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47. The supply obtainable from the Taitam and Pokfulam Catchment areas during a dry season of 273 days' duration is therefore insufficient to meet the present requirements of the City.

48. In November 1890, there being every appearance of a protracted dry season certain streams along the Taitam Conduit were intercepted.

During the last two years some further streams have been diverted into the Taitam and Pokfulam Conduits. The dry weather yield of these springs may be taken approximately at 350,000 gallons per diem or a total of 95,550,000 gallons during a protracted dry season of 273 days' duration.

49. Adding this to the supply obtainable from the Taitam and Pokfulam Catchment areas we get a total supply of 541,800,000 gallons or 221,845,000 less than the requirements of the City during such a period.

50. Though the matter is receiving careful consideration I am not at present in a position to make any definite proposal for materially increasing the quantity of water available for distribution within the City during such seasons as I have above described, and which do actually occur from time to time as was only too evident in the winter of 1890 and 1891 when the intermittent system of supply had to be resorted to during the months of February, March, April and a portion of May.

51. It is obvious from the foregoing that if the time has not actually arrived when steps for increasing the water supply should be taken in hand it cannot be very far off if the population of the City continues to increase. It therefore behoves every water consumer to exercise the greatest vigilance against the waste and misuse of water and to banish from his mind at once the idea that the supply contained in the "big reservoir at Taitam” is inexhaustible,

52. Quality of Water.-I am indebted to Mr. W. E. CROW, Government Analyst, for monthly analyses of the Pokfulam and Taitam Water before and after filtration. The results of these analyses are contained in Appendices E and F, an examination of which will shew that the filters have acted effectually during the past year and the high standard of purity of the water distributed has been

maintained.

53. Consumption of Water-Various details as to the consumption of water during the past year will be found in Appendix D from which it will be seen the total consumption in the City and Hill District amounted to 1,183,647,574 gallons the maximum obtaining during the month of August and the minimum during the month of February.

54. Taking the resident civil population at 152,000 and deducting the water supplied exclusively for trade purposes, and also that supplied for the Public Gardens and Markets, and to the Military (22,701,000 gallons) and Naval Establishments (5,044,000 gallons), we obtain an average consumption by the Civil Population for domestic purposes over the whole year of 19 gallons per head per diem.

55. In accordance with Section 14 of the Water Works Ordinance, meters have been fixed for the supplies of several Government institutions. These are enumerated in Appendix G.

56. During the past year the services to 2,069 houses have been inspected, of which 1,035 were found defective. These have now been put in order, though I regret to say that several instances have come to my notice where after the owners of property have gone to the expense of laying on water to premises, putting taps and fittings in order for the convenience of their tenants and the prevention of waste the improved fittings have been removed and defective ones substituted.

57. Doubtless the improved fittings had been removed and fixed in adjoining premises by unscru- pulous persons for the purpose of putting the water services in order by the time came for their inspection.

58. If occupiers of premises would, say even once a week, inspect the taps and fittings they would be saved a great deal of trouble and annoyance due from the loss of their property, the constant presence of workmen in their houses and the possibility of the water being temporarily cut off owing to the great waste taking place on account of the existence of defective taps and fittings.

59. In Appendix J will be found diagrams shewing the hourly consumption of water during period of 24 hours in the months of August and December, 1891, and March, June and December, 1892.

60. The consumption of water during the night doubtless strikes many not acquainted with the habits of the population as very large, but it is in a great measure accounted for especially during the summer months by the various trades the Chinese carry on during the night. The premises in which these trades are followed are gradually being singled out and meters fixed on the services. Further the lavish use of water by the nightsoil coolies for the washing out of utensils is another factor tending to swell the consumption during the night.

61. These causes do not, however, account for the whole of the night consumption. By the use of Tylors waste detecting meters, houses have been found in which taps have purposely been left run- ning, probably for the greater part of the night, owing to the erroneous impression that such a dribble of water flushes out the house drain. I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that one bucket of water poured rapidly down a drain will do more good by way of keeping it clean than 100 buckets wasted by allowing taps to run in this manner. A further source of constant waste is the prevalent practice of turning on taps and washing clothes and other articles by allowing the water to run freely over them instead of filling a bucket or tub and washing articles in such bucket or tub.