705
57. Kowloon Mortuary.—A contract for the formation of the site and erection of the necessary buildings was entered into in September and, by the close of the year, the buildings were ready to receive the roof timbers, some of which were in position. The site is in close proximity to the Disinfecting Station at Yaumati.
58. Shelters for Dust Carts.-It was not found possible to carry out this work owing to other more urgent works being undertaken.
59. Railway to Canton.—Survey and Preliminary Work.-Messrs. BRUCE and Valey, having completed the survey and setting out of the line, left the Colony on the 24th February. As mentioned in last year's report, the work of constructing the section between Tai Po and Lo Fu Ferry was undertaken by the Public Works Department on the 9th December, 1905, the intention being that this portion of the railway route should be used as a road until the progress of the remainder of the work required it to be devoted to railway purposes. Work was actively carried on until the 18th May when it was stopped at the request of Mr. G. W. Eves, who had arrived in the Colony on the 24th March to assume charge of the Railway work, and the Public Works Department ceased to have anything further to do with constructional operations. At the time of suspending work, the following was the position of affairs :-
Completed to Formation Level.—13,650 lineal feet (2.58 miles) of embankment.
(0.17 ),, cutting.
900
77
27
Partly executed.-3,000 lincal feet (0.57 mile) of embankment.
400
1
(0.07
"2
>
57
cutting.
In addition to the foregoing, channels of a total length of about half a mile had been excavated for the purpose of diverting streams and obviating the crossing and re-crossing of them by the railway, and sundry minor works had been executed.
60. New Roads in Victoria.-Extension East and West of Conduit Road.-A contract for this work was let in February and, at the close of the year, most of the cuttings and em- bankments had been completed and the necessary retaining walls and abutments and piers of bridges had been built. Much negotiation was necessary to enable the portions East and West of the Peak Road to be constructed on a satisfactory line as the lots occupied by "Clovelly," the Ladies' Recreation Club and "Queen's Gardens were all traversed by the road. Arrangements were ultimately made by which the private road giving access to Queen's Gardens houses and the necessary areas of the other lots mentioned were surrendered to Government. In consequence of the negotiations alluded to, these portions of the road were not proceeded with until late in the year.
39
61. New Roads in Kowloon.-Instead of proceeding with the Extension of Robinson Road Northwards, as specified in the Estimates, it was found advisable to devote a portion of the sum provided for new roads in Kowloon to widening and lowering Des Voeux Road past Blackhead's lot. At this point, Des Vœux Road has been cut out of the solid rock and it was necessary that the improvements to be effected in it should be carried out before any permanent buildings were erected on the adjacent land. The formation of Middle Road, executed in connection with the reclamation of Kowloon Marine Lots 74 & 75, &c., contri- buted also to make the work a necessity so that uniformity of level should exist at its junc- tion with Des Voeux Road.
A contract was let in April and the work, which consisted of the removal of about 14,550 cubic yards of material, nearly all rock, was completed in December. The cost of the work was $27,105 of which $12,400 was paid in 1906.
By the instructions of His Excellency Sir MATTHEW NATHAN, no further work was undertaken under this vote and the only other sums expended besides the above were for the works mentioned in last year's report, viz. :-
Extension of Robinson Road, including lowering summit, &c., ...$4,001.22 Forming roads in vicinity of Disinfecting Station,
1,409.75