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refuse under the Public Health Acts, and general increase in wages of employees.
The largest item of expenditure in this parish is the cost of barging the refuse,
being at the rate of 3/- per ton. This is a heavy charge on the undertaking, and
there seems no prospect of reducing this item except by the carrying out of a
scheme for burning the dry refuse, which could apparently be done at a cost of
less than 1/6 per ton.
Against this increased cost must be put the more efficient carrying out of the
work, and in view of the intimate connection between insufficient scavenging and
filth diseases (such as cholera) this is a matter of the very greatest importance.
The best test of the efficiency of executing scavenging work is the number of
complaints received during the year from ratepayers in respect of the neglect

and in the early part of 1891, the number of complaints in the Eastern Division
was so scandalous, through the break-down of the Contractor (Mr. Turner), that
the Vestry had to employ their own men and to pay another Contractor £1,250 to
complete Mr. Turner's work.
The Superintendent reports that the staff during the year superintended by
him have worked very well, and the work of the department has met with general
satisfaction.
On the 6th September, 1892, the Vestry decided to raise the weekly wages
of the employees, as follows:—
Sweeping Machine Men from 24/- to 26/6
Slop Carmen, 1st class „ 23/- ,, 25/6
2nd „ 22/- „ 24/6
Leading Gully-men, 1st class 23/- „ 25/6
2nd „ 22/- „ 24/6
Sweepers (Road) „ 21/- „ 23/6
Dust Carmen „ 21/- „ 24/-