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P.W.E. Hongkong.
(ii) Extension of Belchers Street main, (completed),
(iii) Channel from Wongneichong Reservoir to Bowen Road Conduit, (completed),
(iv) Conversion of old compound pumping engine into triple expansion engine, (not completed).
1914 Estimates, $1,134.18
1914 Sup. Vote, $2,344.81
1914 Expenditure, $4,861.38
$6,000.00
$6,600.00
$12,600.00
$11,549.53
Item (i). The object of this work was to improve the alignment of the rising mains which convey the water from the Pumping Station on Pokfulam Road to the service reservoir at Victoria Peak. A very sharp bend has been eliminated and other improvements effected by laying the mains across Inland Lot 621, which is the garden attached to “The Eyrie”. The work was completed with the exception of taking up and cleaning some of the pipes on the old alignment which have now been superseded.
Item (ii). This work was commenced in 1913 and was referred to in the Report for that year. It was completed during the year.
Item (iii). The reason for this work was stated in last year's Report. Owing to the steepness of the valley, the velocity of flow was so great that, notwithstanding frequent stepping of the channel, it was found necessary to cover it in many places in order to retain the water. A gauge basin with two gauges has been constructed close to the Bowen Road Conduit. One gauge measures the water conveyed by the channel from the reservoir and the other that collected from the valley between Wongneichong Gap and the Conduit.
Item (iv). The engine which has done service for the past ten years, in pumping water to the Peak from the Bonham Road Pumping Station, has never given entire satisfaction owing to the fact that the pumps were two-throw and that consequently the two cranks were set at 180°. This resulted in undue variations of pressure in the rising mains causing shocks and producing leaks.
The necessity of installing a new engine and of removing the one in question to the new pumping station on Pokfulam Road (vide paragraph 121) has afforded an opportunity of overcoming the defects by adding a third cylinder, thus converting the old engine into a three-throw pumping engine, with cranks set at 120°. The new engine is of this type and is found to work in a very noiseless and satisfactory manner, shocks in the rising mains being nullified. The alterations and re-erection of the old engine in the new station were well advanced at the close of the year.
No progress was made with the Extension of Fire Hydrants, etc., Kennedy Road”, (item (v), paragraph 124 of last year's Report) as the diversion of Kennedy Road had not been carried out.
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