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Several of the foregoing projects are very important and, though entered in the Estimates for 1896, I regret that the Government have been unable at present to approve of any expenditure being incurred in connection with some of them.
136. During the year, sites in the villages situated in the Kowloon Peninsula have been allotted, as approved in C.S.O., for the erection of pig sties. The residents readily availed themselves of these, and a marked improvement in the sanitation of these villages has resulted.
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137. The insanitary settlement known as the Coffee Plantation has been removed, C.S.O. 138. A portion of the reclamation north of Tai Hang Village has been laid out in building lots granted subject to special conditions to squatters of some years' standing, who are desirous of improv- ing their dwellings, C.S.O. 1993.
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139. Information concerning the occupation of Crown land in British Kowloon has been collected, tabulated and forwarded to the Secretary of the Squatters' Board, together with the plans of the villages.
140. Arrangements were made in July last for the carrying out of works in connection with the , drainage of private premises by this department on receipt of a requisition signed by the owners of
the property, C.S.O. 19.
An enlarged plan of the City of Victoria to a scale of 60 feet to one inch shewing all the private lanes and drainage works recently executed is nearly completed.
141. Stores. Early in the year, a complete stock-taking was made of all the stores in charge of the Department, and a new inventory amalgamating those previously in charge of the Public Works Department and the Water and Drainage Department has been made.
142. Expenditure --The expenditure on account of Establishment and Annually Recurrent Works will be found in detail in Appendix E, and that on account of Extraordinary Public Works in Appen- dix F.
143. A general statement of expenditure and clerical work (other than that of a purely depart- mental nature) will be found in Appendix J, from which it will be seen, especially as regards references from the Colonial Secretary, that a material increase in the correspondence has taken place.
PRAYA RECLAMATION WORKS,
144. Section No. 1, Eastern portion. On the 21st February, 1892, Contract No. 18 was signed with TSANG KENG for the completion of the upper portion of the sea wall above the concrete blocks, constructing storm water drains, filling and reclaiming the land, forming, channelling, concreting roads, footpaths, &c. During the year 1895, 1,770 cubic yards of rubble stone have been laid in embankment and backing of sea wall, 70,662 cubic yards of earth deposited in reclamation, 1.249 cubic yards of cement concrete laid in backing of sea wall, and 684 cubic yards of lime concrete laid in backing of storm water drains, 33,525 cubic feet of granite ashlar set in Portland cement mortar in sea wall and storm water drain, 4,177 cubic feet of old wall (parapets of nullah) taken down and rebuilt, 1,100 lineal feet of stoneware pipe drains 9" and 12" in diameter laid, 166,500 square feet of roads and footpaths formed and 1,541 lineal feet of curbs and channels laid.
The work under this contract has been carried on in a dilatory manner. The contractor being 72 days over the contract time and there is still a large quantity of work to be done.
145. Section No. 2.-Contract No. 13 was made with TSANG KENG on the 14th July, 1892, for the construction of the upper portion of the sea wall, above the concrete blocks, storm water drains, filling in and reclaiming the land, forming and concreting the roads, footpaths, &c. The work under this contract was suspended on the 23rd February, 1895, with a view to laying the sewerage pipe, gas and water mains and to allow building operations to be commenced on Marine Lots 93 and 94, permission to do so having been granted to the Crown Lessees, C.S.O. 14, and the work cannot be resumed until the buildings now being erected on the reclaimed land are completed. The work executed during the months of January and February was 1,724 cubic yards of earth filled in reclamation, 3,457 square feet of curb and side channels laid.
146. Section No. 3.--Work done departmentally, C.S.O. 29
1893. A portion of the rubble stone foundations of sea wall on a length of 142 feet was levelled and the upper surface on a width of 14 feet covered with a layer of cement concrete 4 inches thick to form a bed for the first course of blocks, and a portion of the rubble stone foundations of sea wall on a length of 189 feet was loaded with concrete blocks, weighing about 22 tons per lineal foot of foundations,
During the low tides of May, June, July, August and September, 142 lineal feet of first course of concrete blocks, and 906 lineal feet of second course, containing together 37,700 cubic feet of concrete and granite ashlar, were set and the beds and joints run solid and flush in Portland cement, 170 cubic yards of rubble stone backing of first course of blocks were built by the divers and the outer slope of the rubble stone foundations on a length of 200 feet was shaped and trimmed by them.
147. Contract No. 23 was made with TSANG KENG on the 4th March, 1895, for the completion of the upper portion of the sea wall above the concrete blocks, constructing storm water drains, reclaiming the land, forming, channelling, concreting the roads, footpaths, &c. The work under