Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 425

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Of the above the first two items have been completed. The remainder have not yet been begun.

9. The landing pier at Stone Cutters' Island was in the last stage of decay, and as it was absolutely necessary to replace it, the work has already been completed at a cost of $5,100.

The alterations and improvements of the Magazine for Explosives are necessary as the building in its present state is no longer considered safe for the storage of explosives.

The cost of the alterations is estimated at $17,625.

It has at the same time been decided to raise the charge for storage in order to recoup to some extent at all events the cost of the improvements.

10. As regards the Improvements to the Recreation Ground at the Happy Valley, I fear that the nature of these was not sufficiently explained to Your Lordship, in Mr. FLEMING's despatch No. 313 of the 28th August, 1890. I will therefore now explain it more fully in detail, and I append a plan of the Valley to illustrate the proposed improvements.

11. The proportion of the cost due to sanitary improvement as compared with extension of Recreation Ground is far larger than Your Lordship supposed, being about $33,000 out of the whole $40,000, and the cost of actual extension of the Race Course is less than $800.

The improvements based on sanitary grounds are:-

I. The filling up of a large pond in the centre of the Recreation Ground

which tended to make it swampy.

2. The better draining of the whole Recreation Ground by making alter- ations to a canal which skirts it along the whole length of the valley, widening it in its upper course, diminishing its width at its lower end, and generally straightening it, so as to give a free flow to the water and prevent constant overflows in the upper reaches and consequent flooding of the valley, also in its lower and wider part to prevent the present exposure of noxious mud on the wide bed which is often uncovered.

Besides the great inconvenience frequently caused by these overflows both Mr. CHADWICK and Mr. COOPER have recorded their opinions that on sanitary grounds steps should be taken to prevent them and the other evils complained of. The estimate for the first work, viz., filling in the pond and turfing it, was $16,000, of which $8,000 had already been spent in 1890.

The straightening and widening of the canal in one part, however, entailed an encroachment on the Race Course and a sharpening of its curve, to rectify which an extension of the Course northwards into the plot known as the Bowrington Gardens became necessary.

It so happened that these so-called Public Gardens, which are useless as such being overgrown with trees had for some time been looked upon by Sir WM. DES VOEUX as well suited to form an extension to the Public Recreation Ground, which is much in need of extension, being insufficient for the requirements of the various Athletic Clubs, Naval and Military Services, &c.

The diversion and alteration of the canal, which also runs through those grounds, appeared an excellent opportunity for carrying out this design more especially as it had become necessary to extend the Race Course into these gardens as above explained and in so doing to shut up the roadway which now separates the Public Gardens from the Recreation Ground. The scheme also embraced the diversion of a small stream which drains the valley along the Eastern side and with it the staightening of the road on a part of that side, thus bringing into the new enclosure 'some waste and useless land. The portion of the scheme which may be said to be