261
35. To give some idea of the extent and number of the landslips throughout the Colony, I may cite as an illustration the view which presented itself from the house in which I was staying as the storm cleared on the morning of the 30th May. The view embraces the mountain side from the Victoria Gap to East Point, and may include a superficial area of from two to three square miles. The hill slopes which before the storm were covered with verdure, were now scarred in all directions by landslips. Of these I counted about thirty, and since others on the area indicated are concealed by the valleys, and the folds of the hills, it is probably considerably under the mark to estimate the num- ber of slips in this locality at fifty. Assuming the same proportion over other parts of the Colony we should have a total of some hundreds varying in mass from a few tons to several thousands.
Operations for repair of damage.
36. Immediately after the storm arrangements were made for repairing the damage, especial regard being had to the relative importance of the localities concerned.
37. Temporary works to allow of the supply of the Tytam water to the town, which had been entirely cut off by the effects of the storm, were at once commenced, and completed in a few days, and the repairs to the aqueduct have since been pushed on, and are now approaching completion.
38. The repairs to the Tytam service tank and filter beds are progressing favourably. The prin- cipal obstructions in the streets and roads caused by landslips and debris brought down by torrents have been removed, and the repairs to the culverts, especially that of the Glenealy Nullah, are being pushed forward; although the progress made has not been so great as it would otherwise have been, owing to frequent interruptions from the flooding of the work.
39. The following is a summary of the estimated cost of repairs to Government property caused by the late storm. The detailed estimates prepared by Mr. COOPER and Lieutenant-Colonel CHAMPER- NOWNE, R.E. are given in the Appendices D and E.
ESTIMATE OF STORM DAMAGE.
Tytam Water-works.
Aqueduct and Bowen Road,
Service tank and filter beds,
$ 7,300
27,000
Tytam Reservoir,
Watermains and subsidiary works,
5,000
2,700
$42.000
City of Victoria.
Cemetery and Race Course,
$ 1,465
Bowrington Bridge,
1,300
Removing landslips and repairs Eastern District, Albany Nullah and Queen's Road adjoining same,
1,956
7,040
Do. work done by Military,
384
Glenealy Nullah and streets adjoining,
18,107
Removing landslips and repairs to Western District,.
4,884
Minor repairs to roads,
2,000
$37,136
Roads throughout the Island outside the City, Roads and Streets, Kowloon,
13,050
1,800
$93,986
Contingencies 20 per cent,
18,797
Total,.....
$112,783
40. Although the damage caused by the late storm is very considerable, there is I think cause for satisfaction that no graver results followed, and that the community was spared from greater calamity to life and property. Of the injuries to private property I have not sufficient data to form an estimate, but it may I think be safely assumed that (as is usual in similar cases) the popular estimates formed under first impressions will prove, on investigation, to have been exaggerated.
* Not printed.