186
67. Post Office, &c.-As mentioned in last year's Report, competitive designs for this building were invited from Architects in the Colony and in Shanghai and Singapore, on the condition that the author of the design considered first in order of merit would be engaged as Consulting Architect for the work and paid a commission of 33 per cent. on the actual cost of it and that a premium of $1,500 would be paid for the design considered second in order of merit. The limit of cost specified for the building, which was to consist of 3 stories and a basement, was $500,000. Only three designs were received, two from local firms and one from a firm in Shanghai. In accordance with the terms of the competition, these were referred to the Public Works Committee which, after careful scrutiny, awarded the first premium to Messrs. DENISON, RAM & GIBBS and the second to Messrs. PALMER & Turner. On the recom- mendation of the Committee, it was decided to increase the height of the building to 4 stories with a view to providing accommodation for the future growth of the various Departments to be housed in it. The necessary contract drawings, &c., were prepared on this basis by Messrs. DENISON, RAM & GIBBS and a contract for the construction of the foundations was let to Mr. LIN Woo in November. The site was enclosed and excavation was begun by the end of the year,
68. Bacteriological Institute.-The staff of the Public Works Department being fully occupied with other work and the provision of a proper institute in which to conduct bacteriological investigations being considered pressing, Messrs. LEIGH & ORANGE were commissioned to prepare a design with a view to tenders being called for. The necessary plans and documents were nearly completed at the end of the year. The site selected forms part of the Taipingshan Resumed Area, being situated immediately west of the junction of Caine Lane and Ladder Street.
69. Road from Sam Shui Po to Lai Chi Kok.—It was not found practicable to undertake this work during the year.
70. Road from Kowloon Inland Lot 652, Hunghom, to Sixth Street, Yau- mati.-This road will afford a much needed communication between the important villages of Hunghom and Yaumati. It crosses the swampy ground immediately to the north of Gun Club Hill and will intersect the area which it is intended, when negotiations with the War Department reach such a stage as to admit of it. to lay out as the King's Park. After traversing some rising ground, the road bifurcates, one portion communicating with Sixth Street, Yaumati, and the other with an extension of Robinson Road which it is proposed to construct north- wards past the Yaumati Theatre. With a view to future developments, the road is being laid out with a width of 100 feet.
A contract for the work was let in August and substantial progress had been made at the close of the year, about 55,000 cubic yards of material having been excavated where the road passes through cutting and deposited to form the necessary embankment across the low-lying ground. In connection with the work, a large nullah, with concrete invert and masonry side-walls is being con- structed along the north side of the road to carry off the storm-water from the adjacent hills. The nullah has a width of 10 feet in its lower and 5 feet in its upper length, the depth throughout being 5 feet. Some 500 feet of it were practically completed.
71. Public Bath-Houses, Pound Lane, Taipingshan.-This work comprises a bath-house for men, another for women and a caretaker's quarters, each a separate building. A contract for the work was let in August and good progress was made, the buildings being roofed in by the close of the year.
72. Resumption of Insanitary Property.-The small scheme of resumption referred to in paragraph 60 of last year's Report was completed. The scheme is part of one which was recommended by the Sanitary Experts (Messrs. CHADWICK and SIMPSON) and owed its origin to a fire which destroyed or injured a consider. able number of houses in the neighbourhood of Ladder Street. The part carried out comprised the resumption of 4 houses entirely and small portions of 2 others and provided for an extension of Lower Lascar Row from Ladder Street to U Hing Lane. Two of the houses had been entirely destroyed by the fire referred to, whilst two others had suffered considerable damage from it. The cost of the resumptions was $36,500, of which $14,000 was expended in 1902. A further sum of $480 was spent in pulling down two of the houses and in obtaining valuations.