295
New Regulations were prepared under the Ordinance, in which the price of filtered water was fixed at 50 cents per thousand gallons, as against 25 cents hitherto charged.
PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.
42. New Law Courts.-The foundations, including the basement for the heat- ing chamber, were in progress during the year and were nearly completed at its close. The total number of piles driven was 1,447. It was found necessary to make some alterations in the basement in order to accommodate the heating appa- ratus properly and these involved some delay in the work. Considerable delay was also caused by the discovery of unsatisfactory material in a portion of the founda- tions, necessitating its being taken up and replaced with good material. The work was proceeded with in a very dilatory manner during the latter part of the year. Tenders for the superstructure were received in December.
43. Governor's Peak Residence.-The buildings were completed in July and occupied by His Excellency the Governor on his return to the Colony in September. Sundry small alterations were subsequently made, which were practically completed by the end of the year.
The main building contains the following accommodation on the ground floor:
Dining room, drawing room, billiard room, boudoir, Governor's office, office for Private Secretary and Aide-de-Camp and waiting room; and on the upper floor:- 4 large bed-rooms, two of which have dressing-rooms attached, and three smaller bed-rooms, besides bath-rooms. The hall and principal staircase occupy a large amount of space on both floors, being lighted by means of a large skylight. Wide enclosed verandahs are carried round three sides of the building.
In a wing attached to the main building are the kitchen, larder, pantry, a man- servant's room and a drying-room on the ground floor and a school-room, drying- room and maid's room on the upper floor. An enclosed verandah is provided
round two sides.
A short distance from the main building and connected with it by a covered way, are the servants' quarters containing 3 boys' rooms, 2 amahs' rooms, a cooks' room and accommodation for 16 coolies, besides cook-houses, &c.
Separate quar- ters are provided for the gardeners and there is also a shelter for chairs. Entrance gates and a small gate-lodge have been erected at the entrance to the grounds.
In the main building, all floors of verandahs and bath-rooms are constructed of iron beams and concrete and laid with encaustic tiles; the floors of the kitchen, pantry, &c. on the ground floor being similarly laid, but supported on the solid ground. All other floors are of teak-wood. The main staircase is constructed entirely of teak with carved screen at foot and massive main balusters.
The principal rooms on ground floor, the hall and staircase have panelled wooden dadoes and the kitchen, larder and all bathrooms have dadoes of white glazed tiles.
All the ceilings and cornices are of wood, except in the case of the verandahs, &c. where they are formed by the underside of the concrete floors already mentioned. The ceilings of the principal rooms on the ground floor are suitably panelled.
The main roof is covered with double pan and roll tiling, whilst the roof of verandahs and of towers at angles of building are of cement concrete.
Hot and cold water are laid on to all bath-rooms and the lighting of the build- ing is by gas; electric light not being available at the Peak. A lightning conductor has been fixed on each of the four towers.
Storm-water is carried off in open channels, as far as practicable, and a system of drains is provided for waste water and connected with the Peak main drain.
The approach road and some of the principal pathways about the grounds have been concreted, whilst a number of the old paths have been improved or new paths made round the adjacent hills.
The buildings were erected under the supervision of the Public Works Depart- ment from designs supplied by Messrs. PALMER & TURNER, Architects.
44. No. 7 Police Station.-This work was completed in September when the Police entered into occupation of the buildings. These occupy the site of the old Station, at the junction of Pokfulam and Queen's Roads, being arranged round the