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The work was commenced on the 16th May and the following works, viz. :--12,930 superficial feet of rubble stone foundations levelled, formed to shape and concreted (bed for concrete blocks) and 1,182 cubic yards of rubble stone hand-packed backing of concrete blocks, The work was carried on with despatch and completed in a satisfactory manner within the Contract time.
Departmental Work, done by Divers, "pontoon crane," &c., viz. :-7,560 superficial feet of rubble stone foundations levelled, formed and concreted forming base of landing steps, laid 6 feet below datum, two courses of concrete blocks containing 5,750 cubic feet and weighing about 369 tons set below datum and 498 cubic yards of rubble stone hand-packed backing of the concrete blocks, and the foundations of sea and landing steps weighted on a length of 493 feet, 175,139 cubic feet of concrete blocks weighing 10,946 tons being used for that purpose.
Sections Nos. 6 and 7, between Pottinger Street and Ice House Street, being the Eastern portion of the former on a length (sea wall) of 719 feet and the Western portion of the latter on a length (sea wall) of 283 feet; and the area of the reclaimed land (assignable to the Crown Lessees) of the Eastern portion is 97,013 square feet and of the Western portion 79,910 square feet.
Contract No. 43, made with CHAN YING CHEONG on the 8th May. For the construction of the upper portion of the sea wall, landing piers and landing steps (above the concrete blocks) completing the storm water drains, filling in and reclaiming the land, forming and levelling the roads and footpaths, constructing side channels, concreting and macadamizing roads, footpaths, &c., the work to be com- pleted on or before the 7th May, 1898. During the year under review 54,918 cubic yards of earth have been filled in the reclamation, 2,822 cubic yards rubble stone hand-packed in embankment, backing of sea wall, &c., 684 cubic yards cement concrete and 186 cubic yards lime concrete laid in backing of sea wall and storm water drains and hearting of landing piers, 24,110 cubic feet granite ashlar in cement in sea wall, landing pier, and storm water drains, and 20,300 cubic feet granite ashlar in old sea wall taken down, cleaned and re-used in new sea wall.
Departmental work done by divers, pontoon crane, block barges, &c. on these sections, viz., 1,498 superficial feet of foundations of sea wall levelled, formed and concreted, 360 lineal feet concrete blocks (single course) set containing 12,420 cubic feet and weighing about 776 tons, 256 lineal feet of foundations of sea wall weighted with concrete blocks containing 91,062 cubic feet and weighing about 5,691 tons and the rubble stone foundation of storm water drain in Pedder Street weighted on a length of 60 feet with concrete blocks containing 7,663 cubic feet and weighing about 479 tons, also 41 cubic yards rubble stone hand-packed backing to first course, base of landing steps.
Earth filling in reclamations. -Contract No. 40 made with YAU KUNG CHEUNG on the 1st October, 1896, (Confidential C.S.O. No. 73 of 1896) for excavating and depositing in hopper barges 80,000 cubic yards of earth, of which 63,993 cubic yards have been supplied this year, the whole being completed on the 24th June
Contract No. 45 made with CHAN WAN and CHAN LOONG on the 1st July, (Confidential C.S.O. No. 73 of 1897) for excavating and depositing in the hopper barges 70,000 cubic yards of earth, of which 48,460 cubic yards have been supplied this year, also 21,295 cubic yards of earth from Government works (Taipingshan Improvements), 73,254 cubic yards materials raised by the Govern- ment Dredger, 12,466 cubic yards of earth and spoil from other sources and 54,918 cubic yards under Contract No. 43 have been deposited in the reclamations, viz., 52,051 cubic yards in Section No. 3, 11,319 cubic yards in Section No. 4, 202,749 cubic yards in Section No. 5, and 60,318 cubic yards in portions of Sections Nos. 6 and 7, making the total quantity of earth and spoil deposited in these reclamations during the year ending 31st December, 1897, 326,437 cubic yards.
Supply of Portland Cement.- Contracts Nos. 42 and 46 were made with the Green Island Cement Co. (Confidential C.S.O. No. 5 of 1897 and Confidential C.S.O. No. 41 of 1897 respectively) for supply- ing 6,000 casks of cement.
Cement supplied by this Company during the year was 5,300 casks. On the 11th November, 1897, a Contract No. 12 P.W.D. (Confidential C.S.O. No. 57 of 1897) was also made with the Green Island Cement Co. for supplying 535 tons of Portland cement in bags of 250 tbs. each, first delivery of 800 bags to be made on the 1st February, 1898.
Reconstruction of Government Piers.-Murray Road Pier. Contract No. 41 inade with CHAN CHEONG on the 5th January, 1897 (Confidential C.S.O. No. 99 of 1896) for the construction in granite ashlar masonry the upper portion of the pier above the concrete blocks. The work was carried on in a fairly satisfactory manner and the whole completed and opened to traffic on the 16th September. During the year under review 9,118 cubic granite ashlar in cement have been set, 63 cubic yards cement concrete, and 628 cubic yards lime concrete have been laid in hearting of Pier, No. 4 ring- bolts and 5 cast iron boltards have been fixed, also 3 lamp posts with lanterns fixed and the gas laid on complete.
Departmental work done by divers, pontoon crane and block barges, to the lower portion of this pier, viz., No. 4 closing blocks of different sizes containing 405 cubic feet have been set and 38 cubic