699
work of the breakwater which protects the Boat Shelter at Causeway Bay was disturbed to a considerable extent. With few exceptions, the necessary repairs and restorations had been completed at the close of the year. The timber portion of the Kowloon City Pier was however in such a decayed condition that, in view of the fact that it has been decided to replace it with a reinforced concrete structure, no repairs were undertaken. The old imber pier at Stonecutters Island, formerly used in connection with the Gunpowder Depôt there, was handed over to the Military Authorities and, by arrangement with the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co., the Praya Wall in front of their premises at Kowloon Point was taken over by them. A pier at Cheung Chau Island which was destroyed was not renewed.
The following is a statement of the principal items of expenditure in the shape of ordinary repairs; all repairs resulting from the typhoons being charged to a special vote:
Praya East Sea Wall...........
Arsenal Street Wharf and Sea Wall
Kennedy Town Pier.....
Lai Chi Kok Pier
Queen's Statue Pier
Murray (Temporary) Pier
Blake Pier....
$557
523
505
455
383
383
202
38. Maintenance of Public Cemetery.-The provision of more burial space for general use having become necessary, a scheme for forming three new terraces was undertaken and the work was nearly completed at the end of the year. Permits to the number of 59 were issued for the erection and repair of monuments.
39. Maintenance of Public Recreation Grounds.-The Wongneichong and Queen's Recreation Grounds were maintained in good order, portions of both being re-turfed. The latter was treated with a ton of artificial manure, which improved the growth of the turf considerably.
-40. Dredging Foreshores-The total quantity of material dredged during the year amounted to 23,062 cubic yards, of which 5,861 cubic yards were dredged from the dust- boat stations at the expense of the Scavenging Contractor whilst 6,758 cubic yards were removed in forming a channel for the escape of water from the nullah adjoining the Paper Mills at Aberdeen. The latter work was undertaken in connection with complaints received as to the offensive condition of the neighbourhood in question on account of the foul liquid discharged from the Paper Mills.
The dredger was docked for cleaning and painting in the month of March, the expend- iture incurred being $297. Fortunately, the vessel was at work in a sheltered position at Aberdeen on the morning of the 18th September and so escaped damage from the typhoon.
41. Maintenance of City and Hill District Waterworks.-The year opened with the Rider Mains in operation over a considerable section of the City and intermittent supply in force in the district lying East of Arsenal Street in which the rider mains had not then been laid. Up to the 3rd February, the supply was turned on in the Rider Main Districts for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, but, on the date mentioned, it was found necessary to restrict it to one hour in the morning only and, on the 15th March, it was found advisable to resort to general intermittent supply to the whole of the City and Hill District. Owing to the occurrence of a considerable rainfall early in April, it was found possible to revert to constant supply on the 19th of that month, except in the Rider Main Districts. Constant supply to the whole City was only begun on the 18th September and was discontinued again on 1st November, when the Rider Mains were once more brought into operation. Universally constant supply was thus in force for 14 days; universally intermittent supply for 35 days and partially intermittent supply for 286 days.
For a period of about a month, commencing about the middle of March, water-boats were stationed at a few points in the Central and Western Districts from which a supply of water was distributed free to the public. The total quantity so distributed was 964,990 gallons, the cost amounting to $4,630 or $4.80 per 1,000 gallons. As the charge for water supplied by meters from the City Waterworks in only $0.50 per 1,000 gallons, it will be seen that recourse to a supply from water-boats is a very costly expedient.