10
The Eastern filter beds are nearing com- pletion. The total number of these beds is 11, all of which have been constructed. Five are at present in use as filter beds giving approximately an output of 1 million gallons; 2 are being used as bal- ance tanks and the remaining 4 are not yet in use. All the beds cannot be utilised as filter beds until the 5 million gallon Service Reservoir now in progress is completed.
PRAYA ROAD EAST.
Mention has been made of the disturbed conditions of the Praya Road at Wanchai. Unfortunately the raising of all drains and sewers necessitated by the Praya East Reclamation has caused an up- beaval of the roads in this District which has been complicated by the necessary removal of water mains, gas pipes, cables, etc. which had to be dealt with at the same time. As far as possible this un- avoidable inconvenience to the public will be reduced to the minimum. The large open sewer running parallel with the old Praya wall is responsible for many of the complaints received but this matter has now been referred to the Port Develop- ment Department and it is hoped the contractor responsible will be able to keep this drain in a more sanitary condition in future.
MOTOR LORRIES AND CARS.
The increase referred to on page 79 showing an excess of estimated expendi- ture of $44,311 for 1926 under the head of Other Charges over that of 1925 is chiefly accounted for by the four items:
Incidental expenses quarries...... $7,600
lorries and Upkeep of motor
cars
Upkeep of quarry plants Electric lights and fans
14,000 11,500 5,000
The two increased items for Incidental Expenses for Quarries and upkeep of Quarry Plant amounting to $19,000 were inserted to meet expenditure at the New Quarry at Tai Kok Tsui which was re- quired for supplying materials for the strengthening of the Kowloon Roads, but since the strengthening of these roads has been postponed the Quarry will not now be required and there will be a saving of this amount.
With regard to the item for Upkeep of Motor Lorries and Cars, the increase is provided to meet the upkeep of addi- tional Lorries, etc., which are now more than double the number on hand at the The re- commencement of this year. maining increase of $5,000 is to meet the upkeep of the increased number of fans and lights principally in New Buildings such as the Fire Station, Saiyingpun School, Sisters' Quarters, etc., which are nearing completion.
Provision has been made under Item P.W.E. 14 for converting an open iron- a tem- shed at Wanchai Depot into porary workshop for carrying out repairs to lorries and cars, and a mechanical engineer has arrived, and will be put in charge of this workshop. It is hoped that in the near future, this Department will have a large general workshop with a fully qualified mechanical engineer in charge, but at present only small repairs can be undertaken at the Wanchai Work- shop.
REVISED EXPENDITURE FOR 1925. The estimated revised expenditure for 1925 was not inserted in the Draft Esti- mates for 1926 because of the difficulty of arriving at the amount with any degree of accuracy in eonsequence of :- (a) Labour troubles; (b) The necessity (c) Ascertaining what for economy; claims would have to be faced from con- tractors if contracts were to be interfer- ed with. An approximate estimate has
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