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8. A great many complaints have been received during the past year from the Superintendent of the Gaol respecting the Gaol buildings more especially in connection with the Superintendent's Quarters. In these, however, improvements have been effected and on the opening of the Gaol Extension it is hoped that the Gaol accommodation will be found equal to meet all reasonable demands for some years

to come.

MAINTENANCE OF TELEGRAPHS AND TELEPHONES.

9. The telegraph and telephone lines have been kept in good repair during the year though temporary interruptions occurred after the severe typhoons of September and October.

The wooden poles in the lines from Shaukiwan to Cape D'Aguilar, from No. 6 Police Station to Pokfulam, and partly from Shaukiwan to Stanley, have been replaced by iron ones, and "The Ex- change" at the Post Office has been removed to the Central Police Station.

10. The Central Police Station is now in direct telephonic communication with Government House, Colonial Secretary's Office, Post Office, Public Works Office, Registrar General's Office, Treasury, Harbour Office, No. 2 Police Station, No. 5 Police Station, No. 6 Police Station, No. 8 Police Station, Peak Signal Station, Sanitary Board Office, and Motor House Garden Road, and by means of simple switches at these stations with Shaukiwan Police Station, Cape D'Aguilar, Stanley Police Station, Hunghom Police Station, Tsimshatsui Police Station, Kowloon Observatory, Yaumati Police Station, Pokfulam Police Station, Aberdeen Police Station, No. 7 Police Station, and Kennedy- town Police Station.

11. The expenditure under this heading of account has been $5,285.88.

12. Public Cemetery.-The Public Cemetery has been maintained without involving any excep- tional expenditure. Owing to the prevalence of the bubonic plague it became necessary to open out a further terrace on the hill side to the west of the chapel, but fortunately few fatal cases occurred amongst the Europeans and only 4 interments were made.

13. The typhoon of October 5th caused a good deal of damage amongst the trees and shrubs within the Cemetery which will take years to replace.

14. The chapel which has undergone no extensive repairs for years now requires thoroughly overhauling and the work is in hand.

The expenditure under this heading of account has been $1,180.95.

MAINTENANCE OF PRAYA WALL AND PIERS,

15. These have been maintained without any exceptional expenditure. A new pier of a temporary character has been erected off Ice House Lane to provide accommodation for the traffic previously plying to and from Pedder's Wharf, pending the completion of that portion of the Praya Reclamation and the reconstruction of Pedder's Wharf.

The expenditure under this heading of account has been $572.57.

16. Maintenance of Lighthouses.-The lighthouses have been maintained in a satisfactory state and with the exception of the Gap Rock Lighthouse without any exceptional expenditure.

17. In the case of the Gap Rock Lighthouse after the experience of the typhoon in October 1893, various minor repairs and the fixing of iron shutters to some of the more exposed windows and the strengthening of the main doors were considered advisable. These works have been completed, and it is satisfactory to be able to state, though the exposed position of this lighthouse renders it a subject of considerable anxiety during the typhoon season, that during the typhoons that swept over this Colony during last September and October little damage was done. I regret, however, to state that after the consultations I had whilst on leave with Mr. T. MATTHEWS, engineer in chief to the Trinity House, I felt compelled to report to the Government that, in my opinion, if the lighthouse was not to be abandoned during the typhoon season it was necessary to re-build it, (C.O.D. 1.)

last.

18. The repairs to the lantern and dioptric apparatus damaged in 1893 were completed in May

The expenditure under this heading of account has been $7,641.17.

19. Dredging Foreshores.-The dredger has been mainly employed at Causeway Bay, and 35,026 cubic yards of material have been dredged. Five thousand four hundred and thirteen cubic yards of silt were removed from Bowrington Canal during the year.

20. I regret to have to state that during the gale of the 25th September the dredger sank off Pottinger Street wharf in about ten feet of water, and she has now to undergo extensive repairs. A special report has been submitted on this subject, C.S.O. 245.

The expenditure under this heading of account has been $7,503.59.

21. Miscellaneous Works.-The principal works carried out under this heading have been the following:-the reconstruction of the south end wall of the Magazine at Stonecutters' Island; the general repairs, painting, alteration of drains, &c., of the Superintendent's Quarters, Victoria Gaol; the removal of a portion of the ramp on the cast side of the Officers' Quarters, Victoria Gaol, and works in connection therewith; the construction of an enclosure wall around the Lunatic Asylums; and the drainage of Kowloon Observatory, Yaumati Market, and of old Whitfeild Police Station.