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should receive $2,600 and the Kowloon Contractor $1,200 per mensem until conditions in China permitted them to resume their contract. Early in June the position improved and the City Contractor was able to carry on without assistance from the middle of the month. The payments to the Kowloon Contractor were continued till the end of that month. But in July fresh disturbances arose and the payments (reduced to $2,400 and $1,000 per mensem respectively) were re-started in August. It was moreover agreed that the Kowloon Contractor should be released from his contract at the end of September instead of at the end of the year and that the sum of $3,250 should be accepted by Government in full settlement of all claims. Similar terms were offered to the City Contractor, the sum required being $19,250: but the offer was rejected and proceedings for the recovery of the full amount due (about $40,000) are now pending.
The highest tenders for the new contracts were $1,656 per mensem for the City and $556 for Kowloon both from the same firm—Messrs. Li Wing Kwong and Pang On. The new contracts contain provisions for dealing with two sources of past trouble, namely, for the assessment of compensation for loss of nightsoil due to the extension of the water carriage system and for the continuance of the contracts in the event of the death of the titular contractors. The cash securities have also been increased to $10,000 for the City and $5,000 for Kowloon, the old system of sureties being abolished.
SCAVENGING.
The steady growth of new houses and streets made it necessary to increase the City Scavenging Gangs by a further five men.
Owing to the constant complaints against the combined Scavenging and Conservancy Services for Shaukiwan and Quarry Bay, it was decided that the Scavenging of this district should be done departmentally under the supervision of the Police Officer of the district from the beginning of 1916, the Conservancy alone being let out to contract. The cost of the service for the year was $3,029 against which must be set an increase in the Conservancy fees of $874.
Since the publication of last year's Report there has been a brisk demand from various sources for manure and from September onwards practically the whole output of the Kennedy Town Dépôts was taken up. A large quantity was shipped to Tai O and Castle Peak by the owner of certain fruit and olive gardens. A manure-dépôt was also established at the rail-side near Sheung Shui Railway Station to serve the new Government plantations in the Fanling district. The total amount of manure taken by the Botanical and Forestry Department during the year was 780 cubic yards, an increase of about 50% over the yearly average prior to the inter-departmental arrangement.
The cost of scavenging the City of Victoria was $51,248.96 and of Kowloon $14,482.19.
Provision was again made for the purchase of certain carts from England, but owing to the war the purchase was again abandoned and the items were removed from the Estimates for 1917.
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should receive $2,600 and the Kowloon Contractor $1,200 per mensem until conditions in China permitted them to resume their contract. Early in June the position improved and the City Con- tractor was able to carry on without assistance from the middle of the month. The payments to the Kowloon Contractor were continued till the end of that month. But in July fresh disturbances arosc and the payments (reduced to $2,400 and $1,000 per mensem respectively) were re-started in August. It was moreover agreed that the Kowloon Contractor should be released from his contract at the end of September instead of at the end of the year and that the sum of $3,250 should be accepted by Government in full settlement of all claims. Similar terms were offered to the City Contractor, the sum required being $19,250: but the offer was rejected and pro- ceedings for the recovery of the full amount due (about $40,000) are now pending.
The highest tenders for the new contracts were $1,656 per mensem for the City and $556 for Kowloon both from the same firm-Messrs. Li Wing Kwong and Pang On. The new contracts contain provisions for dealing with two sources of past trouble, namely, for the assessment of compensation for loss of nightsoil due to the extension of the water carriage system and for the continuance. of the contracts in the event of the death of the titular contractors. The cash securities have also been increased to $10,000 for the City and $5,000 for Kowloon, the old system of sureties being abolished.
SCAVENGING.
The steady growth of new houses and streets made it necessary to increase the City Scavenging Gangs by a further five men.
Owing to the constant complaints against the combined Scaveng- ing and Conservancy Services for Shaukiwan and Quarry Bay, it was decided that the Scavenging of this district should be done departmentally under the supervision of the Police Officer of the district from the beginning of 1916, the Conservancy alone being let out to contract. The cost of the service for the year was $3,029 against which must be set an increase in the Conservancy fees of $874.
Since the publication of last year's Report there has been a brisk demand from various sources for manure and from September onwards practically the whole output of the Kennedy Town Depôts was taken up. A large quantity was shipped to Tai O and Castle Peak by the owner of certain fruit and olive gardens. A manure- depôt was also established at the rail-side near Sheung Shui Railway Station to serve the new Government plantations in the Fanling district. The total amount of manure taken by the Botanical and Forestry Department during the year was 780 cubic yards, an increase of about 50% over the yearly average prior to the inter- departmental arrangement.
The cost of scavenging the City of Victoria was $51,248.96 and of Kowloon $14,482.19.
Provision was again made for the purchase of certain carts from England, but owing to the war the purchase was again abandoned and the items were removed from the Estimates for 1917.
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