1841-1886
217
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
and satisfaction at the progress made by Hong Kong in 1854, and I am glad to be able to state that this progress does not to the present moment show any sign of relapse.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
W. S. MERCER.
The Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Caine, Lieutenant Governor.
SIR,
Surveyor General's Office, Victoria,
March 28, 1855. I HAVE the honour to submit my annual report upon public works in progress during the past year.
Buildings.
Government House, contrary to my expectation, is not yet complete, notwithstanding I have made every possible exertion to expedite the work. The contractor and his securities received notice that the bonds would be enforced if more active progress was not made, but they complained that it was impossible to obtain some materials unless at a most exorbitant rate, and others could not be obtained at all in consequence of the troubles in Canton, and the numerous hordes of pirates which infest the approaches, laying embargoes upon all Chinese vessels passing to and fro; in addition to which the difficulties of the contractor have been added to by the increased wages he has had to pay to labourers of all kinds, and this, coupled with his previous losses, as reported last year, has caused the great delay in the completion of the work. I have great satisfaction, however, in stating that although I have necessarily been obliged to dispense with much ornamental plaster work, as no gypsum has been procurable, the decoration of the building has been satisfactorily performed, and I am in every respect perfectly satisfied with the execution of the work.
The stables, kitchens, offices, and guard house, from the causes above enumerated, have been delayed in a similar manner. At the present date, however, the works have so far advanced that little is now required but painting, so that the whole premises will shortly be fit for occupation. Considerable advances have also been made towards the completion of the grounds and public roads, effected partly under Report and Estimate, No. 11, of 1863, and partly by convict labour, the planting and grassing being executed and charged to Report and Estimate, No. 1, of 1848. With the former of these two services delay has also occurred, as the greater portion of the trees required are necessarily procured out of the colony; fortunately, however, by the kindness of the proprietors I obtained a considerable supply by thinning some of their gardens, and these, although removed in winter and at an unfavourable time, have succeeded remarkably well, and but few have died in the immediate vicinity of the principal building. I have planted a sufficient quantity of trees and shrubs, and nothing now remains but to complete the grassing and planting on the slopes.
It was originally intended to have enclosed these grounds with a post and rail fence, but this was abandoned, and a rough stone wall has been erected instead, affording better protection and of imperishable materials at a cost of £351. 5s. 10d. This wall embraces the whole area attached to the house, with the exception of a length of 140 feet up the slope of the embankment on the west side, and where the erection of a wall is impracticable. To effect the inclosure in that direction I propose to plant a thick hedge of prickly pear and bamboos, which will be quite sufficient protection. This embankment has been formed with considerable difficulty, it being no less than 80 feet in height, and has consequently taken a considerable time to consolidate; it suffered materially during the early part of last year, but having grassed it over and prevented any flow of water thereon, its surface has been preserved from injury, and it is now assuming a green and secure appearance.
The works in laying down branch-pipes to the "main" for the supply of water to Government House has been in progress also, but I fear some extensive supplementary service must be effected to render the supply perfect at all times, for I perceive that there is insufficient water in the dry season (for four months) to keep the pipes from the tank to the barracks always full, and, unless they are so the water is not forced through any of the ascending branches, so, that it is absolutely necessary to adopt measures to remedy this, which must be done by the erection of another tank in some convenient locality, so as to collect the streams, say 80 feet vertical below the present tank, and connect it with the main, with suitable stopcocks to regulate the supply, render the scheme perfect, and; above all, to provide for a large demand in case of fire or other emergencies.
Under authority of Report and Estimate, No. 23, of 1853, two small school-houses for Chinese were erected, one in Hollywood Road, the other in the Wongneichung Valley. The site chosen for the former was on the side of the steep hill, so that one corner of the school had to be supported upon a retaining wall fourteen feet in height, the whole, however, resting upon the natural ground, and as I imagined a secure foundation. However, subsequently to a heavy fall of rain on the 28th May, when no less than nine inches fell, a settlement was observed in the north-west angle of the building, and on the same day a considerable slip of ground at the base of the hill occurred. On a careful examination of the surface I found it to be cracked in a variety of places, and with each succeeding