652750-1891-Surveyor-General-s-Annual-Report — Page 1

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2ND MAY, 1891.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 200.

349

The following Report on the operations of the Public Works for the year 1890, which was laid before the Legislative Council on the 30th ultimo, is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 2nd May, 1891.

No. 117.

W. M. DEANE, Acting Colonial Secretary.

SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 28th February, 1891.

SIR, I have the honour to forward for the information of His Excellency the Governor the following Report on the operations of the Public Work's Department during the year 1890. This Report is divided under the following heads:-

I. Praya Reclamation.

II. Public Works Extraordinary.

III. Public Works Recurrent.

.IV. Land Branch.

V. Squatters.

VI. Inspection of Buildings. VII. Staff.

I-PRAYA RECLAMATION.

2. There are four separate Reclamations now

in

progress,

viz.

(a.) Reclamation included in Ordinance 16 of 1889, (b.) Reclamation in front of Wharf and Godown Co.'s Marine Lots?

Nos. 98 to 105, West Point,.......

(c.) Reclamation in front of Sailors' Home,

Making a continuous length of

(d.) Reclamation in front of Mr. CHATER'S Marine Lots Nos. 240 to

246, Kennedytown,

"$

9,191 Lineal feet

592

480

""

""

.10,263 Lineal feet.

1,410

Total,..............

(a.) WORK INCLUDED IN ORDINANCE No. 16 OF 1889.

11,673 Lineal feet.

equal to 24 miles.

3. Contracts were let in the spring for the formation of the rubble mound which forms the base of the Harbour wall for Section No. 2 and a portion of Section No. 7, and subsequently for Section No. 3. The work contracted for has an aggregate length of 3,001 feet. The work was actually begun in February last, a memorial stone to commemorate the inauguration of the new Praya having been laid by his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught on 2nd April last. On 31st December the rubble mounds of Sections Nos. 2 and 7 were well advanced, about 206,000 cubic yards of stone having been deposited.

4. It having been decided to substitute blocks of Portland cement concrete for the granite foot- ing courses of the Praya wall, it became necessary to order the plant required for lifting, transporting and setting these blocks. Accordingly an 8-ton travelling crane, with the necessary rails and other appliances, and a supply of cement, were requisitioned from England through the Crown Agents, and a steam Tug of twenty-seven horse power, two block barges, each capable of carrying sixty-five tons, and a floating pontoon 8-ton erane have been contracted for locally with the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company. The steam Tug and block barges are nearly completed, and it is anticipated that both the floating and land crane will be complete and ready for work in May next. As the blocks will require about 3 months to set prior to being placed in the work, arrangements will shortly be made to commence the fabrication of the concrete blocks; and thus provide a sufficient stock to allow the work to be pushed on rapidly.

(b.) RECLAMATION IN FRONT OF WHARF AND GODOWN COMPANY'S PROPERTY.

5. The progress made with this reclamation has not been so great as might reasonably have been expected owing to the delay in putting in the granite footings. Now however, that these are laid, and the work is above low-water level there is nothing to prevent this reclamation being carried on regularly and it should be completed in about nine months.

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