Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 700

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WITNESS-The Committee is of opinion that the one block is amply sufficient for the requirements of the two wards.

The PRESIDENT-Do you think it would be ample ?--I must confess I think it would be better to have another block as originally proposed on Po Yan Street side or somewhere else.

Mr. WHITEHEAD-What expense would another block necessitate ?

WITNESS-As shown on this first plan all these different things were agreed to by the original Committee; the contracts were signed, drawings made and the work partially carried out, and it was only on the change of Committee that some of the work was stopped.

What would be the cost of the new detached block-a separate wing?

WITNESS-Roughly speaking it would cost two thousand dollars. Perhaps not so much. $8,000 was the contract for the whole of the alterations-a new mortuary, coffin store, watchman's house, laundry, latrine and the two blocks attached to the wards such as I have described, and entirely new drainage of the premises. I should think the cost of the remaining block would be $1,500. ·

The PRESIDENT-Would it be preferable to have the extra block instead of carrying out the proposal of joining the two wards by a bridge ?-Well, it is rather far for a patient to go, and also looking at it from a medical point of view it would be preferable, especially if they want to keep different diseases separate. Besides the

Besides the upper ward of one block is a female ward, and the men from the other ward could not go past the female ward. I must say a separate block for each ward would be better.

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What other work have you carried out in the Hospital ?--The entire re-drainage is practically completed.

Mr. WHITEHEAD-What was the state of the drainage before ?-It was bad. Under the old system of combined drainage the rain water and sewage were together and the drains were in a very bad condition. When completed the drainage will be in very good order. The new drainage is on the separate system. It has been inspected by Mr. CROOK, except one or two minor things not yet completed. The new laundry is com- pleted, and passed, and in use. It is a good big building, comprising three large tanks and a boiler and proper places for washing. It necessitated an alteration in a flight of steps. The new approach leading up to the top plateau is completed; it leads to the new mortuary, the new waiting room for mourners, coffin store and watchman's house. These are all completed. These new works have all been completed since July, 1895. The only portion of the contract not carried out is the block attached to the East and West ward and a latrine, involving an expense of $1,500 for the block and $500 or $600 for the latrine,

How much has already been expended ?-About $6,000 leaving $2,000 not yet expended. There is also a new water tank. The old water supply came in and was distributed in small brick tanks throughout the buildings. It was insanitary because buckets possibly not over-clean might be dipped into the tanks. A covered brick in cement tank, 10 feet by 10 feet by 8 feet, has been constructed, giving an ample supply to the Hospital for 24 hours. It is completed and the water laid on to it, and from that the old system of pipes has been connected up and taps will be fixed at different points. All the old tanks still remain. Under the old system every place had a small tank or barrel, and when there was an intermittent supply the water had to be stored there. But now that there is a storage tank these separate tanks ought to be abolished, because the people in the Hospital might still go there and dip in a bucket or some other utensil which may not be very clean.

clean. I think it would be better to have taps all through the place seeing they have a tank capable of holding an ample supply for the 24 hours. That would make the drainage and water supply complete and sanitary. The tank is on a piece of ground obtained from the Government on the side of the hill.