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upon the figures of last year, which again were 400 less than those for
the year 1890-91. The average number of persons who appeared each
quarter before the Justices to ask for time was 1,083 only, the remainder
recognising the summons as the final demand for payment. Three
thousand and eighty-eight warrants of distress were handed to the
brokers, but in 182 cases only was it found necessary to levy the rates
being mostly paid to the broker upon the first application. In very
few cases have goods been removed or sold. Committal warrants were
obtained in 57 cases, and of these 33 paid prior to arrest, 13 absconded,
and 11 were conveyed to Holloway Prison.
The total amount received by the Vestry Clerk during the year in
respect of summons fees was £1,387 2s. 6d. This amount was paid
over to the Vestry's Bankers and carried to the credit of the General
Rate.
It is thought desirable to restate these or similar facts and
figures year by year lest, owing to the system of quarterly collection and
the prompt manner in which the rates are collected in Islington
and to the large number of persons who are summoned in consequence,
it might appear that considerable distress existed and that much hardship
is inflicted. As a matter of fact the quarterly collection of the
rates and the enforcing them within the quarter is probably not only
economical from the Vestry point of view but the most considerate
mode of collection in the interests of the poorer ratepayers.
HIGHWAYS.
The cost of labor on the roads during the year amounted to
£11,896 13s. 9d. as against £11,473 3s. 10d. for the year ended
Lady-Day, 1892. The increase of £423 9s. 11d. is due to an increase
in the wages of the road-men, and to an expenditure of £179 14s. 10d.
in additional cleansing of roads by the " unemployed."
The following table shows the quantities and cost of materials used
in the repair of the roads and footpathi, in the formation of pitched