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Blocks sliding off the pile into deep water. The solid ground of the Sea bottom at this spot is about 82 feet below the coping of the New Sea Wall; there being at low water spring tides about 40 feet of water and 30 feet of mud, consequently the taking up of the weighting Blocks was a long and difficult work. This work was done departmentally, the whole of the Divers, Plant, Pontoon Crane &c. were employed in raising the Blocks and stacking them on the foundations of Sea Wall, Section No. 4, for weighting purposes. In repairing and making good the defective foundations 3,581 cubic yards of rubble stone were used, the upper surface and slopes were relevelled and trimmed by the Divers and the whole re-weighted. Six hundred and eight (608) eight foot Blocks containing 58,368 cubic feet and weighing about 3.502 tons were used for that purpose; the whole being placed in position on the 21st November. The Divers, Coolies. Plant, Pontoon Crane &c. were employed 63 working days and 128 hours overtime in raising the weighting Blocks, re-levelling and trimming the foundations and in replacing the weighting Blocks in position on the new foundations where they will have to remain for five or six weeks before they can be removed to allow of the Concrete Blocks being perma- nently laid.
126. Pottinger Street Pirr.-The 2nd, 3rd and 4th courses of Concrete Blocks containing 13,122 cubic feet of Cement Concrete and Granite Ashlar facing have been set, the joints and joggles run in Cement, the hearting containing 332 cubic yards of rubble stone hand packed and 287 cubic yards of sand filling to interstices has been brought up level with the upper surface of the fourth course of Concrete Blocks and the whole weighted and consolidated ready (as soon as the tides serve) to receive the Ashlar Masonry &c. for the completion of the upper portions of the Pier above the Concrete Blocks. For weighting and consolidating the foundations of this Pier 392 eight foot Blocks containing 37,632 cubic feet and weighing about 2,258 Tons were used. The whole has been executed depart- mentally.
127. Pedders Street, Western Pier and Return Wall.-The upper surface of the Rubble Stone foundations (4,265 superficial feet) has been levelled and formed, and a layer of Cement Concrete (2,576 superficial feet) 4" thick laid, forming a bed for the first course of Concrete Blocks. Portions of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd courses of concrete Blocks containing 13,311 cubic feet have been set and the joints and joggles run in cement. A portion of the hearting containing 271 cubic yards of rubble stone band packed and 242 cubic yards of sand filling to interstices has been brought up level with the upper surface of the third course of Concrete Blocks ready to receive the weighting blocks. The whole has been executed departmentally.
128. Murray Road Pier.-The upper surface of the Rubble Stone foundations (4,083 superficial feet) has been levelled formed and covered with Cement Concrete 4" thick (3,208 superficial feet) forming a bed for the first course of Concrete Blocks. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th courses of Concrete Blocks containing 18,938 cubic feet have been set, the joints and joggles rnn in Cement, the hearting containing 330 cubic yards of rubble stone hand packed and 137 cubic yards of sand filling to interstices has been brought up level with the upper side of the third course of Concrete Block; and the whole weighted and consolidated ready for the completion of the superstructure as soon as the tides serve.
For weighting and consolidating the foundations of this Pier 431 eight foot Blocks containing 41,406 cubic feet and weighing about 2,484 tons were used for that purpose. The whole has been executed departmentally.
MAKING AND SETTING CONCRETE BLOCKS.
129. Contract No. 24,-Made with YAU KUNG CHEUNG on the 24th February, 1895, C.S.O. No. 297 of 1895, for the manufacture of 1,000 Concrete Blocks, was in September of the same year ex- tended for the manufacture of 1,500 additional Concrete Blocks, and in October, 1896, C.S.O. No. 2388 of 1896, it was again extended for the manufacture of 800 additional Concrete Blocks. During 1896, 1,106 Blocks containing 4,709 cubic yards of Cement Concrete and 19,227 cubic feet of Granite Ashlar facing of the external blocks were made by YAU KUNG CHEUNG. The work under this Contract and extensions has been curried on in a satisfactory and workmanlike manner.
1893.
130. Setting Concrete Blocks.-This work has been done departmentally, C.S.O. No. . The larger portion of the Blocks for the Sea Wall, viz., 353, containing 1592 cubic yards of Cement Con- crete and 6,212 cubic feet Granite Ashlar facing to the external Blocks, were set during the low tides of May, June, July and August (without Divers).
The Blocks for the Reconstruction of Government Piers, viz., 349, containing 1,345 cubic yards of Cement Concrete and 8,858 cubic feet Granite Ashlar facing of the external Blocks were set and the joints and joggles run with Cement by the Divers.
131. Plant. The whole of the Plant has been maintained in a good state of repair without in- volving any extraordinary expenditure.
132. In Appendix 0, will be found a general statement of the several quantities of work executed in the more important items to the 31st December, 1895, and during the year under review.
133. In Appendix P, will be found a statement of the quantities of materials used in the manu facture of the Concrete Blocks, and the cubical contents of the Blocks set to the 31st December, 1895, and during the year under review.
134. In Appendix Q, will be found a statement of accounts to the 31st December, 1896.