The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1890.
THE GAP ROCK LIGHTHOUSE.
LATING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE,
Enclosure
The foundation stone of the Gap Rock Lighthouse was laid yesterday afternoon by His Excellency the Acting Governor. The well-known rock on which the lighthouse is to be erected is a small sterile island, about 400 feet in length, 3.4 miles to the southwest of Hongkong. The main building will be in three storeys, or to be more correct, a basement and two storeys. On the basement is a large tank, capable of holding 12,000 gallons of water. The necessity of this is at once apparent, as owing to the difficulty of reaching the rock at all times and the impossibility in bad weather of reaching it at all, frequently for long periods, one of the first things that it was necessary to secure was a large supply of water for the use of those living there. By means of pipes, the water to fill the tank will be collected from the roof of the building, which is of asphalt, and further, the supply from the tank will probably be supplemented by a condenser. The floor above will contain two living rooms for the lightkeeper, a workshop, and a kitchen. On the next floor will be two more living rooms and coolie quarters. The building will be in two blocks, connected by a stairway, this method of construction being necessitated by the conformation of the rock, the building being as far as possible adapted to the outline. On the top of the main building will be the lantern, the centre being 140 feet above the mean sea level, this being a few feet higher than was originally intended when the plans were first drawn. Under ordinary conditions, the light will be visible at a distance of 21 nautical miles and under very favourable conditions some distance farther.
The preliminary operations in connection with the erection of the building have been difficult in the extreme, a thousand tons of the hard metamorphic rock having to be blasted before commenced. The building work could be will be of a substantial character, consisting of granite facing set in Portland cement; the walls will be of extra thickness, and as the floors are to be of iron and concrete, the building will be practically fireproof. The light is to be a flash revolving light of the first order, giving a flash every thirty seconds and completing one revolution in four minutes. The light will be of about the same dimensions as that at Cape D'Aguilar, but its force will be nearly double that.
The light and the lantern now in store have already arrived and are in Hongkong. The lantern is 25 feet in height and 12 feet 10 inches in diameter. The makers are the well-known manufacturers of this class of work, Messrs. Chance Bros. of Birmingham. It is estimated that the whole work will be completed and everything in working order, should no unforeseen accident occur, by the end of 1891, but of course should a protracted spell of bad weather prevent the work proceeding, this time may have to be a little extended.
Two-thirds of the material required for the construction of the building have already been landed on the rock. Up to the present, the work on the rock has been of a preparatory nature, consisting chiefly of blasting, making roads, and erecting quarters for the workmen. Work commenced in earnest for the first time on the 24th March with thirty or forty men and has gone on continuously ever since, the number of men now employed being about one hundred. One fortunate circumstance that has told in favour of the progress of the work is that up to the present, there have been no cases of sickness among the workmen. The revised estimate for the entire cost of construction is $150,000, and it is hoped and believed that the building when completed will not appreciably overrun this estimate. In this matter, however, as in the estimate of time, much depends on the weather that may prevail during the period of erection.
In addition to the light, it is under contemplation to fix a foghorn for use in thick weather, when even this powerful light may not be visible. The wisdom of such a course is undoubted. The masonry work has been let on contract to Mr. Tsang Kong, whose name is well known in connection with contracts in respect of large public works, and the construction is being superintended by Mr. Mudie, of the Public Works Department, under the supervision generally of which Department the whole work is being carried out.
Considering the great initial difficulties that had to be overcome before even a commencement could be made with this undertaking, the untiring perseverance that has been shown and the progress that has been made reflects credit on all concerned, and should the work of construction continue to be conducted, as there is no reason to doubt but it will, with the same energy and skill, the chief of the Department, Hon. S. Brown—from whose plans and according to whose ideas the work is being carried out—will have in the lighthouse a substantial testimony to the ability displayed during his period of service here of which he should have every reason to be proud.
A small party of gentlemen, chiefly from official circles, accompanied His Excellency yesterday to witness the ceremony of laying the foundation stone. Among those present were H. E. Major-General Digby Barker and his A.D.C., Lieut. Barker, Commodore Church, the Acting Chief Justice, Mr. Fielding Clarke; the Acting Attorney-General, Hon. E. J. Ackroyd; the Surveyor General, Hon. S. Brown; Capt. Rumsey, R.N., Harbour Master; Major-General Gordon, Acting Captain Superintendent of Police; Major Dempster, Acting Superintendent of the Gaol; Mr. McLeavy Brown, Commissioner of Customs for Kowloon; Capt. Booth, of the Chinese Customs Service; Mr. F. H. May, Private Secretary to the Governor; Lieut. Thorburn, A.D.C. to the Governor; several members of the Public Works Department, &c. The party left the Murray Pier shortly after 9 a.m. in the steamer Fame, which is employed by the Government in connection with the building of the lighthouse, and after a pleasant run arrived off Gap Rock about one p.m.
Owing to the heavy sea that was running, it was found to be impossible to effect a landing at the usual side of the rock, where a road has been cut to its summit. The party were therefore landed in small sections, first by means of one of the steamer's boats, which took them to a small cove, and from there they were hoisted in couples by means of a derrick on to a landing place about half-way up the Rock. This method of landing occupied considerable time and afforded...
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The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1890.
THE GAP ROCK LIGHTHOUSE.
