Sessional_Paper_1897 — Page 179

175

1896

336 89

38,

Building New Stove at and Blinds for Central Police Station, C.S.O. Channelling and Curbing Cameron, Granville and Carnarvon Roads, Kowloon,

C.S.O. Curbing, Channelling and Improving Street at Shaukiwan, C.S.O. 436, Supplying and fixing wrought iron ladder and ringbolts at Sheep, Swine and

Cattle Depôt, C.S.O. 37,

1896:

18961

Repairs and sundry works to Post Office, C.S.O. Tite, 1888 and 2091,. Street improvements at Yaumati, C.S.O.

...

734.77

2,675.04 1,713.10

163.41 206.21

1,778.63

19. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in Victoria.-Extensive repairs have been executed to the macadam surfaces of Queen's Road, Praya East, Praya Central, Bonham Strand, Cleverly Street, Sharp Street, and Heard Street; also to the concrete surfaces of Zetland Street, Battery Path and Garden Road. The surfaces of Kennedy, Bowen and Wanchai Roads have been repaired with decom- posed granite. The timber bridge, Hill Road, has been replaced by an iron and concrete structure.

20. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges out of Victoria.-Considerable attention has been bestowed upon these roads and bridges. Cape D'Aguilar, Magazine Gap, Wanchai Gap, Mount Kellet, Pokfulam and Shaukiwan Roads; also Little Hongkong New Road and the roads at Aberdeen, have been thoroughly repaired.

All the bridges have been examined and repaired where necessary. The bridge over the 'stream at Wongneichong Village has been reconstructed, brick arches replacing the old timber structure, C.S.O..

21. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in Kowloon.-The principal streets in the villages of Yaumati and Hung Hom have been surfaced with decomposed granite, and the roads and bridges throughout the Peninsula maintained in a satisfactory state of repair.

22. Maintenance of Water Works, City of Victoria and Hill District.-The water works of the City of Victoria and Hill District have been maintained in a satisfactory state and condition. The small rainfall experienced during 1895 and the early part of 1896 necessitated the introduction of the intermittent supply during the months of January, February, March and June.

23. The following statement shews the periods during which the intermittent system was intro- duced, the hours of supply, the average daily consumption and the consumption per head per diem. during such periods. The population taken is that ascertained from the census returns of January, 1897, viz., Land, 163,910. Boat, 14,415. Hill District, 1,660. Total, 179,985:-

Month.

Period.

Hours of Supply.

Consumption in gallons.

Average daily.

January,

February,

March,

June,

Per head

per diem.

1st to 31st

1st to 29th

6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

1,733,064

9.7

1,764,793

9.8

1st to 29th

6 a.. to 10 a.m.

1,781,862

9.9

1st to 14th

6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

1,917,429

10.7

24. The quantity of water filtered at Taitam and Pokfulam filter beds during the year was 676,842,000 gallons and 271,843,000 gallons respectively, making a total of 948,685,000 gallons, equal to a consumption at the rate of 14.4 gallons per head per diem for all purposes.

Neglecting the period (103 days) during which the supply was intermittent, the consumption during the remaining 263 days was 765,263,000 gallons or at the rate of 16.1 gallons per head per diem for all purposes.

25. The total quantity of water supplied to the Hill District during the year was 12,494,000 gallons or at the rate of 20.5 gallons per head per diem. (Population 1,660 census 1897.)

26. In the Hill District, all water supplied is measured by meter in accordance with the Water Works Ordinance No. 6 of 1895.

The introduction of meters has effected a diminution in the consumption of water, but the con- sumption still appears unnecessarily high, and when the scarcity of the water supply during the last three years and the cost of raising the water some 1,400 feet is considered, the importance of adopting every practicable means for securing an economical use of water consistent with sanitary requirements is obvious.

27. The total quantity of water supplied to the City and Hill District by meter during the year was 244,452,000 gallons, the number of meters being 245 in the City and 109 in the Hill District.