Vestry Clerk
in respect of summons fees, and paid by him to the Vestry's bankers to
the credit of the general rate.
A return shewing the rates levied in the parish since the constitution
of the Vestry in 1856 will be found in the appendix.
HIGHWAYS.
The cost of labour on the roads during the year amounted to
£12,787 1s. 1d., as against £9,379 17s. 5d. for the year ending Lady
Day, 1 890. This increase (£3,407 3s. 8d.) was caused principally by
the additional labour necessitated by the frost and snow of last winter.
It is also to some extent attributable to labour employed in breaking
stone and screening materials at the Ashburton Grove Depot.
The following table shews the quantities of materials used in the
repair of the roads, in the formation of pitched crossings, and in improvement works.