1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 235
The causeway at Sukunpu has been strengthened, and the inner slope grassed; these works, with the exception of one of the bridges, the concrete backing of which partially failed, have also remained in good order, and required no repairs since their completion in April last, and the pathway round the bay required no repairs up to December last.
The causeway, I think, may be rendered more secure by the erection of sluice-gates at each of the bridges; for during heavy weather, or in a north-east gale, particularly at the most northern bridge, the rush of water on the rise and fall of the tide is so great that the sand is loosened and frequently carried away, notwithstanding the means I have tried to prevent it, by piling above and below, and filling in the space with stone; thus the foundation is insufficient to sustain the weight of the embankment adjoining the abutment, and the surface of roadway sinks in consequence. I intend, therefore, to make an examination of the same for the above object, and submit an estimate for the consideration of his Excellency the Governor. I must here remark that this work has remained for a period of eight months without any repairs being called for.
The repairs upon the Queen's and other roads during the year have only amounted to the sum of £3421. 15s. 2d., and including a sum of £581. 10s. expended on the Gap road, a distance of 400 yards, has only cost at the rate of 2d. per yard, which may be considered a very small sum indeed for surface repairs, where the roads are so much steeper than in England, and where no metalling is used. The sundry repairs to bridges have amounted to £247 6s. 11d.
Buildings.
The three police stations authorized under Report and Estimate No. 8, of 1844, and commenced in October of the same year, were only finished in January of last year; the contractor for this service, although he had a very good price for it, and 1,316.66 dollars beyond the estimate, was a most unsatisfactory workman, and tried every means he could devise to disguise his bad work, and as these buildings were situated at a considerable distance from each other, and having no permanent overseer upon them, he had much in his power, but whenever a discovery of bad work was made it was pulled down; this he invariably objected to, and stopped the workmen; again the workmen were not paid, and so much delay occurring, the contract was completed at day work by the department, and the contractor fined in the amount of 3,900 dollars.
The Registry and Post-offices, together with the fittings for them, were also completed during the past year.
Upon the works at the gaol under Report and Estimate No. 5, of 1845, the expenditure has amounted to £2,2871. These works have occupied a longer period in their construction than was originally supposed necessary, in consequence of certain additional services detailed in Report and Estimate No. 8, of 1846.
The contractors for these works were Chinamen, and in general showed a desire to give satisfaction, and although the expense of bringing fresh-water sand up the hill was very great, there is not an instance where the workmen have mixed the lime used in the construction of mortar with the red mud usually employed as a substitute for the sand; thus the execution of the brick-work has been as sound and perfect as it has been possible to make with the materials.
The police station near the Military Hospital (Report and Estimate No. 4, of 1846) was commenced at the latter end of the year, and is making very satisfactory progress, and the police station at Aberdeen, commenced about the same period, is also being proceeded with at present slowly, but the workmanship is very good.
The cost of repairs and other contingencies to public buildings have amounted to the sum of £817. 13s. 2d. during the past year; this is exclusive of the sum of £1157. 5s. 4d., which was paid for certain additions and repairs to the Bungalow, at present occupied by his honour the Chief Justice.
All the public buildings at present under my charge are in a tolerable state of repair, with the exception of the offices occupied by the treasurer, auditor, and myself, and I fear that they will not hold together another wet season, or certainly not until the new offices are completed. The timbers of the roof are in some places much decayed, and the verandah so much so that I think it must be taken down immediately to prevent any accident.
The guard-houses and police stations occasionally require repairs to doors and windows, as the occupants are in general careless, and do not sufficiently secure them during the strong winds that sometimes prevail here, and for the more perfect keeping in repair of these buildings in future a careful examination will be made once a month, and any necessary work be executed without delay.
1
Marine Works.
Three landing-piers were constructed under Report and Estimate No. 10, of 1845, and the contractor executed them in a very satisfactory manner. They are very useful to the community, but a constant deposit of silt occurring in that vicinity, will soon render it necessary to prolong them, or at least for this season clear that material away to enable boats to come closer.
At the Harbour Master's Pier the deposit has been greater than at the three others; this I propose to remove by the convicts, if possible, and place the material upon the roads they are forming in the vicinity.
Convict Labour.”
I have now to allude to the work executed by the convicts. At the latter end of the year
85