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The weighting of these foundations cannot, however, be proceeded with until the weighting of the foundations of sea wall Section No. 1 is completed. The present staff and plant being fully occupied on that Section.
The filling and reclaiming the land below low water, which is being done Departmentally by Hopper Barges and spoil from Dredger is now nearly completed to Datum level, 182,147 cubic yards of earth and mud having been deposited in this Section.
4. SECTION NO. 7 EASTERN PORTION.-Contract No. 10 of 1891.-Completion of the upper portion of sea wall and Reclamation on a length of 1,130 feet. The works under this Contract were suspended for nearly nine months from the beginning of February to the end of October, to allow the sewer pipes, water and gas mains to be laid (the two former by the Public Works Department and the latter by the Gas Company) and the ground to settle and consolidate during the heavy rains of summer, before constructing the side channels, forming and concreting the roads and footpaths, fixing gullies, etc., etc. These works were again resumed at the end of October when the roads, footpaths, etc. were formed and trimmed to the required shapes and levels, 2,200 cubic yards of lime concrete foundations of Praya Road laid, 5,600 lineal feet granite curbs set, 3,500 lineal feet of granite side channels 3 feet wide laid, and No. 50 gullies and gratings with outlet drains, etc. fixed complete.
The temporary timber wharf opposite Ice House Street, Contract No. 15 of November 1892.- The work under this Contract was only commenced in October of this year, the timber required in its construction having been lost in the wreck of the Penshaw on a voyage from Manila to Hongkong on the 21st February 1893, and a fresh supply had to be ordered by the Contractor, and which arrived here from Manila in September last. The construction of the wharf was commenced in October, and has since been carried on by the Contractor in a somewhat dilatory manner.
The whole of the fifty piles required in the construction of the wharf have been prepared ready for driving, but nineteen only have been fixed, therefore at the present rate of progress it will not, fear, be completed before the end of April or beginning of May 1894.
5. LEVELLING AND WEIGHTING RUBBLE STONE FOUNDATIONS OF SEA WALL AND SETTING CONCRETE BLOCKS.-The levelling and weighting of the sea wall Section No. 2 were commenced in September 1891, and continued to the end of December 1892 (15 months), the work being done Departmentally by Divers, during which time 636 lineal feet were levelled and weighted, at a cost of $9,870, the averaged rate of progress being 42.4 lineal feet per month and the cost $15.52 per lineal foot of foundations.
On completion of the weighting of the foundations the upper surface was re-levelled to the required heights and shape and covered with a layer of cement concrete 4 inches deep, on which the Concrete Blocks were set. The setting of the first course of Concrete Blocks was commenced on the 22nd January 1893, and continued to the 14th May (113 days), the work being done Departmentally by Divers, during which time an averaged length of 493 feet of foundations was re-levelled, concreted and the first course of Concrete Blocks set thereon, at a cost of $3,234 (exclusive of cost of plant). The averaged rate of progress being 4.36 lineal feet per day and the cost $6.55 per running foot of foundations. The whole of these works being carried out as originally proposed and as directed by the late Mr. BROWN, Surveyor General. But the system and mode of executing the work being slow and costly, it was deemed advisable in the interests of the Lot Holders to change that system, and adopt a more expeditious, and less costly, method than the one inaugurated by him; it was therefore decided to level and concrete the upper surface of the rubble stone foundations of the sea wall, and to set thereon the first course of Concrete Blocks during the low tides of May, June, July and August without Divers. This has been successfully done and at a considerable saving of both time and money, as will be seen from the following statement, viz. :-From the 15th May to the 13th August (91 days) 1,650 lineal feet of rubble stone foundations of sea wall Sections Nos. 1 and 3 were levelled and the upper surface concreted by Contract (without Divers) at a cost of $3,080. During the same time 474 lineal feet of rubble stone foundations were levelled and the upper surface concreted Departmentally (partly with and partly without Divers) 2,124 lineal feet of first course of Concrete Blocks and 842 lineal feet of second course of Concrete Blocks were also set Departmentally (without Divers) at a cost of $2,741, making the total cost of levelling and concreting the upper surface of the rubble stone foundations, and setting thereon the first course of Concrete Blocks on a length of 2,124 feet (including the cost of setting the second course of Concrete Blocks on a length of 842 feet) $5,821, at an averaged cost of $2.74 per running foot of foundations, and the progress made at an averaged rate of 23.34 lineal feet per day, as against the cost and progress of the works done Departmentally by Divers, viz. :-Cost $6.55 per lineal foot of foundations, Progress 4.36 lineal feet per day.
To complete the weighting of the rubble stone foundations, Sections Nos. 1 and 3 according to the present method and at the present rate of progress (about 200 lineal feet per month) will require à bout 9 months and will cost about $4.50 per running foot of foundations, as against the progress 42.40 lineal feet per month, and the cost $15.52 per lineal foot of foundations when done by Divers as originally proposed.