October 5, 1909.]
ago he called for a report showing exactly how the plague staff was employed at the present time, and when he was furnished with it he would lay it on the table.
Hon. Sir PAUL CHATER-That will be satisfactory, sir.
The vote was approved.
THE RENTING OF" BEACONSFIELD." Under the heading Miscellaneous Services " there appeared the item, Rent for Government Offices ("Basconsfield ||), $7,800.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked on what terms "Beaconsfield” had biện takın?
The CHAIRMAN-Three years, Hou, Mr. POLLOoxasked if it was expected that the Sanitary Department would be able to move into the new building then?
The CHAIRMAN answered in the affirmative. They had taken "Baco sfield" for three years with the option of renewal for another year, and they hoped before the expiration of that period to be in the new building above the Post Office.
The vote was passed.
GUNPOWDER DEPOT on green ISLAND, For the provision of a gunpowder depot on Green Island a vote of $15,00♬ appeared in the Estimates.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK said he understood that the depot was going to be removed from Stone- cutters' to Green Island to make way for the Convict Prison.
The CHAIRMAN-That is the intention Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Has it been decided ? The CHAIRMAN—Yes.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK remarked that $15,000 seemed a small amount to expend ont of the total estimated cost of $107,00). How many years was it supposed to take to effect the transfer from Stonecutters' to Green Island?
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS said it was estimated that that amount would be sufficient for what was required to be done next year. Until the preliminaries had been got through in the way of getting the contracts fixei pro- gress would be slow and the work would consist of excavation and reclamation operations, 80 that possibly that amount would be sufficient.
The CHAIRMAN further stated that it was the intention of the Government to put the prison there. As the hon. memper would ses from the report that had been pat on the table the matter Lad been under the consideration of the Public Works Committee.
Vote passed.
THE NEW | LAW=COURTS,
$60,000 was the sum proposed to be voted in respect of the new Law Courts.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked when the Courts were likely to be finished ?,
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied that the present contract was a three-years" one and did not include the internal finishings. He should say that the buildings would take four Jears to build. The principal factor in causing the building operations to occupy such a long time was the very large amount of stone work. The building was faced with stone externally from top to bottom.
The vote was approved
WANCHAI MARKET EXTENSION,
There appeared in the Estimates a vote of $2,000 for the Wanojai Market extension work, out of a total of $7,000 estimated cost.
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Hon Mr. POLLook asked why it had taken so long to expand this money. The estimated cost was $7,000 and the estimated expend iture for this year was $3,000, and for 1904 $2,000 Apparently they were going to take three years to carry out this little extension costing only $7,000.||
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The DIRECTOR of PUBLIO WORKS said that was not quite so. A contract for the work had been let for asum which was much less than the estimate of $ 7.00). The work would be finished about Christmas this year, but though it was finished the whole amount due to the contractor could not be paid till next year, because he had to maintain the place for certain period after it had been finished, and a balance must be kept in hand until the period of maintenance expired.
Vote passed.
WESTERN MARKET.
On the proposed rote of $20,000 in respect of the Western Market,
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Hon Mr. POLLOCK asked when the market as likely to be completed ?
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS said he thought it would take about two years or sightsen months. There had already been expanded some $10,000 on the foundations for the market..
Vote passed.
TH NEW POST OFFIOR,
A vote of $40,000 for the new Post Office was proposed in the Estimates.
Hon. Mr. POLL OK asked when the Post Office was likely to be completed ?
The DIRETOR of PUBLIC WORKS replied that lenders had besa called for for the foundations, and the foundations would occupy twelve months. After that the remainder of the work would occupy from two and a half to three years
Vote passed.
THE PRISON ON STONECUTTERS',
In respect of the proposed new Convict Prison on Stonecutters, a vo e of $20,000 was propose
In reply to Hon. Mr. PULLOCK, The DIRECTOR OF UB I WORKS stated that the estimated cost of the work was $236,0,0 and the accommodation was for 218 prisoners.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI said he thought the prison scheins was under consideration by the Public Works Committee. Suppose the Committee were against the scheme would this money not be spent, even although it was voted there?
The CHAIRMAN stated that they would have to build another prisou somewhere. If it was not built on Stoneonttars' the money would have to be spent in building it somewhere else.
Hoa. Dr. Ho Kai suggested that if the Committee were against the scheme the money would not be spent, for he understood it was a recognised thing that no public work was under- taken without the approval of the Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER—No.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK said it seemed a pity that the votes should have to come on before the Committee had dealt with the matter. Supposing Government decided not to build the prison on Stonecutters' then the gunpower depot would not be removed, he presumed,
The COLONIAL ÅRE ‹SURER-Then you save moosy,
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK repeated that it was B pity that the Committee could not report before these matters were brought before the Finance Committee.
