293
77. Extension of MacDonnell and Austin Roads, Kowloon, (C.S.O. 1333).—This work has not proceeded very satisfactorily and a good deal of trouble has been experienced with the contractor. It is, however, now drawing near completion.
SUPPLEMENTARY WORKS.
1650
78. Erection of the Queen's Statue, (C.S.O. 4954)-A contract has been entered into for the preparation of the foundations for the erection of the Queen's Statue in commemoration of the Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen VICTORIA, and active operations on the site near the City Hall will shortly be commenced.
3000
79. Extension of Tytam Waterworks, (C.S.O. 1999.)—A contract has been entered into for raising the water level in the Tytam reservoir 10 feet, by which it is hoped that an additional storage capacity of 100,000,000 gallons will be obtained. The work was commenced just before the close of the year, plans being approved by the Public Works Committee 28th November, 1894, and adopted by the Legislative Council 6th December, 1894.
I'ROPOSED WORKS.
80. Kowloon Cattle Depôt, (C.S.O. 3.)-Married Quarters Central Police Station, (C.S.O. 1944.)—Signalling Station Kowloon, (C.S.O. 479.)-Village Water, Drainage and Sewerage Works. The above works appear in the estimates for this year, and it is hoped that the first three will be commenced at an early date.
81. Water and Drainage Works are required in many of the villages, which will include the formation of streets, roads, and efficient drainage. Some of the villages have during recent years grown considerably, and contain buildings of a substantial character. Several improvements during the last two years have been effected in the alignment and position of buildings, and the time has arrived when it is absolutely necessary that more attention should be paid to the formation and drainage of the streets and to the public water supply in these localities for the protection of the health of the residents.
82. Approximate plans and estimates have been prepared for the erection of new Government Offices, and doubtless considering the much needed provision of improved accommodation the Legis- lative Council will at an early date be asked to vote the money necessary to meet the expenditure on these buildings.
GENERAL.
83. During the past year the progress of the public works in hand and the preparation of the necessary plans, &c. for proceeding with others of a more or less urgent nature have been naturally impeded by the prevalence of the bubonic plague.
An account of the terrible ravages made by this disease and the various precautions it will in the future be necessary to take to prevent it again assuming an epidemic form does not come within the scope of this report.
During the months of May, June, and July, nearly the whole of the Public Works staff was more or less engaged in grappling with the difficulties experienced in stamping the disease out, erecting temporary hospitals, &c., and disposing of the remains of the dead.
84. On my return to the Colony last October I found an Ordinance had just been passed resuming : a large portion of Taipingshan. As this Ordinance came almost immediately into force and apparently no definite scheme for arriving at the amount of compensation to be offered by the Government to the owners of property nor for the future disposal of the property resumed had been prepared, these matters obtained my earliest attention and have engaged a large proportion of my time since my return,
85. As the question of compensation is referred to a Board of Arbitrators I abstain from making any remarks on the subject, but I wish to place it on record that I am informed that my locum tenens in the office of Director of Public Works was neither consulted by the Government, at the time the Bill was drafted, on the provisions of the Ordinance nor on the necessity of resuming the whole of the area included within its operation,
86. The special works arising out of the epidemic of bubonic plague carried out under the super- vision of this department were the preparation of plague cemeteries at Happy Valley, Kennedytown and Sandy Bay, Matshed Hospitals at Kennedytown, Temporary Cattle Depot at Kennedytown, Walling in portions of the native quarter of the City since resumed by Government. The services of Mr. CROOK, Executive Engineer, and Mr. DOUGHERTY, Overseer, were placed at the disposal of the Sanitary Board Permanent Committee.
87. The expenditure incurred on work carried out under the supervision of this department is returned in appendix under heading plague expenditure.
88. Expenditure.-The expenditure on account of Establishment and Annually Recurrent Works will be found in Appendix E, and that on account of Extraordinary Public Works in Appendix F.
PRAYA RECLAMATION WORKS.
89. Section No. 1, Eastern portion.-The weighting of the rubble stone foundations was completed on the 16th May. The setting of the second course of concrete blocks was commenced on the 5th May and completed on the 27th September, except two landings (which had to be specially made) for the bottom of the landing steps, and these were completed during the low tides of the 14th and 15th December.