1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 501
has amounted to 127l. 15s. 9d.; being on account of roads, 172l. 13s. 2d.; stone drains, 415l. 10s. 11d.; bridges, 489l. 11s. 8d.; marine works, 200l.
The convict labour being exclusively confined to the town of Victoria, I proceed to detail the services performed by them during the year. The work executed by the convicts for the year last past may be classified under four heads; viz., repairs to roads, additional work to roads (formerly made by the convicts), clearing and levelling ground round site of Government offices, and miscellaneous work.
1. Repairs to Roads and Streets, including the Queen's-road, have been effected upon a length of 5516 yards, which, calculated upon the rate I usually adopt for convict labour, viz., 5d. a-day, gives an average of 6½d. per yard, and amounts to 151l. 12s. 8¼d. This service comprised the repair and construction of rough-stone drains, removal of slips of earth, repairs to embankments, &c. Some portions of the steep streets are exceedingly difficult to keep in repair, and in several cases the work has ranged from 9d. to 1s. 9d. per yard; the streets and roads which are nearly horizontal are kept in order for 2d. or 3d. a-yard.
2. Additional Work to Roads, &c.-This comprises widening the road from the Ice-house to Pedder's-hill and Albert-road, from the latter place to the Government offices, and from the Ice-house to the church, &c.; in executing which, 2986 cubic yards of material have been cut and removed, the value of the labour being 841l. 7s. 11d., or 7d. a-yard. This is a very fair average price for this kind of material, for it is seldom, if ever, contractors can be induced to undertake that work under 10d. In addition to the above amount, labour equivalent to 117l. 13s. 9d. has been expending in consolidating the heavy embankment near the Murray Battery, which settled frequently and considerably during the rainy season.
3. Levelling Ground round Government Offices.-This service has consisted in clearing and levelling the area adjoining the above building and the Murray Battery, to prepare the same for grassing, planting, &c., and comprises all that work not estimated or contracted for under Rep. and Est. No. 5, of 1846. Portions of this ground were exceedingly rough and full of heavy stones, and in consequence all the work could not be measured; portions of it, however, were so, some of which cost 1s. 4½d. per yard, but the generality of it has been done under 9d.; the total amount of labour expended thereon up to 31st December, is equal to 917l. 14s. 11d. A considerable quantity of work is still required in this locality, the heaviest of which consists in sloping the ground to the rear of the Government offices and church to the road, instead of leaving it, as at present, horizontal. This work will be a great improvement to both buildings. It is exceedingly rocky in some parts, but soft in others; in all probability will cost 6d. per yard throughout; there is 23,259 cubic yards in that area, to be carried an average distance of 400 feet; so that I expect the work will occupy the labour of the whole gang of men, or 60 men, for 12 months at least, assisted by stone-cutters besides. It may therefore be estimated that the above work and the contemplated road to Government House will occupy their time for two years.
4. Miscellaneous Work is equivalent to the sum of 391l. 5s. The number of convicts employed was 18,151; and the total value of labour performed amounts to 3781l. 14s. 3d. During the year a large supply of new tools was demanded, which, together with repairs, has cost the sum of 97l. 13s. 4d.; the value of the tools in use may be estimated at half of this amount, or 48l. 16s. 8½d.; therefore, if that sum be deducted from the above amount, the net value of all work performed will amount to 329l. 17s. 6½d., being 26l. 1s. 5d. more than last year.
Upon the roads in the Wongneichung Valley, 2½ miles, the sum of 211l. 13s. 4d. has been expended in repairs, being less than ½d. per yard.
Road Wongneichung to Saiwan, 5 miles.-During the early portion of the year (until May), the road surface was maintained in tolerable order for the sum of 134l. 15s. 0d., Req. 39, of 1847, and 3 of 1848; the wooden bridges' repairs, Reg. 31 and 39, of 1847, cost 334l. 19s. 3d., so that the total expenditure amounted to 471l. 14s. 3d., or 1¾d. for the half-year. During the heavy gales and typhoons in the latter portion of the year, both roads and bridges sustained much damage, and as no expenditure has been sanctioned to rectify it, each succeeding storm and heavy rain adds considerable injury thereto, and this, together with the continued deposit of débris from the quarries, the ravages of the white ant, and encroachments of the sea, will in a short time obliterate all traces of the road; at least all those parts made along the coast. The road, although passable for horses, is unsafe in several places.
