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Government and on it, after performing the necessary levelling operations includ- ing the construction of retaining walls, the Jubilee Committee erected the build- ings, Messrs. PALMER & TURNER being the Architects. The main building consists of two floors containing two general wards (12 beds each), a children's ward (8 beds) and 4 private wards (1, 2, 4 and 5 beds respectively) a total of 44 beds. There are also 2 Sisters' rooms, an office, entrance hall and staircase, an operating theatre and an isolation ward; the two latter being situated in separate wings connected by covered ways with the rest of the building. A drying-room and the necessary lavatory, scullery and bath-room accommodation are provided. Separated a little way from the main building, but connected with it by a covered way, are the quarters for the staff, consisting of a pair of semi-detached 5-roomed houses, with bath-rooms, kitchens and servants' quarters. The kitchens and ser- vants' quarters connected with the hospital are conveniently arranged in a de- tached wing in the rear of the main buildings. A mortuary is also provided.
The buildings are of red brick, plastered externally and internally, except in the case of the hospital wards which have plastered dadoes 5 feet high, the walls. being cement-pointed above that height. The roofs are of Canton double tiling supported on timber purlins and principals and the verandah floors and floors of lavatories, &c., are of cement concrete supported on iron joists. The wards and rooms have boarded floors of hardwood, those on the upper floor being laid on top of cement concrete arching, supported on steel joists. The entrance hall is laid with encaustic tiles and the main staircase is of teak. All the verandahs are enclosed.
The total expenditure upon the work, including architects' fees, preparing site, &c., was $118,891.05, the Government contribution amounting to $3,342.43. The preparation of the site, &c., cost $7,500 and the superstructure, including the the necessary fittings, $100,994.97, the balance of the expenditure being for architects' fees, supervision, &c.
87. Jubilee Road.-In the case of the Jubilee Road also, the Committee had to apply to Government for a small sum ($524.25) towards defraying the cost. This however was principally due to the construction of a pathway connecting the road from the Peak to Aberdeen with the Jubilee Road, which was undertaken with the approval of the Government in the belief that funds were available. Owing to damage caused to the road itself at a later period by the severe rain-storms of the 27th-28th June, extra expense, which had not heen contemplated, was in- curred, thus necessitating an appeal to the Government for the amount stated above.
The road and pathway having been fully completed were taken over by the Government in November and will in future be maintained out of the revenues of the Colony.
The road commences at Kennedy Town and traverses the southern slopes of Mount Davis and the adjoining hills to Aberdeen, opening out en route a portion of the island which has hitherto been practically inaccessible. It is 5 miles long, has a width of 16 feet and is designed as a carriage road.
Leaving Kennedy Town, it rises for about a mile with gradients of 1 in 20 and 1 in 30 until it attains a height of about 180 feet above sea level; one of the conditions upon which the Military Authorities withdrew their opposition to its construction being that it should be kept 150 feet above the sea. Passing through a small gap adjoining a site acquired by the Military Authorities for gun practice, it falls at I in 30 until it reaches the 150 feet contour, when it is carried level round Sandy Bay to below Bisnee Villa. Another ascent at 1 in 30 is then made to a gap about 250 feet above sea level near Sassoon's Villa, at which point there is a cross road connecting it with the old road from West Point to Aberdeen, which is at a considerably greater altitude. From the gap, it again falls at the same gradient to the 150 feet contour and then runs level through the property of the Missions Etrangères. Crossing the Pokfulam Stream on a bridge of 4 arches, a little further on, it joins the old road to Aberdeen, of which a length of 800 feet has been utilized after improving the gradients. Diverging again at No. 10 Bridge, which has been widened considerably, it falls at 1 in 20 and finally ter- minates in close proximity to the Aberdeen Docks by joining the old road near sea level, the reason for constructing this portion being the excessively steep gradients of the latter below the bridge mentioned. The road is surfaced through- out with decomposed granite.