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62. These are matters that can only be dealt with by the occupiers of premises and unless such careless waste of water is prevented by them I can only suggest that all occupiers be called on to take their supply by meter, pay meter rent, and pay for the quantity of water actually consumed.

63. Meters. During the year, 66 meters have been fixed varying in size from ths of an inch to 3 inches, making the total number now in use 130.

64. The quantity of water supplied by meter will be seen on reference to Appendix D.

65. House Service.-The demands made on this department to lay on water to private tenements and repair existing defective services still continue large, 507 applications having been received and attended to during the past year, the cost being paid by the applicant.

66. The total number of houses now connected with the water mains in the City of Victoria is 3,463 and in the Hill District 79.

67. Maintenance of Sewers.-As the new sewerage works progress the old sewers in the higher levels of the City are rapidly becoming storm-water drains only. The diversion of the sewage proper from those in the lower levels will be a work of time, but until this is done we cannot hope to get rid of the effluvia that sometimes arises from gully gratings especially during the dry season.

68. The construction of gullies which intercept a large quantity of road detritus and other material finding its way into the side channels has doubtless caused a marked improvement in the condition of the large storm-water drains in some portions of the City.

69. The cleaning out of these gullies and the removal of the deposit from them is, as pointed out in my last annual report, a matter of considerable importance. This work is included in the Scavenging Contract and is under the supervision of the Sanitary Board and its Officers.

70. The whole of the sewers and storm-water drains have been maintained in a satisfactory condition without incurring any exceptional expenditure, except in one instance where a portion of the Robinson Road sewer, Kowloon, had to be taken up and re-laid on account of the roots of trees having found access into it.

71. Though trees along the sides of roads are very useful for shade purposes they (especially banyan trees) very much interfere with the maintenance of roads and drains, and I am of opinion the planting and growth of trees along the road sides within the built area should not be further encouraged.

72. The expenditure on account of Annually Recurrent Works will be found in Appendix M. 73. Street Lighting. The lighting of the City by Gas and Electricity has been satisfactorily carried out under the contracts with the Hongkong and China Gas Company dated 4th January, 1892. and the Electric Company dated 15th October, 1890, and 10th April, 1891, for periods of three years, 74. Gas lamps have been erected in the roads and streets of Yaumati and Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, and were first lighted on the 1st of November.

75. The total number of Gas lamps lighted in the City of Victoria is 641 and in Kowloon 78. 76. The total number of Electric lights in the City of Victoria is 75.

LAND SURVEY BRANCH.

77. During the past year 13 land sales have taken place, the area leased being 4,129,143 square feet, including Kowloon Farm Lot No. 13 of an area of 53 acres. The premiums realized amounting to $113,562.00.

78. A portion of Kowloon Farm Lot No. 13 has been converted into Inland Lots and 1,477,700 square feet of the adjoining property has been granted to the lessee of this lot partly as Inland and partly as Marine lots subject to special conditions as to construction of roads, sewers, &c. (C.S.O. 58).

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79. Extensions to existing lots of a total area of 267,367 square feet have been granted, premiums realized being $12,506.21.

80. Leases have been issued for the New Marine and Inland Lots reclaimed in front of the Wharf and Godown Co.'s premises at West Point comprising a total area of 85,386 square feet, and also for the New Marine Lots reclaimed at Kennedy Town comprising a total area of 202,409 square feet.

81. Surveys have been made, boundaries corrected and plans and particulars forwarded to the Land Office for the issue of 253 leases.

82. Surveys have been made of the villages of Pokfulam, Little Hongkong (old and new), Tai Hang Tsun, and the Chinese cemeteries at Mount Davis, Aberdeen, Stanley, Sheko, Shaukiwan, and Caroline Hill.

83. As will be seen from the tabular statement on the next page, 1,880 squatter's licences have been issued, the fees for which amount to $6,380.89.

84. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in the collection of fees from the squatters, several continuing to occupy Crown Land without taking out or renewing their licences.