Road from Saiwan to Stanley, 4¾ miles.-The final payment on account of the construction of a portion of this road was paid in the beginning of the year, amounting to 731l. 1s. 3d., Rep. and Est. 2 of 1846. The repairs to road surface amounted to 624l. 10s. 2d. on Requisitions 34 of 1847, 3 of 1848, and 7 of 1848. Bridges required no repair; the rate per yard for 6 months being 1½d.; the road is now in tolerable order.
Old Road to Tytam, 3½ miles.-This road, from its exceeding steepness, is always more expensive than the other roads, although it is only 5 feet wide on an average, the repairs to the surface amounted to 291l. 5s. 4d., to the bridges 181l. 10s. 10d., on Req. No. 45, of 1847, and 8 of 1848, the total expenditure being 471l. 16s. 2d., or 1¾d. per yard, being an equal rate with the last-mentioned road, which is twice as wide. The road is still in good repair, except in a few places.
Road from Victoria West to Aberdeen, 4¼ miles.-The repairs to this road amounted to 764l. 18s. 4d., Reg. No. 43, of 1847, and 6, of 1848, for the surface; repairs to wooden bridges, Reg. No. 30, of 1847, 36l. 2s. 6d.; and coal tar, Req. 45, of 1847, 6l. 5s. 0d.; and the formation of a stone arch in lieu of a decayed wooden platform 344l. 15s. 10d., Req. 40, of 1847, so that the total expenditure has amounted to 1546l. 1s. 8d., from which it appears that the rate per yard amounted to 4d., including the stone arch; this rate, strictly speaking, is chargeable on a portion of the previous year and on a greater length of road, repairs to the
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1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 501
has amounted to 12771. 15s. 9d.; being on account of roads, 1721. 13s. 2d. ; stone drains, 4157. 10s. 11d,; bridges, 4897. 11s. 8d.; marine works, 2002
The convict labour being exclusively confined to the town of Victoria, I proceed to detail the services performed by them during the year. The work executed by the convicts for the year last past may be classified under four heads; viz., repairs to roads, additional work to roads (formerly made by the convicts), clearing and levelling ground round site of Government offices, and miscellaneous work.
1. Repairs to Roads and Streets, including the Queen's-road, have been effected upon a length of 5516 yards, which, calculated upon the rate I usually adopt for convict labour, viz., 5d, a-day, gives an average of 6jd. per yard, and amounts to 1517. 12s 84d. This service comprised the repair and construction of rough-stone drains, removal of slips of earth, repairs to embankments, &c. Some portions of the steep streets are exceedingly difficult to keep in repair, and in several cases the work has ranged from 9d. lo 1s. 9d. per yard; the streets and roads which are nearly horizontal are kept in order for 2d. or 3d. a-yard.
