107
32. A new bridge has been constructed over the stream at the north end of Yaumati Village and the Swing Bridge on the Praya over the entrance to the Police dock which was damaged by the gale in July last has been repaired.
33. Street Lighting.-Previous to 1st of December, 1890, the City had for some years past been lighted exclusively by gas supplied by the Hongkong and China Gas Company. At the commencement of 1891 there existed 857 lamps.
In October, 1890, a contract was entered into with the Electric Company for the erection of 64 arc lights in the central and eastern portions of the City. These were first lighted in December, 1890.
In April last a contract was made for the erection of eleven additional lamps which were lighted in September last.
34. The total number at present erected is therefore 75, the estimated candle power of which is 150,000 and the annual cost of lighting $22,000.
35. There at present exist in addition to electric lights 653 gas lamps exclusive of those in the Military Cantonment. The annual cost of lighting and maintaining which is $23,000.
36. In addition to the foregoing there are fifteen gas lamps in the Military Cantonment towards which the Colony pays $250.50 per annum.
37. Making the total annual cost of lighting the public thoroughfares of the City $45,750.50.
38. The following is a short description of the system of electric lighting adopted; for much of the information I am indebted to Mr. W. H. WICKHAM, the Company's Engineer, under whose super- vision the work has been carried out:
39. The Central Station of the Electric Company is situated in Wing Fung Street, in which is installed the Plant for supplying the arc lamps in the public streets.
40. The Plant consists of 3 engines driving 3 dynamos of the type known as "Brush Series Arc Light Dynamos" each dynamo being capable of supplying 50 to 55 arc lamps of 2,000 candle power nominal. One of these Engines and Dynamos are held in reserve.
41. The 75 arc lamps, at present supplied, are connected in two separate circuits, one supplying 39 lamps and the other 36 lamps, arranged so that the first circuit supplies the lamps in the central and western portions of the City on the Queen's Road level, and the second supplies the lamps in the upper portion of the City and Queen's Road East.
42. The total length of conducting wires employed is about eleven miles. The conductor used consists of a strand of 7 wires each No. 16 B. W. G. tinned hard-drawn copper, and is continuously insulated with vulcanized india-rubber protected by a braided covering, and is suspended from a steel wire bearer consisting of a strand of 3 No. 14 B. W. G. galvanized wires, these bearers being supported on Porcelain Fluid Insulators carried overhead on Tubular Iron Poles along the thorough- fares of the City.
43. The arc lamps are known as the Brokie-Pell type, and contain regulating mechanism to adjust the Carbon Pencils as these consume. The Carbon Pencils are renewed in each lamp daily.
44. The Electric Difference of Potential at the terminals of the two circuits of 39 and 36 lamps is about 2,050 and 1,930 volts respectively, and the current supplied in either circuit ranges between 9.6 and 9.3 amperes. As the lamps are connected in series the current supplied to the most distant lamp is of the same value as that supplied to the nearest.
LAND SURVEY DEPARTMENT.
45. During the past year ten land sales have taken place. The arca leased being 780,494 square feet, premiums realised $35,839. Eight extensions of existing lots of a total area of 355,020 square feet have been granted. The amount of premium paid is $7,007,55 and annual Crown rent $454.
46. Surveys have been made, boundaries corrected and plans and particulars for the preparation of 90 new leases forwarded to the Land Office.
47. Surveys have been made of Wongneichong, Aberdeen and a portion of Kowloon in all covering an area of 143 29 acres.
48. One thousand five hundred and eighty-four (1,584) Squatter's licences have been issued, the fees for which amount to $5,502.28.
49. A complete return has been prepared of the lands held by those on the Rent Roll and under the tenure of a Squatter's licence in the 'island of Hongkong.