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EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC WORKS.
28. The Central Market.--This building is approaching completion. Both towers are completed to the level of the third floor window heads. The concreting of the floors is in hand.
29. Slaughter House and Sheep and Pig Depôts.-The buildings on the upper terrace bave been completed with the exception of two floors and a few fittings.
On the intermediate terrace, the buildings are well advanced, requiring little but the roofs and the floors.
Latrines, Coolie Quarters, and Office have been completed upon the lower terrace,
The overseer's house is also completed with the exception of the doors and windows. The water supply (pipes and fittings) has been installed.
30. The buildings upon the upper terrace were placed at the disposal of the Permanent Committee of the Sanitary Board on the 5th June, C.S.O. 1882, for use as a Plague Hospital, and since that date all work upon these buildings has practically been at a standstill.
31. Gaol Extension.-Satisfactory progress has been made with this work. The foundations of Block No. 1 are about half completed. Block No. 2 has been raised to the level of the first floor. Nearly half of the covered way to communicate between the Old and New Gaols is completed.
32. Kowloon New Roads.--This work has been completed.
33. New Water Mains.-The delivery of No. 2 Syphon on the Pokfulam conduit has been increased by the addition of a pipe 10 inches in diameter.
34. Sewerage of Victoria.-The work in the Western and Central Districts has been completed with the exception of the outfalls which will be carried to deep water when the Praya Reclamation works are far enough advanced. The work in the Eastern District is well in hand.
35. Water Supply, Kowloon Peninsula.-This work is progressing rapidly. Three and three- fourths miles of cast iron pipes have been laid. The construction of two wells is now in hand, and the roads leading thereto are for the most part completed.
The distributing reservoirs at Yaumati and Hung Hom have been completed, and a commence- ment has been made with the Clear Water Reservoir situated on the foreshore at Yaumati.
The greater portion of the engines and pumps has arrived from England.
36. Extension, MacDonnell and Austin Roads, Kowloon.-Considerable difficulty has been expe- rienced to get the contractors to prosecute this work in a workmanlike manner. MacDonnell Road is for the most part completed and is available for traffic. Austin Road is in process of formation, and the cutting down of Station Street between Austin Road and the Gas Company's premises is about half completed.
37. Kowloon Cattle Depôt.-This work has not yet been commenced, but, as soon as the scare occasioned by the plague bas passed away, and tradesmen and labourers return to the Colony in any number, I propose to invite tenders for the construction of the buildings.
this
38. Village Water, Drainage and Sewerage Works.-There has practically been no expenditure year under the above heading.
39. Supplementary Works.-The construction of an addition to the Volunteer Head Quarters, in order to provide dressing rooms, lavatories, &c., together with certain alterations to the existing building, authorized in C.S.O. 18, has been completed.
40. Special Work caused by the Outbreak of Bubonic Plague.-Cemeteries for the burial of Chinese victims were opened at Kennedy Town west of the Police Station, and at Sandy Bay. (C.S.O. H) A special cemetery for European victims was made in an isolated position inside the area of the existing Public Cemetery. (C.S.O. 19.)
Two matshed hospitals were erected: one near the Glass Works, and the other on the eastern side of the Kennedy Town Police Station. (C.S.O..)
A temporary depôt for cattle was constructed upon Marine Lot 126, C.S.O., in order that the existing Cattle Depôt might be made available for hospital purposes if necessary.
Brick walls were constructed across certain streets in Tai-ping-shan, in order to wall in the depopulated area. (C.S.O. 1.)
I attach two diagrams showing the progress of the plague from the 11th May to the 30th June, the data was collected from the daily returns published in the local papers; the red line shows the admissions, the black line the deaths, and the brown line the number under treatment each day.
41. Proposed Works.-Plans of a proposed design for increasing the storage capacity of the Tytam Reservoir are under preparation, also plans for an Infectious Diseases Hospital.
STAFF.
42. During the spring and early summer, Mr. CHATHAM, who was appointed Acting Director of Public Works during the absence of Mr. COOPER on leave, suffered much from fever, and, acting upon his doctor's advice, he obtained two weeks' leave of absence, C.S.O., and proceeded to Japan on he 23rd May. I was appointed Acting Director of Public Works during his absence or until furthert notice. Mr. CHATHAM was subsequently granted an extension of three weeks' leave.
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