the verandah I am still unable to get from Fushan, where such articles are made, and I have totally failed in procuring gypsum for the fine mouldings and enrichments of the cornices and ceilings; thus I have been obliged to alter the designs in a material degree, which I much regret. However the work, slowly as it has progressed, is admirably executed, and is perhaps as perfect a building as can be erected in China.
Unfortunately, at a time when I required the most efficient superintendence, the sappers attached to the department were ordered home, and at the end of August I was deprived of their services altogether. The want of these men I have felt greatly, particularly in all plumbers and bellhangers work (at which the Chinese are very deficient), so that my personal superintendence upon each particular piece of work during its execution was rendered absolutely necessary, and thus occupied my time for several hours of the day occasionally.
The supply of water to Government House and offices was originally undertaken by the Royal Engineers' department, and transferred to me to complete, but unfortunately the pipes delivered for the service were insufficient; nor were there any stopcocks, fire-plugs, or suitable curved pieces or junctions such as were estimated for and required, and as these cannot be made here in a satisfactory or substantial manner, the difficulties in executing the work have been very great indeed; however, no doubt the service when complete will answer effectually; but before it can do so some further works are necessary to increase the supply of water or prevent waste at the barracks; this, however, must form the subject of a special report and estimate, as I am afraid the balance of the estimate for that service will be insufficient, as nothing but a supplementary tank will provide for the deficiency.
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As regards the supply of water to the gaol also similar difficulties occurred, and it was by a mere accident that I obtained a supply of iron pipes such as I required, but the stopcocks I was obliged to cast in copper, and attach lead pipes for turns and junctions in situations where only iron should be used; indeed throughout the whole the difficulties have been greater than could be imagined by an unprofessional person, from the want of those materials which, had I had time, might have been procured from England.
The principal tanks situated in Mr. Lyall's grounds are at an elevation sufficient to command all the streets in the town, and when the pipes as demanded from England I arrive, they may be laid down immediately as proposed for the conduct of water in case of fire; in connexion with this service I should be happy to commence the other tanks proposed in various places in the city for the storage of water, but not having the proper pipes to build into them for supply and exit, and there being no cement in the city either, the service cannot be further proceeded with at present.
The want of water in the whole of the city during the dry season is very great indeed, and as the population increases and the drainage becomes more rapid and effective, this deficient supply is more apparent and severely felt, so that at no distant period I imagine it will be incumbent upon the Government to collect the streams west of the city for the use of the dense population in the Lower Bazaar and Tappingshan, as in the former district well water cannot be used for domestic purposes, and in the latter the tenants are unable to afford pecuniary means to construct them so as to be generally useful to the community.
Some works for the drainage of parts of the Queen's Road, Eastern District, were carried into effect, and although the general intention was merely to provide for the discharge of rain water, the drains have been used for purposes to which only covered sewers are applicable, and this being the case it is not surprising if, during the dry season particularly, the filthy deposit from the Chinese houses should become most offensive; again, in places where the police compel the tenants to sweep the drains in front of their houses, the evil resulting from that is perhaps in the end worse than the former, for they invariably deposit the refuse sweepings of their shops, wood shavings, masticated sugar-cane, and rubbish of every possible kind, into the small drains in connexion with the sewers, so that they become blocked up, and when they are most required they are inefficient.
This practice I have in vain tried to rectify, and until a more stringent and summary process is made legal the evil will not be abated.
As regards the drainage of the lower bazaar, about which complaints have been made, the causes enumerated above refer in a more remarkable degree, for there the streets are perfectly level; the whole area has been reclaimed from the sea, and the drains are all built upon unconsolidated ground, and settlements occur which I have rectified as soon as possible; but the great cause of mischief to the drainage here lately has resulted from the practice of discharging rubbish over the sea-wall, and to this the attention of the police has repeatedly been drawn; but as the "force" is small the practice has not been abated in any degree that I can perceive, and it is with the utmost difficulty I have been enabled to keep the drains free, as when once the mouth of the drain is blocked up the deposit accumulates to such a degree that nothing but its removal by hand is of any avail; it being understood that there is in all the drains in the whole district of Victoria an insufficient quantity of water passing through them, there is no means at my disposal for flushing them periodically, and it is only in the height of the rainy season that this is effectually done by the flood water.
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Thus, whatever may be the appearance of the town and whatever may be the apparent
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