CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12] — Page 116

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The balance of $5,360 is not required, and there is therefore a reduction in this vote.

(6.) Plaque Expenses.-Inserted in Sanitary Board Estimates.

(7.) Grant-in-Aid of Band of Regiment.-The Hongkong Regiment has been,

disbanded.

(8.) Exchange Compensation.--Appears under the various votes for personal emoluments.

(9.) Maintenance of Quarters at the Peak Hospital for Nurses belonging to the Nursing Association.--This vote was approved by the Secretary of State in C.O.D. 1969 provided that financial considerations allowed of its inclusion.

MILITARY EXPENDITURE.

(1.) Contribution to Imperial Government.-The increase is due to estimated increase in the Colonial Revenue.

(2.) Orderly Room Clerk.-Printed in italies for the reason that the experi mcnt of appointing a Chinaman to the post temporarily and on probation is being

tried.

Amay

Colonial Secretary,

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

Telegraphs Workmen.-The increases to these 4 Workmen were sanctioned iu October of 1901 owing to the fact that the men resigned and it would have been mpossible to replace them on less salaries. The increases have hitherto been paid out of the vote "Maintenance of Telegraphs. "

PUBLIC WORKS RECURRENT.

(1.) Maintenance of Buildings -- It has been found necessary to largely sup- plement the amounts appearing in the Estimates for 1901 and 1902, and the cost of work appears to be steadily increasing. Hence the reason for the large increase shown.

(2.) Maintenance of Buildings in New Territory.The same remarks apply to this. Some of the old buildings taken over from the Chinese Customs have been found very expensive to keep in order, and the number of new buildings is in- creasing.

(4.) Maintenance of Telegraph in New Territory-The increase is to cover the cost of additional lines to new Police Stations.

(5.) Maintenance of Public Cemetery.-Increased in order to provide for the maintenance and care of tombs.

(7.) Maintenance of Lighthouses.----Waglan Lighthouse has been added to the buildings coming under this heading, having been taken over from the Chinese Customs Authorities.

(8.) Dredging Foreshores.--This work was formerly carried on in conjunc- tion with the Praya Reclamation Works, the material dredged, whenever suitable, being deposited in the reclamation and credit obtained for it. The material has now all to be removed and deposited at sea. Dredging was also performed for private individuals and the amount received was credited to the vote.

The receipts from this source are now otherwise credited by the Treasury.

(9.) Miscellaneous Works.--Increase made to cover additional cost of work and the additional items which arise on account of extensions in the Colony.

(10.) Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in City.-- A few years ago, the annual expenditure under this heading was about $24,000. The terms of the contract for this work are now 50% more than they were then, in addition to which the new roads on the Praya Reclamation have added largely to the amount of work to be done, and there have been extensions and increases in other directions. The amount of traffic has also increased largely.

(11.) Maintenance of Roads outside City.--The increase is accounted for in a similar way to the above, but the additions to the roads have not been as great nor are they subject to the increase of traffic to the same extent.

(12.) Maintenance of Roads in Kowloon,-Hitherto the roads in Kowloon have only been surfaced with comparatively soft material, and loud complaints have been common regarding their condition during the wet season. It is proposed to begin macadamizing the principal roads and to obtain a steam-roller to consolidate them.

(14.) Maintenance of Sewers, Nullahs, etc.--The increase shown is to cover increased cost of labour and extensions which have been made in the system.

(16.) Gas Lighting City of Victoria.-The inercase is largely due to the increased terms of the new contract, which has just been entered into. Addi- tional lamps have also been erected for the lighting of private streets and lancs, under Ordinance No. 13 of 1901.

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