April 21, 1990.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
275
THE PUBLIC WORKS REPORT FOR | paragraph runs-The comparatively small ex- | staging, and making rough masonry stren
1899.
The annual report of the Director of Public Works is published in the Gazette. We make the following brief extracts :-
WORK UNDER THE BUILDING ORDINANCE,
There was great activity in building operations throughout the colony during the year. The new and extensive premises and workshops of the Green Island Cement Company at Hok Un were completed, also the very large buildings of the Hongkong Cotton Spinning, Weaving and Dyeing Compan at Causeway Bay. The Dock Company's premises at Hunghom were largely extended, a large match factory was also built near Hunghom, and numerous large blocks of tenement houses there, and at Yaumati.
The principal building completed in the city was the very handsome block of Offices, now known as Queen's Buildings, on the Reclamation Dear Pedder's Wharf, consisting of four floors and containing sixteen sites of Offices.
The handsome Offices of the United Telegraph Companies next the Hongkong Clab were com- pleted and occupied during the year, also a large block of buildings adjoining it on the East, next to Messrs. Butterfield & Swire's Offices
Building of godowns and of Chinese houses on the new Reclamation has proceedel rapidly. A large number of handsome European houses were completed, or nearly so, in the new district lying between Kennedy Road and Bowen Road, where land was eagerly sought for this purpose. In spite of this the supply is not equal to the demand, and rents continue to rise.
WATER SUPPLY (ME. CROOK'S REPORT), The consumption in the Hill Districts has in: creased considerably sinco mains were first laid at the Teak, and there has also been a steady in crease in the cousumption in the High Levels of the City (pumped supply) since 1895. This has necessitated additional pumping at all the stations, the original pumping machinery laid down for the Peak doing practically full duty during the summer months. In order to meet the demand a new motor, designed for pumping both to the Hill Districts and High Levels of the city, a new and more powerful pump for the Arbuthnot Road motor and the necessary rising mains were ordered from England during the year and will, it is hoped, be working before the summer of 1900,
penditure under, Public Works Extraordinary is due to the fact that orders were given to postpone certain works for a time, and also to the great demand made on the Department by the Works undertaken in the New Territory after it was taken over.]
New Territory. The taking over of the New Territory caused heavy demands to be made on this Department for the erection of buildings of a temporary or permanent nature, the con- struction of Telephone Lines and Roads, repair and alteration of existing buildings, etc. Many designs and estimates were prepared for buildings which were afterwards altered in their arrange. ment or method of construction, entailing the preparation of new plans and estimates, or were abandoned entirely. The difficulties of carrying oat works in the New Territory have been great owing to the absence of facilities for travelling, good roads being non-existent and the rough tracks which serve for roads being often flooded with water in the rainy season. The importance of constructing good trank roads through the principal valleys to aid in the development and administration of the district cannot be too strongly arged upon the Govern-
ment.
In
crossings, since which the road has been largely used. This road may be considered as forming part of a road to be constructed from Glenealy Ravine along the Pokfulam Conduit to the Victoria Battery and thence up to High West, having its upper terminus at the Upper Tram Station. A commencement has been made at the lower end, and it is expected the road from the Tram Station will also be shortly in band. No more valuable road has ever been projected in the colony for opening up new building sites, and it is certain that in a few years the prime cost of the road would be recovered over and over again in the sale of land.-
The Victoria Jubilee Road-The dead look continues and another year has passed without a start being made.
There is no doubt that nothing will tend so much to improve and develop the New Territory more frequently to Hongkong, bringing their as good highways, the inhabitants will come surplus produce for sale, and taking back with them goods which in former times seldom if ever reached the remote villages, as well as know. ledge gained from their own observation of the effects of civilization and progress.
Wheel traffic will follow in due course and cattle will be bred and trained for the purpose. PRAYA RECLAMATION.
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Public Latrines.-A plan and estimate was prepared and tenders were received for an exten- sive latrine in the Taipingshan District. consequence, however, of the opposition raised sion of Pedder's Street, for which on completion The new pier opposite the end of the exten- to the site by the Pó Léang Kuk Directors the work was abandoned. A new site has since beened and will probably be completed in August. a new name should be found, is now being erect- selected, but, as this involved the preparation of a new plan and estimate, the building has not
As stated in the report for 1898, the designs yet been begun.
were prepared by Messrs. Coode, Son and Mat- thews, and the construction in England care- taking a special personal interest in the work. fully supervised by that firm, Mr. Matthews
worthy of the great shipping port of Hongkong. It is of massive design and great strength, and Its cost will exceed £10,000
Tai Hang Stream has for many years been Washing Tanks at Tai Hang.—The bed of the
principal place for carrying out their operations. used by the washermen of the colony as the Rough tanks were formed by removing the stream bed and piling them round the sides, smaller boulders from any suitable spot in the and as these tanks were d tted about on varying levels, it followed that the waste water from the upper ones found its way into the lower ones. which therefore never received a supply of clean water. Besides, a foul sediment accumulated in provision made for drainage. This state of the-botton of the tanks as there was no proper matters has been remedied by constructing a dam across the stream some distance below the Mint Dam and arranging a row of properly- onstructed washing tanks immediately below
it.
