7. The Locomotive Superintendent's Office has been rebuilt in masonry. The Office was originally a wooden frame structure, and was found to be infested by white ants, which would have caused serious damage to patterns, etc., stored above the Office had not steps been taken to exterminate them.
8. During the year, water-closets were installed in the Manager's House, and connected with the sewers recently laid in the vicinity.
9. At Taipo Market, a temporary island platform has been constructed of old sleepers. This neighbourhood is developing fast, and it is apparent that, in the near future, it will be necessary to considerably enlarge this station to meet traffic requirements.
10. At Fanling Station, an additional short siding was laid to facilitate and encourage the cattle traffic. An approach road to this station is also under construction, and the old temporary latrine has been substituted by one of a permanent nature built in brickwork.
11. The Sheung Shui Halt Platform has been metalled and tar surfaced.
12. Owing to the gradual growth of Yaumati and neighbourhood, the question of a wide-span road bridge, where the road will pass under the Railway north of Yaumati Station was again considered. Drawings were submitted to the Consulting Engineers who have since approved the general design and steelwork details and working drawings are now in preparation.
13. Three public road level crossings at 7th, 9th and 18th mile respectively have been widened; new check rails laid, and the new gates necessitated by the widening of the frontier road have been provided.
14. It had been observed for some time past that the rails in Beacon Hill Tunnel were rapidly wearing down; and, early in the year, a fractured rail was discovered. After a careful examination of the track throughout the tunnel, it was decided to relay with new rails, and reserve those taken out for sidings. Sufficient rails and fastenings for this work were ordered through the Crown Agents and are now in the Colony.
15. No serious damage to the line was caused by the rainstorms during the year, although several points were threatened. In cutting No. 1, a slip occurred at the deepest point in a rift of soft material exposing a spring, which necessitated a heavy concrete face wall 30 feet long and 42 feet high. At mile 14, the training wall mentioned in my last report has been completed, and subsequently it was found necessary to considerably extend this wall to protect the Railway bank at other points.