1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
125
115
Road round the island. The heavy gales of wind during the summer caused considerable damages on portions of the coast-road and causeway from Sukumpu to Allrich Bay, to the eastward, and near the town of Aberdeen, to the westward. The wooden bridges have suffered also from natural causes, decay and white ants; and more particularly from robberies, of which I have annually been obliged to complain. I am sorry that I have myself been unable to make a personal inspection of the whole line, as I have been unable to mount a horse for some months; but the Chinese overseer has reported that although in several places some slips of embankments and cuttings have occurred, the general state of the surface throughout has not been injured very much since my last report, and is in tolerable order, except in the steep parts, the same effects being produced by the excessive rains, as before described as having taken place upon the streets in the city, and of course year after year they will become worse, and more expensive to repair, if it should ever be found necessary to do so, which I must admit I am sorry to say, His Excellency has been unable to effect, even in the slightest degree, since his arrival here, from the want of funds; this has also naturally caused the cessation of other proposed new works and improvements in several parts of the city, and which I alluded to last year. The planting of trees, amongst the number, I much regret, has not been effected, as they serve in so prominent a manner to improve the appearance and healthiness of the colony. The total expenditure on account of roads amounted to 5031. 5s. 3d.
Buildings. --- Aberdeen Police Station:
A small payment was made on account of this building, for stores supplied by the Ordnance Department, amounting to 31. 18s. 7d, under report and estimate No.6, of 1846.
An expenditure of 581. 10s. was made under report and estimate, No. 4, of 1847 for the better ventilation and improvement of the gaols, consequent upon their occupation by a larger number of men than for which it was contemplated when built. Upon the site of the church a small expenditure, amounting to 41. 17s., was made under report and estimate, No. 5, of 1846, in cutting and removing sundry rocks, and to close the account for that service. A lodge at the cemetery was built for the use of the grave-diggers, and cost 467. 17s. 4d.
The expenditure upon the church itself amounted to 1,2461. 6s. 4d; the greater portion of which was for the cast-iron window-frames and eaves-gutters, ordered from England.
The contingent works to buildings under sundry requisitions consisted in the removal of the old Treasury vault, erection of two flagstaves, one at Government House, the other at Government offices, the protection of the Albany Godowns, bamboo blinds for Government offices. Six brick pillars, with Ionic capitals, were placed in the hall of the Supreme Court, for the support of the floor above, which had begun to show symptoms of sagging. Some alterations and additions were made to the magistracy, amounting to 60l. 2s. 6d., to render it more available for the increased duties carried on therein in consequence of the establishment of petit sessions, &c.; the whole of the above services amounting to 3947. 18s. 7d.
Repairs to the public buildings under my charge were effected upon a bungalow intended for servants, &c., the guard-room at Government House, the kitchens at the gaol, post-office out-buildings, police stations at Sukunpu and Stanley, the Government store-rooms, Government offices, bungalow, Hospital-hill, harbour-master's office, Aberdeen police station, three police stations in Victoria, the magistracy gaol, towers, and post-office, the details of which being given in the Blue Book return, I shall merely state the whole amounted to 1401. 0s. 4d. In addition to the above, the sum of 211. 2s. 5d. was paid on account of the storm repairs of 1848, Report and Estimate, No. 3 of 1848.
Marine Works. -- Construction.
An extension of 59 feet to the pier at the harbour-master's wharf was effected this year, for an expenditure of 1547. 8s. 9d. Some repairs to the other piers in the city were also rendered necessary, but have not yet been paid for; they were estimated at 167. 13s. 8d.
Repairs to bridges have only amounted to 31. 19s. 1d., but to the wooden bridges in the valley, I think it extremely desirable that either stone or brick arches should be made thereto (plans of which I have prepared), as I much regret to find both beams and platforms are becoming injured by the weather and dry-rot, decaying in several places. Experience has shown, that when once such defects appear in woodwork so exposed in this climate, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to prevent the spread of the disease, or depend upon the stability of the several parts of the structure.
A stone bridge it is also highly desirable should be placed over the stream in Causeway Bay; the banks being tolerably high, a one-arch elliptic bridge of 30 feet span would carry off the water, and, with a roadway of 20 feet, would be all the public require at present. In widening this road I have much cause to regret that the wooden bridges thereon, four in number, were also added to and repaired under directions of the clerk of works acting for me during my absence. I so frequently alluded to the necessity of dispensing with all wooden bridges, wherever it was practicable, of which he was aware, that such a construction should not have been advised. The road was partly formed by subscription of the inhabitants of the city, and it being much wanted by them for their summer drive, was the cause of the erection in wood instead of stone, which would have occupied a longer period, and thus the road could not have been opened so soon, or the public derive so much benefit as they did during the season. There is another road I have frequently alluded to, which would be of great advantage, and a great boon to the public if constructed, viz., that from the Albany Godowns to the Wong-neichung Valley, to avoid the gap. This, with the roads already constructed, would make a most agreeable and healthful drive during the excessive heat of the summer here.