500
been destroyed. The cost of making good has been estimated at about $11,000. The peasants are, however, repairing the damage themselves in the way in which they are accustomed to meet such disasters.
Damage to Govern-ment Buildings and Public Works.
Gov 40624 Paragraphs 23 to 30.
In my previous despatch I estimated the total damage done to Government Buildings and Public Works by the storm of September 18th at $69,000 for which aggregate sum votes of $20,000 and $49,000 were taken at meetings of the Legislative Council held on the 27th ultimo and 11th instant and reported in my Des-patches Nos. 239 and 252 dated the 6th and 15th instant respectively. I further stated that the above aggregate would have to be increased on account of damage done by subsequent rain-storms and typhoons and suggested $100,000 as the total amount of the special Public Works Department Votes that would have to be taken in all. Subsequent re-ports show that I was unfortunately below the mark the further estimates presented by the Director of Public Works for repairs to existing works and works in progress being as follows:-
I. Existing Works. Buildings.