Sessional_Paper_1889 — Page 257

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON GREAT STORM OF 29TH AND 30TH MAY, 1889.

255

No. 15

89.

Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 27th July, 1889.

SIR,

I have the honour to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the following report on the great rainstorm of 29th and 30th of May last, and damage caused thereby to public property.

2. The rainy season of the south west monsoon appears to have set in earlier this year than usual. During the month of April over 12 inches of rain fell, and of this quantity nearly 7 inches was due to a storm on the 29th and 30th of that month, causing considerable damage to streets and roads which the Acting Surveyor General (Mr. CoOPER) estimated at $3,400. The first half of May was compa- ratively dry. I arrived at Hongkong on the 18th of May. The night after my arrival there was a very heavy thunderstorm, several buildings were struck by lightning, and 5.94 inches of rain were recorded during the day ending 10 A.M. on the 19th. On the three following days there was an aggregate fall of 5.88 inches, and there were showers at frequent intervals until the 28th. Early in the morning (2 A.M.) of 29th the rain began and continued almost uninterruptedly (although with greatly varying intensity) until 5 P.M. of the 30th. Appendix 4 shews the daily rainfall for the first half of the year, and Appendix B the hourly rainfall on 29th and 30th of May.

3. On the morning of the 29th I was at the Peak, and such was the violence of the storm that (with some others who were staying at the Hotel) I had to wait a considerable time before the chair coolies would venture on the descent, owing to the force of the wind and rain. However we started about 9 A.M. I shall not readily forget the journey down. I followed the road as, all things con- sidered, it appeared to me a preferable route to the tramway. Along the upper levels the gusts of wind threatened to carry us off the mountain path. During the descent the water rushed in sheets down the steep mountain slopes, the nullahs were full, and the side drains and culverts of the road overflowing. I arrived at the Government Offices about 10 o'clock. Shortly afterwards Mr. BAYNE, Overseer (then in charge of streets, since deceased) came to report that the great Glenealy culvert (which carries the storm water and sewage, and traverses the centre of the City, passing through Wyndham and Pedder's Streets, where several of the more important offices, and public buildings are situated) had burst in several places. Before there was time to ascertain full details a watchman arrived to report that the service tank of the Tytam Water-works was in danger. Accompanied by Mr. COOPER I proceeded at once to the site. We arrived there a little before Noon, and found that the tunnel, or great culvert, 192 square feet in transverse area, which conveys the water of the Albany Nullah under the Tytam service tank was blocked, and the water that should pass through it was pouring over the concrete wall of the tank, and had washed away a large portion of the earthen bank on the down stream side of the wall, as well as parts of the Bowen and Garden Roads, and had caused considerable damage to the banks of the Ravine. As the concrete walls of the tank were not designed, without the aid of the earthen bank, to resist the pressure of the water, there was good reason for taking immediate precautionary measures, so as to be prepared in the event of the failure of the tank. As the Murray Barracks are situated near the Harbour, in the bed of the same valley, 400 feet below the tank which holds some 35,000 tons of water, I requested Mr. COOPER to give immediate notice to the officer in command of the Regiment there quartered, and I proceeded forthwith to inform His Excellency the General Commanding of the critical state of affairs. Orders were at once issued to clear the basement floors of men and stores.

4. I find on referring to the hourly record of rainfall kindly furnished, at my request, by the Director of the Observatory (Dr. DOBERCK) that the rain began between 2 and 3 A.M. of the 29th and continued until about 1 P.M., up to which time 10 inches of rain had fallen, of which 72 inches fell in the three hours before Noon (10 A. M. 3.06 inches, 11 A.M. 3.35 inches, 12 (Noon) 1:27 inches). There was then an interval of two hours without rain, after which it rained moderately until near midnight.