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It will therefore be seen that by changing the system of construction originally inaugurated by the late Surveyor General, a saving of time of about 38 months, and a saving in the cost of levelling, concreting, and weighting the foundations, setting the first course of Concrete Blocks, etc. on Sections Nos. 1 and 3 and a portion of Section No. 2 of about $29,944 has been effected.

6. I, therefore, venture to submit that although the expenditure during the year has been com- paratively small, and much below the expenditure of former years, yet a large quantity of absolutely necessary work has been done, and I think from the circumstances recorded in the foregoing report the progress made is fairly satisfactory. The total expenditure during the year would have been some $70,000 or $80,000 more had not the new works of Reclamation been suspended pending the decision by Government on an influentially signed petition asking for the stoppage of all works of Reclamation except those already in hand, otherwise the construction of the rubble stone foundations of sea wall between Ice House Street and Pottinger Street would have been commenced in April last, and would have now been well advanced towards completion, and the Concrete Blocks would, I have no doubt, have been set during the low tides of 1894, but which cannot now be done before the low tides of 1895. The consequence of the presentation of this petition is that the Reclamation will now take a year longer and will therefore cost more, to complete, than it otherwise would have done.

7. PLANT.-The whole of the Plant has been maintained in a satisfactory state of repair without involving any extraordinary expenditure. The Steam Travelling Crane was laid up (temporarily) in August, as it was found that the Concrete Blocks could be set quicker and at a much less cost by hand labour, using a Derrick and Winch, than by Steam Crane.

8. STAFF. The Staff consists of Mr. BOWDLER, Special Engineer in charge of the Works; Mr. BOULTON, Assistant Engineer; Mr. MUDIE, Executive Engineer; Mr. REMEDIOS, Clerk, Accountant and Storekeeper; Mr. LEUNG WING-KEE, Tracer; Mr. McISAAC, Master of Steam Tug Praya; and three overseers,-Messrs. W. BIDGOOD, W. J. NICHOLLS and C. BIDGOOD.

Mr. MUDIE was granted six months' leave of absence from the 3rd April (In C.S.O. 2812). The duties of Mr. MuDIE being carried on during his absence by Mr. Boulton.

Mr. W. BIDGOOD after 5 years and 7 months employment on Reclamation Works was on the 12th October, (C.S.O. 2254), allowed to return to England for six months on the understanding that he should re-engage for another term of 3 years.

On the 27th March, (C.S.O. 44), Mr. NICHOLLS was transferred to the Public Works Department and Mr. MENHINNETT who is on the permanent staff of that Department was temporarily transferred to the Praya Reclamation Works, with a view to pushing on the work of setting the Concrete Blocks, etc. during the low tides, he having had some previous experience in that class of work, and the accelerated progress made in setting the blocks, &c. has, I think, more than justified the transfer.

9. Appendix A is a general statement of the several quantities of work executed in the more important Items to the 31st December 1892, and during the year under review. Appendix B is a statement of Accounts to the 31st December 1893. The outstanding liabilities amount to $23,000.00 due to the Crown Agents and on account of the monies retained pending the completion of the terms of maintenance under the several Contracts in progress during the year.

10. I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the highly satisfactory manner in which the whole of the Officers employed on these works, with one exception (Mr. C. A. BIDGOOD discharged as per C.S.O. 1), have performed their respective duties and to the interest and energy which they have displayed in carrying out the several works entrusted to them, also to the very efficient and satisfactory manner in which Mr. REMEDIOS has kept the accounts of these works which are both intricate and complicated.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&G.,

ኣ...

&c.

E. BOWDLER,

Special Engineer.