Sessional_Paper_1897 — Page 414

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Sanitary Surveyor's Report for 1896.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT,

HONGKONG, March 24th, 1897.

SIR-I have the honour to forward herewith my annual report for the year 1896.

RE-DRAINAGE,

1. Plans have been deposited and passed by me during the year for the re-drainage of 1,786 houses. The plans of 1,149 houses were carried forward from 1895 making a total of 3,235 in hand during the year.

2. The re-drainage of 2,128 houses has been completed during the year leaving 1,023 carried for ward to 1897.

3. In addition to the above notices for repairs or additions to the drainage arrangements of 43 houses were carried forward from 1895 and new notices for 328 houses have been received making a total of 371 for the year.

290 of these have been completed, 9 have been cancelled and 72 are carried forward.

4. I append tabular statements shewing-

Table A.-The re-drainage work in hand during the year.

Table B.-The total re-drainage work in hand since the Public Health Ordinance came into force. Table C.-The work done in drainage repairs during and since 1895.

5. The records have been maintained and are complete to date.

INSPECTION OF PRIVATE DRAINS.

6. On Mr. RAM's resignation in July the work of inspecting the drainage arrangements of pri- vate premises reverted to me. Since then 377 houses have been inspected with the result that recommendations were made that 157 should be entirely re-drained, that repairs or alterations should be executed in 102 houses while 118 houses were found in good and sanitary order.

7. A total of work done in the inspection of private premises is as follows:-

(a) Houses that have been inspected and reported upon-Old drains,

New drains,

3,373

3,455

(b) Houses in respect of which orders have been recommended to and approved by

the Board,

6,828

(c) Number of houses for which notices have been served, (d) Number of houses which have complied with notices,

5;114

(e) Number of houses with regard to which plans for the re-drainage or repairs have

been submitted,

5,114 4,156

4,993

(f) Number of houses in which drains have been found defective-

(i) Old drains,.......................... 3,371 (ii) New drains,

12

3.383

8. It has been found in several instances that the notices have been complied with although no information was given to the Board; these houses are included under section (d). There can be no doubt that there are a number more of which the Board has no knowledge,

WATER CLOSETS.

9. During the past year water closets and urinals have been erected by permission of the Board and connected to the house drains in the following buildings:

Urinals.

16 Caine Road,

13 Caine Road,

3 Queen's Road Central,

Water Closets.

3

***

5

1

9

2

The soil pipes and connections have in each instance been carefully tested and the conditions imposed by the Board have been observed.

NEW BUILDINGS.

10. Certificates have been granted during the year to 425 houses as having been built in accord- ance with the provisions of the Public Health Ordinance. CEMETERIES.

11. Terraces have been set out and formed at the south end of the Mount Caroline Cemetery to. accommodate 216 graves which it is estimated will suffice for ten months. It was found necessary to use one of these terraces almost before it was ready and it was filled before the other terraces were completed. The ten months are reckoned from January 1st, 1897.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

-H. MCCALLUM, Esq.,

Secretary, Sanitary Board.

Your obedient Servant,

J. R. CROOK,

Sanitary Surveyor.