LATING OF THE FOUNDATION STOVE,
Enclosure
The foundation stone of the Gap Rook Lighthouse was laid yesterday afternoon by The His Excellency the Acting Governor. well known rock on which the lighthouse is to be erected is a small sterile island, about 400 feet in length. 34 miles to the sonth west of Hongkong. The main building will be in three storeys, or to be more correct, alasement and two storeys. On the basement is a large tank, capable of bolding 12,000 gallons of water. The necessity of this is at once apparent, as owing to the difficulty of reaching the rock at all times and the impossibility in bad weather of reaching it at all, frequently for long periods, one of the first things that it was neces
sary to secure was a large suply of water By for the use of those living there. means of pipes the water to fill the tank will be collected from the roof of the building, which is of asphalte, and further, the supply from the tank will probably be supplemented by a condenser. The foor above will contain two living rooms for the lightkeeper, a workshop, and a kitchen. On the next floor will be two more living rooms and coolie quarters. The building will be in two blcoks, conneoted by a stairway, this method of construction being necessitated by the confortnation of the rock, the building being as far as possible adapted to the outline. On the top of the main building will be the lantern, the centre boing 140 feet above the mean sea level, this being a fow feet higher than was originally intended when the plans were first drawn. Unser ordinary condi- tions the light will be visible at a distance of 21 nautical miles and under very favour- able conditions some distance farther. The with preliminary operations in connection
the erection of the building have been difficult in the extreme, a thousand tons of the hard metamorphic rock having to be blasted before cos: menced. The building work could be will be of a substantial character, consisting of granite facing set in Portland cement; the walls will be of extra thickness, and as the floors are to be of iron and gouerste. the building will be practically fire proof. The light is to be a flash revolving light of the first order, giving a flash every thirty seconds and completing one revolu- tion in four minutes. The light will be of about the same dimensions as that at Cape D'Aguilar, but its foros will be nearly double that
The light and the lantern now in store have already arrived and are
ona.
in Hongkong. The lantern is 25 foot in height and 12 feet 10 iuches in diameter. The takers Bre the well known manufacturers of this olass of work, Messrs. Chauce Bros. of) Birmingham. It is estimated that the whole work will be completed and everything in work- ing order, should no unforeseen accident occur, by the end of 1891, but of course should a pro- tracted spell of bad weather prevent the work proceeding, this time may have to be a little ex-
tended
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tended. Two-thirds of the material required for the construction of the Duibling bare ai- ready been landed on the rock. Up to the prosent the work on the rock has been of, a preparatory nature, consisting chiefly of blasting, making roads, and erecting quar- ters for the workmen. Work commenced in earnest for the first time on the 24th; March with thirty or forty men and has gone on continuously ever since, the num- ber of wen now employed being about one hundred. One fortunate circumstance that has told in favour of the progress of the work is that up to the present there have been 110 cases of sickness among the workmen. The revised estimate for the entire cost of construction is $150,000 and it is hoped and believed that the building when completed will not appreciably overrun this estimate. In this matter, however, as in the estimate of time, much depends on the weather that may prevail during the period of erection. In addition to the light it is under contemplation to fix a foghorn for use in thick weather, when even this powerful light may not be visible. The wisdom of suck a course is undoubted. The masonry work has been let on contract to Mr. Tsang Kong, whose name is well known in connection with con- tracts in respect of large public works, and the construction is being superintended by Mr. Mudie, of the Public Works Department, under thesupervision generally of which Department the whole work is being carried out. Considering the great initial difficulties that had to be over- come before even a comatencement could be made with this undertaking, the uaticing persever- ance that has been shown and the progress that has been made reflects credit on all concerned, and should the work of construction continue to be conducted, as there is no reason to doubt but it will, with the same energy and skill, the chief of the Department, Hon. S. Brown-from whose plans and according to whose ideas the work is being carried out--will have in the fighthouse a substantial testimony to the ability displayed during his period of service here of which he should have every reason to be proud.
A small party of gentlemen, chiefly from official circles, accompanied His Excellency yes- terday to witness the ceremony of laying the foundation stous. Among those prosent were H. E. Major-General Digby Barker and his A.D.C., Liont. Barker, Commodore Church, the Acting Chief Justice. Mr. Fielding Clarke; the Aoting Attorney-General, Hon. E. J. Ackroyd; the Surveyor General. Hon. S Brown; Capt. Rumsey, RN, Harbour waster; Major-General Gordon, Acting Captain.Su- perintendent of Police: Major Dempster. Aot ing Superintendent of the Gaol; ME. McLeavy Brown, Commissioner of ustoms for Kowloon; Capt. Booth, of the Chinose Customs Service; Mr. F. H. May, Private Secretary to the Governor; Lieut. Thorburn. A D C. to the Governor ; several members of the Public Works Depart- ment, &c. The party left the Murray Pier shortly after 9 s.m. in the stearuer Fame, which is employed by the Government in connection with the building of the lighthouse, and after a pleasant run arrived off Gap Rock about one Owing to the heavy sea that was running p.m.
it was found to be impossible to effect a landing! at the usual side of the rook, where a road has been out to its summit. The party were there. fore landed in small sections, first by means of one of the steamer's boats, which took then to a small cove, and from there they were hoisted in couples by means of a derrick on to a landing place about half way up the Rock. This method of landing occupied considerable time and afford-
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