involves no ordinary amount of labour in such a climate where even in winter there are few days in which a European can bear exposure to the sun for any lengthened period with impunity. These duties in detail I am obliged to trust to Chinese.
The Works in progress at the present time are even now more than Mr Prestage can efficiently overlook though he is absolved from all office duties except the preparation of "daily Report". Works about to be commenced in Roads, Streets, Bridges and Drains in Victoria and Suburbs extend from Sookewan to West Point, a distance of 7½ Miles, there works require continuous daily supervision, so that the designs may be faithfully carried out even though they be under contract and executed by the best men procurable, and these are always secure.
We cannot ... The Buildings now in progress comprise the completion of the barracks at Syingpoong (Sham Shui Po), Tharkat (Central Police Station), officers' quarters, Central School, besides some minor buildings, the ordinary current repairs to premises of various kinds and the boathouse at Stone Cutters Island.