1913

31

Hongkong.

58. Maintenance of Chinese Cemeteries.-The work carried out under this heading has already been alluded to in paragraph 43 of this Report.

59. Maintenance of Public Recreation Grounds.--The various grounds were maintained in good order, those upon which any considerable sum was expended being the following:

Queen's Fencing-in areas, $844.00 Wongneichong-Labour in trimming, 457.00

60. Dredging Foreshores.—The grab dredger was employed at the following places and removed the quantities of material stated during the year:--

Causeway Bay, 27,974 cubic yards. Praya East (in front of Blue Buildings), 923 "" Eastern Street sewer outlet, 524 "" Total, 29,421 "

17

The vessel was slipped and painted at a cost of $200. The woodwork of the cabin, which was found to be badly damaged by white ants, was renewed at a cost of $314.

The vessel was hired to Messrs. Leigh & Orange for a period of 7 days to perform some dredging opposite Marine Lot 65, Praya East. The sum of $210 was received for the hire of the vessel.

61. Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages. The principal damage occurred in places exposed to the action of the sea, the roadways along the City front and at Aberdeen suffering most severely. At the latter place, the Praya wall was destroyed and the roadway entirely washed away over a considerable length. A considerable amount of damage was done to Blake Pier by a lighter which escaped from its moorings and pounded against the pier, breaking some of the landing steps, &c. The pier opposite the Harbour Office, which is a structure of a somewhat temporary kind, was practically destroyed. The reclamation for the market at Sai Wan Ho, which was protected in a temporary manner only, was extensively damaged and the pitched slope at the Gunpowder Depôt, Green Island, also suffered considerably. In comparison with these, the damage done in the case of buildings, lamps, telephones, etc., was comparatively slight, though, in the aggregate, it amounted to a considerable sum.

62. Town Clock.-As the tower containing the clock, which formerly stood at the junction of Pedders Street with Queen's Road, formed a serious obstruction to traffic, it was decided that it