708
Item (xxiii.) After a considerable amount of negotiation, the road to the Westward of Westbourne Villas, which had hitherto been a private road, was handed over to Government and, as it was in bad repair, it was resurfaced with concrete.
64. Communications between the Harbour Office and Signalling Stations.-Radical alterations were made in the arrangements for signalling the approach of vessels, which in- volved very extensive alterations and additions to the telegraph and telephone lines in use for this purpose. Formerly, Gap Rock and Waglan Lighthouses and the Peak Signal Station were in communication with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Co.'s office, which was in turn connected with the Harbour Office and the Observatory, whilst Green Island Signal Station was connected with the Harbour Office. This arrangement has been altered by establishing a telegraph and telephone office in the New Harbour Office and concentrating all lines there, the only line which is now connected with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Co.'s office being that from the Observatory. The reason for retaining it is that weather reports are received by cable from the various meteorological stations in Manila, Shanghai and elsewhere and it is important that these should be transmitted to the Observatory in the most direct manner possible. The following places are now in direct communication with the Harbour Office :-
(1.) Gap Rock Lighthouse
(ii.) Waglan Lighthouse
(i.) Cape Collinson Lighthouse (iv.) Green Island Lighthouse
(v.) Peak Signal Station
(vi.) Observatory
(vii.) Naval Yard
(telegraph). ..(do. ).
.( do. ).
).
..( do.
do. ). (do. ( do. ). ...(telephone).
Of the above, items (iii.), (vi.) and (vii.) are entirely new lines, the remainder being old lines which were extended or altered to bring the places mentioned into direct communica- tion with the Harbour Office. The Signal Station and Gunpowder Depôt on Green Island are served by branch lines from the Lighthouse there.
In addition to the foregoing, telephone lines were constructed placing the Naval Yard in direct communication with the Signal Stations at the Peak and at Cape D'Aguilar, which by arrangement with the Naval Authorities, are now manned by expert naval signalmen.
Gullies Re-construction.This work was continued, the principal areas dealt with being the Central and Western Districts of the City and Kowloon. During the year. 106 gullies with single gratings and 45 with double gratings were constructed, or a total of 196 gratings, bringing the totals dealt with up to the close of the year to 454 gullies with single and 540 with double gratings.
65. Training Nullahs.-The following is a statement of the works executed under this heading :-
Length trained. Lineal feet.
827
150
226
..
781
(1.) Happy Valley-main nullah on West side of Racecourse (ii.) Magazine Gap-small nullah near Military Sanitarium... (iii.) Tai Hang-nullahs adjoining Lin Fa Kung Temple ..... (iv.) Wanchai--nullahs near the Electric Light Works (Inland
Lot 1,210)
(v.) Extension of Conduit Road-Eastern Section-nullahs
in vicinity of building sites...........
893
Item (i.) consisted of an extension of the training work formerly executed in connection with this nullah. The section dealt with extends from the South end of the Grand Stand Enclosure to the bridge at the South end of the Racecourse. The invert is of cement con- crete, 3" thick, on a foundation of lime concrete, 12" thick, and the side walls are of rubble masonry built in lime mortar and pointed in cement. The nullah has a depth of 9 feet and average width of 7 feet.