622598-1908-Supplementary-Report-on-the-Director-of-Public-Works — Page 18

49 £

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The average number of masons employed daily was 108.

The whole of the steelwork for the first floor and the cast iron columns supporting it were fixed besides 5 cast iron columns for supporting the steelwork of the second floor.

The cement concrete, of which the first floor is almost entirely composed, was laid over the whole area with the exception of the east verandah and the timber joists over the Postal Hall were fixed.

61. Public Latrines and Urinals.-The latrine in Macdonnell Road, Kowloon, referred to in last year's report, was completed and handed over to the Sanitary Board in February. It contains 40 seats and 4 urinals, a store for buckets and a caretaker's room being also provided in connection with it. The only other work carried out under this heading was the conversion of a shed at the old Western Market into a public latrine containing 12 seats and the construction of a urinal underground at the junction of Peak and Robinson Roads. In the case of the latter, the structure is composed almost entirely of cement con- crete, the floor being laid with glazed paving tiles and the walls lined for a height of 6 feet - with white glazed tiles. The cost of it amounted to $2,453.16. The resumption of a house in Chuk Hing Lane with a view to pulling it down in order to provide a site for the erection of a public latrine was decided upon, but the negotiations were of a very protracted nature and had not reached a conclusion at the close of the year.

62. Kowloon Mortuary.-Up to 1902 the only establishment of this kind in the Colony was the one at Shektongtsui and bodies recovered in Kowloon had to be transported thither across the harbour. In the year already mentioned, a mortuary of a temporary nature was established at Yaumati, matsheds being erected for the purpose. These have now given way to permanent buildings which were completed and handed over to the Sanitary Board early in September, the use of the office having been given to the Medical Officer of Health a couple of months earlier. The site is in close proximity to the Disinfecting Station, and has been obtained by levelling off a portion of the hill behind Yaumati. The buildings comprise the mortuary itself, which is divided into two compartments, containing respect- ively 6 and 8 tables, an office, two stores, a lavatory, and accommodation for a caretaker, the premises being enclosed where necessary by a boundary wall. They are of Canton red brick, pointed externally and plastered internally, except where lined with glazed tiles, and have roofs of double pan and roll tiling supported on timber purlins and principals. The walls of the mortuary are lined for a height of 6 feet above the floor with white glazed tiles. obtained from England and the floor is laid with cement concrete, 5 inches thick, finished off smooth with a layer of granolithic, 1 inch thick. The floors of the other apartments are of cement concrete, 4 inches thick, similarly finished, except that of the office, which is of hardwood, supported on hardwood joists. In addition to the ordinary outer doors, the mortuary is provided with inner doors of open construction, covered with mosquito-proof wire gauze and all openings for windows and ventilators are similarly protected. The tables and other fittings for use in the mortuary were obtained from England. The whole of the compound is covered with lime and cement concrete, 6 inches thick, and a special drain is provided for the building. The total cost of the work was $13,177.41.

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63. Time-Ball Tower on Blackhead's Hill.This work was practically completed at the close of the year. It consists of a tower, 42' 6" high, square except as regards the treat- ment of the angles which are splayed off. The walls are of Canton red brick, built in cement mortar, with Amoy brick facing and granite dressings. The floors and roof are of cement concrete supported on steel framing and finished with granolithic, with the exception of the floor carrying the machinery which is laid with hardwood on top of the concrete. circular concrete staircase ascends from the ground floor to the machine floor, access from the latter to the flat roof being afforded by means of an iron ladder. The machinery for dropping the time-ball was in course of being transferred and fitted up but was not in working order at the close of the year.

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64. Branch Post Office at Wanchai.-It was decided by Government not to proceed with this work.

65. Land Office at Tai Po.—& contract for the erection of a permanent one-storied building on the site on top of the hill hitherto occupied by the temporary matshed offices was entered into with Mr. LUEN ON in July and at the close of the year the walls had been built to an average height of 12 feet above floor level. The building has been so designed as to admit of the addition of another storey at some subsequent period.