334
28. Governor's Peak Residence.-The plans for this building, which promises to be the largest and handsomest building at the Peak, were prepared by Messrs. PALMER & TURNER. The site and approach roads had been formed under special votes at a cost of $5,575.46. A contract for the building was let to Mr. SANG LEE for $97,715.69 and fair progress was made with the work during the year. The kitchens and servants' quarters were nearing completion when the typhoon of 10th November occurred, and, as the masonry of the walls was unset and the roof only partly framed, considerable damage was done. The stone foundations of the main building were well advanced before the close of the year, and the woodwork of the doors and windows was in course of preparation,
29. Pokfulam Conduit Road. This new road was carried as far as Inland Lot 1,549 during the year at a cost of $9,684.73. The amount of premium from sale of sites for houses on the road has already reached $48,050, with an annual income from Crown Rent of $1,991 besides the rates and Similar results have followed the opening of all new roads in the Colony. Plans and Esti- mates are ready for the completion as far as a junction with Robinson Road.
taxes.
30. Harlech Road.--The road from the upper Tram Station to High West, which has been thus named, was commenced (owing to an arrangement kindly suggested and carried out by His Excellency Major-General GASCOIGNE) by working parties of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The earth cutting and removal of boulders was completed for three-quarters-of-a-mile by the soldiers, at a total cost of $990.61. Owing to the extravagant demands by Chinese contractors, the rock blasting and masonry works have not been commenced. It is now decided that this road should be taken over and completed by the Military Authorities, to give access to sites for batteries on High West and sites for buildings beyond and to the North of the saddle.
31. Gaol Extension.-A new wing containing 78 separate cells was completed during the year, but could not be used owing to the non-arrival from England of the special Gaol locks ordered. They have since been received, The upper yard was surfaced with concrete and covered in. The total expenditure under this heading in the year was $16,959.06.
32. Quarters for Gaol Staff-These quarters should have been completed in the year and avail- able for use from the 1st January, but owing to the dilatoriness of the contractor were unfinished. The brickwork is completed and the roofs are being fixed. The total expenditure in the year was $20,855.93.
33. Swine Depôt, Kennedy Town. This work which was commenced in the previous year was completed in February, the total cost being $9,115.38. It is a handsome and well built structure. Further accommodation is already required.
34. Police Station, Saikung.-Plans and Estimates were prepared and a contract let for the erec- tion of a Police Station at Saikung. Owing to much sickness among the workmen, probably due to their own careless manner of living rather than the unhealthiness of the site, there has been delay in the progress of the work, but the masonry was well advanced towards completion before the end of
the year.
35. Police Station at Shataukok.-Plans and Estimates were prepared, and a contract let for this work situated on a commanding site near the head of Starling Inlet, close to the Northern boundary of the New Territory. This work was completed and the station occupied before the end of the year, It is hoped that the Police stationed in the New Territory will enjoy better health when housed in these comfortable and well built permanent stations.
36. Taipo Road. This important trunk road, leading through the heart of the New Territory, and eventually to be carried on to Samchun on the Northern boundary, is described in paragraph 41 of the Annual Report for 1899. Early in 1900 the road was completed to the 9th mile from Kowloon Ferry Pier, a point a little beyond Tai-Wai village. Here the first stream of any importance, one drain- ing the Southern and Eastern slopes of the Tai-mo-shan range, has to be crossed. After an examination of the river and flood marks, and consulting the oldest inhabitants" of Taiwai, the decision to leave 90 feet of waterway and to make the platform of the bridge 16 feet above the bed of the stream was arrived at. One span of 90 feet would have been provided for but for the difficulties of transport of heavy iron work, and, as good stone was fairly plentiful in the vicinity, it was decided to build two piers in the river's bed, and have three spans of 30 feet clear, bridged by rolled steel joists and a con- crete platform. The foundations for both abutments and piers were formed of cement concrete in mass, resting on hard gravel 6 feet below the river-bed. The masonry was completed in 1900, and the iron work shipped from London early in December. The contractor who had constructed the road to the 9th mile, was so exorbitant in his demands for the next section that no terms could be made with him, and after much delay a new contractor was found, but the progress during the year fell fur short of that made in 1899, and of what was hoped for. The 10th and 11th miles are perfectly level, and for the most part run ou embankments close along the seashore, the slope on the sea side being pitched with stone laid in mortar and jointed in cement. Two more bridges occur in this section, one of 30 feet span and one of 10 feet span. In both cases cement concrete in mass was used for foundations, sand extending to a great depth below the surface. After reaching the large village of Fo-tan, it was decided to carry the road on a causeway direct across the bay a distance of 1,740 feet, rather than hug the coastline and so make a long detour. This proved a somewhat difficult