Th› CHAIRMAN remarked that the gunpowder depot had to be reconstructed in any cas. Objections had been raised to it already on account of its insecurity against shell fire. The gunpowder depot really did not depend upon the prison on Stonecutters'. These matters were referred to the Public Works Committee some time ago, and they had to secure a good deal of information before they could report. But that really did not affect these items.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI explained that the reason he raised the question was that they might be committing themselves, by voting that money, to the prison on Stonecutters'.
The CHAIRMAN—Certainly not; it is just put in to identify it.
The vote was agreed to.
SCHOOL AT YAUMATI.
There appeared in the Estimates an item School at "Yaumati; estimated cost, $21,500; estimated expenditure next year, $15,000.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked what school, this
was p
The CHAIRMAN stated that when Mr. Ho Tang presented the Kowloon School to Govern- ment and agreed to make it a school for European children only insteid a mixed school as he originally intended, the Government promised to provide a school for Chinese children at Yaumati. This was the school.
The vote was passed.
RECONSTRUCTION OF GULLIES.
320,000 was proposed to be voted for recon- stration of gullies.
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Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked if that would complete the reconstruction of gullies?
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORK said he thought the work would be completed well within the estimates. Possibly that sam might be found sufficient to complete the work.
Vote agreed to.
NEW TERRITORY SURVEY.
Referring to a proposed vote of 86,000 in respect of the New Territory survey.
Hon. Sir PAUL CHATER asked what was the scale of the maps?
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS. that the scale of the small map was one inch to the mile. Another map was being prepared with a scale of two inches. For the cadastral maps, 18 inches, 82 inches and in some casses 64 inches to the mile were used.
The vote was agreed to.
PRATA EAST RECLAMATION. In respect of the Pe ya East Reclama tion a vote of $10,000 was proposed.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked why the work wis not being proceeded with P
The CHAIRMAN stated that it was owing to the great deal of trouble they had had in fixing the boundaries of the various departments interested,
Vote approved.
COMPENSATION.
Under the heading "Public Health and | Buildings Ordinance, I of 1803," it was proposed
to vole 86,000 for compensation,
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Hon. Mr. STEWART asked what this was paid for?
The CHAIRMAN said it was paid in casses for instance, where they took away part of a house to form a back lane, or where a man lost a storey. This was a low estimate. As time went on and more houses came down they would have to pay a great deal more.
Hon. Mr. STEWART-How is the compensa. tion arrived at P
The CHAIRMAN-There is a Board of Arbitration. It is all in the Ordinance.
The vote was passed.
Under the same heading there was an item of $350,000 for insanitary property resumptions.
Hon. Mr. Stewart wanted to know if this was the same as the previous vūte.
The CHAIRMAN intimated that it was a different thing altogether. In this work they had been carrying out the recommendations of Frofessor Simpson.
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS added that in the event of private negotiations falling through with the owner, the Crown Land Resumption Ordinance provided for a reference to arbitrators, so that where negotiations failed recourse could still be had to this clause.
Hon. Mr. Stewart asked how the amount to be paid as compensation was arrived at. If it was calculated on the rent, the owner might make a very good thing out of overcrowded property.
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The CHAIRMAN replied that there were special measures made for the valuation of insanitary property; if property was insanitary osrtain deductions were made.
The vote was agreed to.
THE NEW RIFLE RANGES.
There was in the Estimates an item proposing to devote $ 4,000 for the construction of butts at the new rifle range at Kowloon, $5,00) for the diversion of roads, and $20,000 for the resumption of private property.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK desired some information on this itsin.
The Chairman replied that the vote referred to the oɔnstruction of new rifle ranges behind Kowloon City to replace the rifle ranges on what was going to be the King's Park. They had to provide rifles ranges in substitutio 1 for those that are now situated on the site of the King's Park. As soon as the now butts were con. structed the Park would be thrown open to the public. The diversion of the road was in con- nection with the same scheme.
Vote carried.
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KOWLOON WATERWORKS.. For te Kowloon Wateɩworks Gravitation Scheme it was proposed to devote $250,000,
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK seked when the scheme. was likely to be completed?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS thong it it would be completed in about a couple of years from now. A great deal of work in connection with the schema was already in hand.
Vote agreed to.
THE TYTANIUK SCHEME.. $100,000 was proposed to be voted of the Tytamluk Scheme.
Hon. Mr.. POLLOCK asked when this was likely to be completed ?
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS to give any definite date, He hop progress would be made with m oh o next year, but. it was impossible at to give positively any date as tɔ when probably be completed.
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