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As I am writing now on ... up steam and run for shelter. Thursday morning, the typhoon is still raging. The wreckage is being piled up on Des Voeux Road along the future station site.
14. I will write in future letter on the lessons to be learnt from the typhoon as to the level which would be safe from the waves.
The drainage scheme also wants to be re-considered as all the road drains got choked by leaves etc. at the gratings and the water flowed over the surface.
At the junctions of Des Voeux Road and such roads as Cameron Road, Granville Avenue, etc. the surface water is about a foot deep. This cannot be allowed to flow over the station yard.
15.
There was great difficulty in keeping the tunnel works going during the last month due to all European Staff getting malarial Fever so badly. At one time at the South Face, all the miners (2 R.E.N.C.O.'s and one other) were off duty with fever and 2 of them in hospital. I got an Italian timberman for the North Side, but he only remained about 4 days and had to go into hospital.
I fear that when the fever season has ended in about a month's time that Shatin Valley will have such a bad name no one will go to it.
16. I am arranging a contract for the supply of coolies for the tunnel, these will be recruited from the returning South African coolies, of whom I hope to be able to get about 1,000. Those not required for the tunnel can go on earthwork.