PUBLIC WORKS ANNUALLY RECURRENT, Maintenance of Buildings.-The chief item of expenditure iucurred during the year on this
All washing above the dam has been pro- vote was on Government House, which, having has thus been ensured, each tauk being supplied hibited and a supply of clean water to the tanks been very little used for sme years. had fallen direct from the dam, into a serious state of disrepair.
The work, though Many minor of small extent, must be regarded as of some repairs were effected throughout the building, importance to the colony from a sanitary point the total expenditure on it amounting to $9,799, of view. The training of the stream below the Dredging Foreshores.-The dredger was large tanks is a matter which should be underraken ly employed during the year in removing ac- cumulations of city refuse dropped into the prevent the accumulation of Ith which at
in order to convey away the waste water and harbone at the Dust Boat Stations. Tae Sani-sent occurs among the boulders.
pre- tary Board have been addressed on this matter, and in future it is hoped the scavenging con- tractor will be h Id responsible for this and compelled to pay the cos of dredging. When not so employed, the Dredger works in connec- tion with the Praya Reclamation, or is occasion- ally lent on hire for private work, when it can be spared.
MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN VICTORIA,
The roads in the City were maintained in 'fairly good order during the year, The hard blue stone experimented with in 1898 was found to wear so well that as much as could possibly be obtained, through the use of the stone-breaker at Kennedy Town, was dtilized. The old Praya from Ice House Lane to the Canton Wharf was entirely re-surfaced, as well as a great part of Queen's Road West.
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It may be noted that large additions have been made to the mileage of roads in the colony ́owing to the completion of various sections of the Praya Reclamation, the opening up of new building area in Hongkong and in Kowloon, while the role for maintenance has remained at almost the same figure for many years
C WORKS EXTRAORDINARY. Some delay in starting work occurred at the commencement of the year awaiting the sanc- tion of the Secretary of State to the Estimates for the year, and as stated in paragraph 3, several of the proposed works were postponed. [This
ROAD CONSTRUCTION,
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THE COLONIAL VETERINAKY SURGEON'S KEPRI,
The Report of the Colonial Veterinary Sur geon (Mr U. V. Ladds) for the year 1899 has been published. We make a few extracts :-
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE AND RINDERPEST.
I am of opinion that the chief source of infec tion in these ontureaks was due to straw which was brought from infected districts in the Extension. which is favour of dealing with all such epidemics in the. further argar-ent in New Territory.
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PIRACY IN CHINESE WATERS.
Hongkong cattle dealers and butchers through Much loss has been recently sustained by piracies of eattle upon the West and North Rivers. In several instances whole junk-loads of cattle have been seized and carried off by pirates, without any chance of redress to the unfortunate owners, in fact the importation of animals from Linchow, whence many of the best cattle come, has been ⠀ recently stopped a.together for this reason. All this necessarily tends to increased price in the Hongkong markets, and the aacertainty of our supplies from these sources is another strong reason why the development of cattle-breeding in our own territory should be encouraged as much as possible.
THE NEW TERRITORY, There is ample scope in the New Territory for much to be done in the way of promoting the breeding of cattle and
With a little
During the year under review the Depart- ment may claim to have made satisfactory pro- gress with new roads in Hongkong. The ex- tension of Macdonnell Road to a junction with Kennedy Road was taken in hand on an estimate of $7,500 and completed at a cost of $6,992.03. It proved a difficult road to construct owing to the deep cuttings through rather loose material point and the very hard and unworkable rook full of boulders, the heavy embankment at one cutting at the lower end. The number of build- this road and the access thereby afforded to the ment, and under proper and constant super- ing lots sold in consequence of the opening of | encouragement and assistance from the Govern-
and annual Crown Rent secured 3856.00. It infectious or contagious animal diseases, the sites was three, the premium realized $16,617, vision with the view of preventing or mitigating
public works. must therefore be classed among the paying Extension should in a very short time produce sufficient animals, both cattle and swine, to enable instead of being as at present almost entirely the colony to be self-supporting in this respect, dependent upon outside sources, which might bw not to soy minute. The breedin of advantage by private individuals, but this could swine in "a
way might be taken up with not very well be done in the matter of cattle, there being no extensive grasing grounds in the New Territory,
Link" appeared in the estimates, it was decided Although a vote on account of "Black's that the work must be postponed, and only a small expenditure was incurred in keeping the rough path, which was made when the trace was being surveyed, open. It is to be hoped that the construction of a road so strongly urged by General Black will not be much longer delayed. In the report for 1898 reference was made to the projected road from the Upper Tram Station to High West and thence down to Upper Richmond Road. A vote of $1,000 enabled the Department to effect great improvements in this, as a footpath, strengthening the bamboo
at
Once given a start, each small holder could easily and profitably rear one or two bullocks for the hong kong market, and in course of time whole of the beef supply of the colony could so be drawn from the Extension, instead of from