Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 345

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5. 21.26 acres of land were surveyed in connection with the issue of leases and re-adjustment of boundaries; 5.61 acres were surveyed in connection with land sales; 2.37 acres in connection with extensions, and 1.37 acres in connection with grants on short leases.

6. One hundred and eighty-three sets of plans and particulars, in duplicate, of lots were furnished to the Land Office for the preparation of leases.

7. Boundary stones were fixed to 38 lots.

8. The short leases include one lot of 90,000 square feet in Kowloon on the foreshore used for storing timber leased for 2 years at $450.00 per annum, and another lot 33,750 square feet in area at Shaukiwan let on a yearly lease at $200.00 per annum in connection with a Soy Factory.

9. A sum of $4,985.00 was realized by the rent of Crown Land in the vicinity of the Race Course for the erection of Booths and Stands during the Race meeting,

10. The sales of Crown Land were considerably short of the estimate for the year, owing to the few applications for land in the Taipingshan resumed area. In November, 1897, six lots sold in this locality at prices ranging from $5.38 to $4.14 per square foot, and there seemed reason to anticipate a rapid sale of the rest of the area. In 1898, only five lots sold, the price paid varying from $4.13 to $2.00 a foot. Elsewhere there was considerable demand for land and prices went up considerably. The price of building lots between Kennedy Road and Bowen Road went up from 6 to 12 cents a foot, and in one case even 25 cents a foot was paid. In Kowloon there was also considerable demand, and as much as 80 cents a foot was realized for lots in Yaumati.

11. The number of Squatter's licences on the roll of the 1st January, 1898, was 1,192, and the fees recoverable $3,537.70. Seventeen were written off with the authority of Government (C.S.O. 1893) leaving 1,175 on the roll at the close of the year. The recoveries amounted to $3,399.57.

12. Under this heading it may be interesting to place on record that a considerable area of land at Causeway Bay has been reserved for the purpose of a Public Recreation Ground; whilst in Kowloon a hill known as the Hill of the King of the Sung, which bears some Chinese historical associations has also been reserved. Ordinances relating to both these reservations were passed by the Legislative Council.

WORK UNDER THE BUILDING Ordinance,

13. Plans have been deposited to the number of 465-17 for European dwellings, 74 for Chinese houses, and 374 for miscellaneous structures.

14. Certificates have been granted under Section 53 of Ordinance 15 of 1889 for 337 houses, and permission has been given for the erection of 75 verandahs and 21 piers over Crown Land or Foreshore.

15. Notices relating to structures in a dangerous condition have been served in 6 cases; 1,433 notices and permits of a miscellaneous nature have been issued; and 81 permits have been granted for the erection and repairs of monuments and enclosures in the Colonial Cemetery. The fees received for the latter amount to $279.21.

16. During the year the most notable buildings in course of erection from an industrial point of view were the Cotton Mills at Causeway Bay, and the Cement Works at Hok Ün, both of which are nearing completion. On the eastern portion of the Reclamation, the Telegraph Companies' Offices were completed and two large blocks of buildings for occupation as offices were well advanced, and on the western portion several godowns and blocks of houses have been erected.

PUBLIC WORKS ANNUALLY RECURRENT.

17.— Maintenance of Buildings.--The public buildings of the Colony, the total number on the list being 120, were maintained in fair order during the year. The chief expenditure on any one building or block of buildings in the year was on Government House which, from not having been occupied for a considerable time, required a complete overhaul, painting, colour and white-washing, &c.

18. The Government Civil Hospital and the Principal Civil Medical Officer's residence were thoroughly repaired, re-painted and colour-washed at an expenditure of over $3,000.

19. Other buildings on which considerable expenditure was necessarily incurred in the year were, No. 5 Police Station, the Government Offices, the Water Police Station at Kowloon, the Supreme Court, the Central Police Station, the Government Villas at the Peak, and Yaumati Market.

20. The report of Mr GIBBS, Engineer in charge of the Waterworks, on the Maintenance of Waterworks in the City of Victoria and Hill District is quoted in full as follows :----

21. Maintenance of Waterworks, City of Victoria and Hill District.—A constant supply of filtered water to the City and Hill District has been maintained throughout the year, and the quality of the water as ascertained by analysis has been excellent. The total quantity supplied was 1,133,270,000 gallons, equal to an average daily consumption of 3,105,000 gallons, or 15.8 per head for a population of 196,000 for all purposes.

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