289
became choked and prevented the water escaping into the storm-water drains. Por- tions of some of the roads in the higher levels were blocked or carried away by landslips caused by the rains.
25. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges outside City.-These roads also suffered from the heavy rainstorms, there being several landslips which caused considerable damage and inconvenience. Otherwise, they were maintained generally in good condition.
26. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in Kowloon.-The use of granite macadam is being extended to the principal roads with beneficial results, but there still remains much of this to be done. The great amount of work being done in levelling some sites and reclaiming others, necessitating the conveyance of large quantities of earth along the roads, and the laying of the new water main and removal of the old one in Station Street North rendered it almost impossible to maintain some of the roads in a satisfactory condition. Station Street South was improved by cutting away part of the hill between Austin Road and the Gas Works, whilst the embankment, which carries Station Street North across the mud-flat North of Mongkoktsui, was raised.
27. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in New Territory. The laying and removal of the water mains mentioned in the preceding paragraph and the transport of stone to the site of the new Kowloon Reservoir prevented the Taipo Road being kept in good order between the third and fifth milestones. The remainder of the road, so far as it had been completed, was maintained in a fair state of repair.
28. Maintenance of Sewers.-There is nothing of importance to record under this heading, except that the heavy rainstorms and the landslips which they pro- duced caused a great deal of extra work in clearing the nullahs, etc.
This was especially the case in the lower part of Albany Nullah, where it crosses the Naval Yard, the point of discharge being much obstructed by past accumulations of detritus. With the diversion and extension of this portion of the nullah in con- nection with the Naval Yard Extension, this will in future be obviated.
29. Gas Lighting, City. The total number of gas lamps in use at the end of the year was 887, an increase of 42 during the twelve months. This increase is principally accounted for by the lighting of private lanes and streets referred to in last year's report. The number given is exclusive of 15 lamps within the Military Cantonment, the lighting of which is borne in equal shares by the Government and the Military Authorities.
30. Electric Lighting, City.-No alteration has been made in the number of electric lamps, which remains at 75.
31. Gas Lighting, Kowloon.—The total number of lamps was increased from 168 at the end of 1901 to 186 at the end of 1902. This increase was due to exten- sions of the built-over areas, principally in or near Yaumati.
32. Maintenance of Public Recreation Grounds.In consequence of the flood- ing of Happy Valley during heavy rainstorms, a pipe drain, 18 inches diameter, was laid from the ditch at the North end of the Race Course to the nullah skirting the new portion of the ground. Portions of the Queen's Recreation Ground were filled in and re-turfed.
33. Maintenance of Clock Tower.-There is nothing special to record under this heading.
34. Forming and Kerbing Streets.-A large amount of work was done under this heading, the following being some of the principal items:-
Kowloon,
Lowering Station Street South, near its junction with Austin Road, and forming Eighth and Bowring
Streets,
$10,873
Raising Station Street North, beyond Mongkoktsui,.
4,663
Improving West Bund, Tsim Sha Tsui,
3,110
Filling in roads, &c. adjoining Kowloon Marine Lot 43, Completing road South of Naval Yard,
2,835
915