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caused the parish to be divided into three districts, in the
hope that the owners of smaller plant might be induced to
submit offers. This failed to attract any new competitors,
however, and gave evidence of the spirit in which the
Vestry was being treated. The five tenders ranged from
£10,500 to £13,350 for the year, for the three parts,
whereas the price at Lady-day, 1889, was £7,500, and many
thousands of yards of new wood paving and asphalte had
been laid since. The lowest of these tenders was reduced
to £9,800, subject to the three divisions of the parish being
ignored; and the Committee, after full deliberation, submitted
the offer to the Vestry for acceptance. To this,
however, the Vestry did not assent, and the Committee
were instructed to make arrangements for the execution of
the street sweeping by labour in the immediate employ of
the Vestry, leaving the collection of street refuse and house
dust,and the street watering to be tendered for on the contract
system. Advertisements were accordingly issued again'
the result being even more unsatisfactory, for whereas the
former modified offer for the entire service was £9,800, the
lowest tender for part of it was now £10,050, to which had
to be added the estimated cost of the sweeping, £2,327,
making a total of £12,337. Believing this issue to be contrary
to the anticipation of the Vestry, the Committee saw
Mr. Cookson, whose tender was £10,050 for part of the
service, and induced him to accept £9,000 for the whole,
subject to a new specification and the continued free use of the
Vestry's premises in Millbank Street. These terms were
agreed to by the Vestry on the Committee's recommendation.
TOWN HALL MANAGEMENT.
The Town Hall and Parochial Offices are erected under
the provisions of the Parochial Offices Act, 24 and 25 Vic.,
cap. 125, whereby the land and buildings vest in the Churchwardens
and Overseers for the time being. Since these