2. Additional Work to Roads, &c.-This comprises widening the road from the Ice-house to Pedder's-hill and Albert-road, from the latter place to the Government offices, and from the Ice-house to the church, &c.; in executing which, 2986 cubic yards of material have been cut and removed, the value of the labour being 841. 7s. 11d., or 7d. a-yard. This is a very fair average price for this kind of material, for it is seldom, if ever, contractors can be induced to undertake that work under 10d. In addition to the above amount, labour equivalent to 117. 13s. 9d. has been expending in consolidating the heavy embankment near the Murray Battery, which settled frequently and considerably during the rainy season,
3. Levelling Ground round Government Offices.-This service has consisted in clearing and levelling the area adjoining the above building and the Murray Battery, to prepare the same for grassing, planting, &c., and comprises all that work not estimated or contracted for under Rep. and Est. No. 5, of 1846. Portions of this ground were exceedingly rough and full of heavy stones, and in consequence all the work could not be measured; portions of it, however, were so, some of which cost 1s. 41d. per yard, but the generality of it has been done under 9d; the total amount of labour expended thereon up to 31st December, is equal to 917. 14s. 11d. A considerable quantity of work is still required in this locality, the heaviest of which consists in sloping the ground to the rear of the Government offices and church to the road, instead of leaving it, as at present, borizontal. This work will be a great improvement to both buildings. It is exceedingly rocky in some parts, but soft in others; in all probability will cost 6d. per yard throughout; there is 23,259 cubic yards in that area, to be carried an average distance of 400 feet; so that I expect the work will occupy the labour of the whole gang of men, or 60 men, for 12 months at least, assisted by stone-cutters besides.' It may therefore be estimated that the above work and the contemplated road to Government House will Occupy their time for two years.
4. Miscellaneous Work is equivalent to the sum of 391. 5s. The number of convicts employed was 18,151; and the total value of labour performed amounts to 3781. 14s. 3d. During the year a large supply of new tools was demanded, which, together with repairs, has cost the sum of 971. 13s. 4d.; the value of the tools in use may be estimated at half of this amount, or 481. 16s. 82; therefore, if that sum be deducted from the above amount, the net value of all work performed will amount to 3291, 17s. &d., being 261. 1s. 5d. more than last year.
Upon the roads in the Wongneichung Valley, 2, miles, the sum of 211. 13s. 4d. has been expended in repairs, being less than d. per yard.
Road Wongneichung to Saiwan, 5 miles.-During the early portion of the year (until May), he road surface was maintained in tolerable order for the sum of 134. 15s. Od, Req. 39, of 1847, and 3 of 1348; the wooden bridges' repairs, Reg. 31 and 39, of 1947, cost 334. 19s. 3d., so that the total expenditure amounted to 471. 14s. 3d., or 1¡d, for the half-year. During the heavy gales and typhoons in the latter portion of the year, both roads and bridges sustained much damage, and as no expenditure has been sanctioned to rectify it, each succeeding storm and heavy rain adds considerable injury thereto, and this, together with the continued deposit of débris from the quarries, the ravages of the white ant, and encroachments of the sea, will in a short time obliterate all traces of the road; at least all those parts made along the coast. The road, although passable for horses, is unsafe in several places.
Road from Saiwan to Stanley, 43 miles.-The final payment on account of the construction of a portion of this road was paid in the beginning of the year, amounting to 731. 1s. 3d, Rep, and Est. 2 of 1846. The repairs to road surface amounted to 624. 10s. 2d. on Requisi- tions 34 of 1847, 3 of 1848, and 7 of 1848. Bridges required no repair; the rate per yard for 6 months being lyd.; the road is now in tolerable order.
Old Road to Tytam, 31 miles.-This road, from its exceeding steepness, is always more expensive than the other roads, although it is only 5 feet wide on an average, the repairs to the surface amounted to 291. 5s. 4d., to the bridges 181. 10s. 10d., on Req. No. 45, of 1847, and 8 of 1848, the total expenditure being 471. 16s. 2d., or 1,d. per yard, being an equal rate with the last-mentioned road, which is twice as wide. The road is still in good repair, except in a few places.
Road from Victoria West to Aberdeen, 44 miles.-The repairs to this road amounted to 764. 18s. 4d., Reg. No. 43, of 1847, and 6, of 1848, for the surface; repairs to wooden bridges, Reg. No. 30, of 1847, 36l. 2s. 6d.; and coal tar, Req. 45, of 1847, 61. 5s. Od.; and the formation of a stone arch in lieu of a decayed wooden platform 344. 15s. 10d., Req. 40, of 1847, so that the total expenditure has amounted to 1546. Is. 8d., from which it appears that the rate per yard amounted to 4d., including the stone arch; this rate, strictly speaking, is chargeable on a portion of the previous year and on a greater length of road, repairs to the
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