Aldrich, Commanding Royal Engineers, for his opinion, and that officer has generally reported favorably of them, and has in some instances recommended alterations in the construction, which have been invariably adopted, though some increase of expenditure was an inevitable consequence.
On Special Service Report for the new Chinese Location at Tai-ping-shan, Major Aldrich reports favorably, approving the work and outlay.
On Estimates No. 2 and 5 with plans and Specification No. 2 for the residences of the Assistant Police Magistrate at Chek-chu (alias "Stanley") for use as Police Station there, and for one in Victoria, Major Aldrich reports favorably, approving the work and outlay generally, but recommending the Cells to be built of brick, instead of stone, for sanitary reasons, which was however overruled, because the Chief Magistrate of Police in China did not consider Cells built of soft bricks sufficiently secure. Major Aldrich also added Instructions for drawing up Reports and Estimates for Public Works generally, the Land Office never having been furnished with any Instructions for the performance of their duties.
On Report and Estimate No. 3 for the construction of a Harbour Master's Wharf and landing Pier, Major Aldrich recommended the building of Coopers' supports and Crosswalls in addition to the proposed plan of the Land Office, which was accordingly executed, at an increased cost of £47.17.2.
The first plan proposed by the Land Office for the construction of Sewers in Victoria, having been submitted to Major Aldrich