228
29. (Item 13.) Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in New Territory.—The Tai Po Road was much cut up between the third and sixth mile-stones by the contractor for the new Water-works. The road was cleared of grass and surface. reformed between the 9th and 11th mile-stones, all channels were cleared and the 13th mile channelled and surfaced and more drain pipes put in, which will, it is hoped, prevent the surface being again washed away.
With the assistance of the officials at Tai-po, arrangements were made with the Villagers in the New Territory to construct 5-foot roads under the super- vision of the Department. This has worked well and economically, the result being there were 2 good roads approaching construction at the end of the year- 1 from Tai-po to Sheung Shui, a length of about 5 miles, and a second from Tai-po to Shun Wan, a length of 3 miles, and there are others proposed.
30. (Item 21.) Forming and Kerbing Streets.-The following are the principal items of expenditure under this vote:-
City.
Lowering Arsenal Street, (part payment), Path between Macdonnell and Bowen Roads, Surfacing road West of Shek Tong Tsui Market,
.$1,121.38
500.00
315.27
Kowloon.
Extending Robinson Road, (part payment),
8,014.18
Setting back Kowloon Inland Lot 630, (part pay-
ment).
6.000.00
Forming Sixth Street, (part payment),
6,487.07
Forming Roads East of Robinson Road. (part pay-
ment),
3,305.12
Forming Fuk Sing Lane,
1,732.30
Hongkong other than City.
Improving path between Barker and Plantation
Roads....
964.58
389.7+
Widening Shaukiwan Road near Quarry Bay Dam,...
A great improvement was effected at the junction of Arsenal Street and Queen's Road by the lowering of the summit by nearly 2 fect, but it was a tedious job owing to the very hard rock encountered and the number of pipes, &c., which had to be altered or re-laid.
The expenditure in Kowloon was entirely in furtherance of the Scheme of main thoroughfares (100 feet in width) designed for the development of that Peninsula. (See Paras. 2 and 78).
Lighting.
31. (Item 16.) Gas Lighting, City-The total number of gas lamps in use at the end of the year was 941, exclusive of 15 in the Military Cantonment the lighting of which is borne in equal shares by the Government and the Military Authorities, an increase of 26. Some trouble was experienced on account of the insufficient supply of gas which was attributed by the Gas Company to the deposit of naphthalin in the pipes.
32. (Item 17.) Electric Lighting, City.—No alteration has been made in the number of lamps which remains at 75.
33. (Item 18.) Gas Lighting, Kowloon.—The total number of gas lamps in Kowloon is 202, being an increase of one for the year.
34. (Item 22.) Extension of Gas Lighting.- Irrespective of lamps erected in private lanes and streets, the cost of which was defrayed by the owners of the adjacent property, 26 new lamps were erected in the City, 3 at the Peak and 1 in Kowloon.
Recreation Grounds.
35. (Item 19.) Maintenance of Public Recreation Grounds.-Portions of Wongneichong and Queen's Recreation Grounds were re-turfed and hollows filled in. The sensitive plant was rooted up and the grass cut where required, the ditches were cleaned out and kept free.
Drainage Works.
36. (Item 14.) Maintenance of Sewers, Nullahs, &c.—During the year the Sewers and nullahs have been cleansed and maintained in a satisfactory condition.