110
810
12. In August last, C.S.O. 2, I submitted a report on the present system of Government telegraphs and suggested certain alterations, including the more general introduction of Telephones, for the improvement of electrical communication between the several Police Stations and Government Buildings throughout the Colony.
Provision has been made in this year's estimates for meeting to a large extent the expenditure involved in introducing these improvements.
13. Public Cemetery -The Public Cemetery has been maintained in a satisfactory manner without involving any exceptional expenditure.
The number of interments during the year has been eighty-two.
14. Maintenance of Praya Wall and Piers.-The usual repairs have been carried out and the Praya Wall and Piers maintained in a satisfactory condition.
15. A settlement has occurred in the Praya Wall in front of Marine Lots 177-181 Praya West. This settlement does not at present endanger either the safety of the wall or roadway but it will be necessary shortly to raise the wall to its original level. Upon this subject I shall address you a separate communication.
16. The new pier at Yaumati was completed in March last, at a cost of $4,274.27.
17. Maintenance of Lighthouses.-The Lighthouses are in an efficient state of repair and no extra- ordinary expenditure has been incurred on their maintenance.
18. Maintenance of Disinfector.-The Disinfector has been maintained in good working order though seldom required during the past year.
19. In the month of December last the Disinfector was placed in charge of the Sanitary Board as the department most frequently requiring its use. The building and apparatus is still periodically inspected and maintained by this department, and any expenditure incurred for this purpose is charged against the vote "Repairs to Buildings.'
20. Dredging Foreshores.--During the past year 48,200 cubic yards of material have been removed from the harbour at a cost of $8,075.39 including the cost of ordinary maintenance of the dredger. Exceptional expenditure has, however, been incurred on repairs to the machinery and hull of the dredger amounting to $884.87.
The annual contract for the removal of material dredged was let to Messrs. CHAN A TONG & Co. 21. Miscellaneous Works.-Several minor works have been carried out the more important of which are:-the construction of a Block House at Samsuipo, Contract No. 1, by TSANG A SIN; the construction of a fire-proof room for the use of the Supreme Court and Land Office; the con- struction of a gravel Tennis Court at Government House, and the erection of twelve Post Office Pillar Boxes in the City and Hill Districts.
22. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in Victoria.-The Roads and Streets have been maintained in as satisfactory a condition as the extensive works of sewerage and water supply carried out by this Department and the works carried out by the Telegraph and Gas Companies during the past year would admit.
23. Garden Road has been concreted, Praya East, Bonham Road, Caine Road and Queen's Road Central have been macadamized, and Bullock and Cross Lanes, Wanchai, have been formed, channelled and kerbed.
Granite paving has been laid at some of the more important street crossings in the City.
24. The Bridges have been maintained in a satisfactory state of repair without involving any exceptional expenditure.
25. A new approach road has been constructed to Kennedy Town Police Station, Contract Tz, by Mr. Foo SIK.
26. The annual contract for repairs to Roads and Bridges in the City was let to Mr. CHING LAI KEE. 27. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges out of Victoria.-Plantation and Mount Gough Roads in the Peak District have been concreted, the road from Aberdeen to Stanley thoroughly repaired, and the portion as far as Little Hongkong macadamized.
28. General repairs have been carried out on most of the Roads and Bridges in the outlying districts.
29. The Bridges at Deep Water Bay and Tsin-shui-wan mentioned in my last report have been reconstructed of iron and concrete, as have also the Bridges on the Little Hongkong New Road and the one at Wong-nei-chung which was damaged by the rain-storm of 1889.
30. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in Kowloon.-These have been maintained in an efficient state of repair without involving any exceptional expenditure,
31. Maintenance of Water Works The whole of the works enumerated in my annual report dated the 13th of January, 1892, under the heading Existing Works together with those new works described therein as complete liave been maintained in a satisfactory condition without any exceptional expenditure.