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The equipment and endowment funds were raised by public sul- scriptions, and stood at $1,239,828 (exclusive of $96,460 promised) on the 31st December.
V.-PUBLIC WORKS.
Of the principal works in progress, the Kowloon Waterworks Reservoir was completed and the New Government Offices and Law Courts made fair progress. A contract for the construction of the Mongkoktsui Breakwater and contingent works was let in October and a substantial start with the work was made before the close of the year.
The following buildings were completed:-- Extension of Tai Po Land Office: Slaughter Douse, Shankiwan; Prison Extension; an additional Room at Queen's College for Pupil Teachers; a Coal- shed at Tsim Sha Tsui Police Basin; a Fruit Market on the triangu lar space behind the old Harbour Office; a latrine in Nelson Street, Kowloon, and a Urinal in Queen's Road East near Arsenal Street. The following were in progress:-Kowloon Market; Additions to No. 2 Police Station; Staff Quarters, Kennedy Town Hospital; Police Station, Tsun Wan; Re-building of Government Pavilions Hospital at the Quarantine Station, Lai Chi Kok; Workshops and Sheds for Ambulances, &c., at the City Disinfecting Station; Katrines in Mee Lun Lane and Rutter Street (the latter to replace one de- molished on account of the extension of the Tung Wah Hospital premises) and a Trough Closet in Queen's Road West under the ramp leading to the Government Civil Hospital.
One of the bungalowe at Tai Po, constructed for the accommoda- tion of the staff engaged on the construction of the Railway, was taken over by the Public Works Department for the accommodation of its officers.
The extension of Argyle Street referred to in last year's report and a road of a somewhat temporary description to connect it with the existing road to Kowloon City wore completed as was also a short length of road to Westward of the Kowloon Cricket Club's allotment in King's Park. In Victoria, a pathway to connect Kennedy Road with Queen's Road East near Arsenal Street was completed and diversions of Caine Road past No. 2 Tank and of Wongneichong Road past Inland Lot 1698 were in progress. Outside the City, some important improvements in the Shaukiwan Road in the vicinity of Quarry Bay were undertaken, the electric tramway being taken up and relaid where necessary. In the New Territories, the section of road from Castle Peak to Ping Shan was completed and extensions to Un Long and Au Tau were undertaken. Another section of the same road, which will ultimately connect Castle Peak with Sha Tan Kok, extending from San Tin by way of Fan Ling Railway Station to Au Ha Gap, was also undertaken and was nearing completion at the close of the year.
The reconstruction of Gallies and the training of the large nullah west of the University site from Hill Road to the Pokfulam Conduit were completed. Progress was made in substitution of iron pipes for defective earthenware ones.
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The new ferro-conerete Piers at Kowloon City and at the Gunpowder Depôt ou Green Island were completed as was also the deepening of Causeway Bay. The completion of the reclamation at Gillies Avenue, Hunghon, was undertaken, a number of low-lying areas being filled in at the same time. A reclamation to provide a site for a market and a slaughter house at Aberdeen was in progress. A considerable section of Tai Hang Village was reconstructed, the Jevel of the area dealt with being raised about 5 feet.
Much useful work was done under the votes "Miscellaneous Works", "Forming and Kerbing Streets" and "Drainage Works Miscellaneous", and the raising of a considerable section of sunken sewers in Connaught Road was carried out.
Compensation was paid for a number of scavenging lanes or portions of same.
The large main to facilitate the distribution of Tytam water to the Western district of the City was completed and a 4" main for supplying the village of Tai Hang with filtered water was laid. Sundry mains for extending and improving the distribution system in Kowloon were laid.
The total amount expended on Public Works Extraordinary was $1,223,909.83 and on works annually recurrent $429,835.24.
In the sum expended under the former head is included an amount of $309,479 which was paid for the acquisition by Govern- ment of Kowloon Inland Lots No. 442 and 618 as a site for the Kowloon-Canton Railway Terminus. The proposal to utilize the lots in this manner was, however, subsequently held in abeyance.
The Colony fortunately escaped visitation by any typhoon or rainstorm of a serious nature.
Railway.
All the Earthwork of the British section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway was completed during the year. The Hung Hom Cutting was handed over by the Contractors in September for the laying of the Permanent Way. The Gascoigne Road Diversion and the Re- clamation were finished early in December. North of Taipo the troublesome cutting at Mile 16 (Gill's Cutting) was revetted and drained. The Eining of Beacon Hill and Taipo Tunnels was com- pleted early in February. Bridges 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and the additions to others were finished in time and did not delay the platelaying. The laying of Permanent Way began in March and was completed by the middle of May, the ballasting taking some time longer as is usual. All Stations, Staff Quarters and Buildings were completed by June. The Enginés and Rolling Stock arrived at various periods
of the year and were duly erected before the end of September. The site for the Workshops was levelled early in the year and the erection of Workshops began at the end of November.
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