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6. The sum of $16,000 has been already sanctioned for filling in the Lake and improving the surface. To this amount I have added $24,000 to provide for the diversion of the stream, and the works necessary to enlarge the Recreation Ground from about 26 to 40 acres, by including in it the spaces known as the Public Garden on each side of the Bowrington Canal, in the event of these works being sanctioned by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

Item No. 9-Gaol Extension.

7. I have included the sum of $140,000 with a view of providing for certain alterations and additions to the existing buildings, or of building a new block on another site, in case either of these proposals is sanctioned. The amount must be regarded as an approximation only.

Items Nos. 10 and 11-New Slaughter-House, Pig and Sheep Depôts and extension of Cattle Depôt.

8. The Estimates for 1891 provide for :-

Cattle Depôt Extension,.

Slaughter-House and Sheep and Pig Depôts, ..........

$ 10,000

90,000

Total,

$100,000

The Estimates for 1889 contain the following items :-

Slaughter-House,

$ 35,000

14,000

25,000

Extension of Cattle Market (Qy. Depôt),.................................... Sheep and Pig Market (Qy. Depôts),..........

Total,............... $174,000

9. A change of site has been decided on, and the demands of the Colony having increased, more extensive accommodation has been provided than was originally contemplated. This accounts for the increase in the Estimate. The working drawings are now in course of preparation, and it will, I think, be found that the amounts inserted in the Estimates will be a close approximation to the actual cost.

Item No. 12-Slaughter-House, Kowloon.

10. The sum provided in the Estimates of 1889 and 1890 is $3,000. This amount is however quite inadequate to provide for the rapidly increasing wants of the Peninsula. I estimate the cost of suitable premises (including water-supply) at $6,500.

Item No. 13-—Public Laundries.

11. The amount inserted in the Estimates ($25,000) is the same as last

year. A Committee of the Sanitary Board has recently reported on this subject. If the recommendations of the Committee, that all the washing of the city shall be done in Public Laundries, is carried out, it will probably be necessary to expend a larger amount than that now recommended. Until, however, the establishment of Public Laundries has advanced beyond the experimental stage, I would suggest that the expenditure be limited to the amount proposed.

Item No. 14-Public Latrines.

12. It is proposed to ask next year for $10,000 in addition to the $7,000 included in the Estimates of the current year. The establishment of these conven-