198
51. The total number of gas lamps in the city, exclusive of 15 in the Cantonment, is 643, and the number of electric lights 75. The number of gas lamps at Kowloon Point and Yaumati is 84.
52. Maintenance of Public Recreation Ground.—The Recreation Ground in Happy Valley has been maintained in a satisfactory condition at a small cost.
An iron railing has been erected along a portion of the western boundary replacing the dilapidated wooden one.
53. Maintenance of Kowloon Water-works.As the pumping machinery was not completed before the month of December, no expenditure under this heading of account appears during the year.
LAND SURVEY BRANCH.
I
54. During the past year, 16 land sales have taken place, the area sold being 134,734 square feet, the premium realized $125,344.50, and the annual Crown rent $1,160.
55. Extensions to 9 existing lots of a total area of 83,904 square feet have been granted, the premium realized $4,434.24, and the annual Crown rent $560.52,
56. By special agreement the owners have entered upon the reclamations in front of the following
Marine Lots :-
No. 2,
No. 7,
Section.
Lot Number.
Arca.
Crown Rent.
square feet.
106
11,436
210
94
17,147
314
98
21,239
390
92 Sec. A.
6,794
124
92 Sec. J.
2,260
42
92 Sec. K.
2,260
42
92 Sec. L.
2,341
42
91 Sec. N.
2,421
44
91 Sec. M.
4,695
86
91 Sec. A.
3,344
62
90 Sec. P.
1,658
30
90 Sec. R.
2,501
46
90 Sec. S.
2,488
46
90 Sec. U.
2,555
46
90 Sec. 1. 104
2,728
50
34,727
638
120,594
2,212
57. Surveys have been made and boundaries corrected of 37 lots. Plans and particulars have heen forwarded to the Land Office for the issue of 78 new leases.
58. Boundary stones have been fixed to define 31 lots.
59. Surveys have been made and plans prepared of the villages of Tsat Tsz Mui and Shui Tsing Wan.
60. Squatter's Licences.--As will be seen from the annexed return 1,510 licences have been issued during the year to persons holding land under this form of tenure.
The fees paid amount to $5,263.56.
Forty-four licences have been cancelled owing to the property being vacated by the occupiers. 61. Though I regret to have to report that much of the time of the Land Bailiff is taken up by attendance at the Police Court in proceeding against persons who obstinately refuse to pay the fees due until an order has been obtained from the Magistrate, it is satisfactory to be able to report that at the close of last year every holder of property had paid the fees for the current year and that all arrears to date had been collected or written off on account of leases having been issued or the property vacated, so that the year 1896 commences without any outstanding arrears in respect of such fees.
62. Every endeavour has been made during the year to collect all arrears, many of which unfor- tunately had been long outstanding.
The subject has been fully dealt with in C.S.O.'s 2632 and 2877.
63. Work under the Building Ordinance.-During the past year 14 plans for the erection of 98 European dwellings, 49 plans for the erection of 392 Chinese dwellings, besides 260 plans for mis- cellaneous structures, have been deposited under section 69, Ordinance 15 of 1889.
64. Certificates for 128 houses have been issued under section 53, Ordinance 15 of 1889, and permission has been granted to erect 37 verandahs and 17 piers over Crown land.
65. Notices have been issued to remove or repair dangerous structures in 20 instances, and 1,448 miscellaneous notices and permits have been issued.
66. Permits have been issued for the erection and repair of 54 monuments and enclosures in the Colonial cemetery, the fees for which amount to $169.