Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 240

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f. The average consumption of filtered water per day in the City and Hill Districts was 3,183,027 gallous, which with an

estimated population of 201,000 gives a daily consumption of 15.8 gallons per head for all purposes.

g. The consumption in the Hill Districts has increased considerably since mains were first laid at the Peak, and there has also been a steady increase in the consumption in the High Levels of the City (pumped supply) since 1895. This has necessitated additional pumping at all the Stations, the original pumping machinery laid down for the Peak doing practically full duty during the summer mouths. In order to meet the demand a new motor designed for p.nping both to the Hill Districts and High Levels of the City, a new and more powerful pump for the Arbuthnot Road motor and the necessary rising mains were ordered from England during the year and will, it is hoped, be working before the summer of 1900.

Appendices D and E give details of the increased consumption in the Hill Districts and High Levels of the City, respectively.

A. During the year new services were constructed or old services extended in 619 instances and in addition 93 services were inspected and connected to the maius. The construction of private services by a public Department necessarily entails additional clerical work and a larger workshop staff; it has been continued because it ensures the construction of the services in accordance with the provisions of the Water-works Ordinance and the use of good materials. Judging by the large proportion of the total number of services which are constructed departmentally it would also appear to be a great couvenience to the public.

2. Fire services were laid or extended during the year within Naval and Military properties. A fire service was also

permitted in the new Cotton Mill at East Point.

j. The services of 1,133 houses were inspected during the year; 1,040 were found in order, and 93 were defective, the defects

were all repaired after the usual notices had been served.

KOWLOON.

a. During the year there was a total consumption of 86,576,000 gallons, particulars of which will be found in Appendix F. This gives an average daily consumption of 237,194 gallons, or with an estimated population of 27,000 an average consumption of 8.8 gallons per head.

b. In consequence of the low rainfall and consequent scarcity of water, it became necessary to introduce the intermittent supply to the peninsula from January 7th to April 20th and during the greater part of May. In June, July and August it was again introduced owing to a difficulty with the pump valves.

c. Trouble was experienced throughout the year in passing water from No. 2 Valley through the syphon main; to overcome this difficulty a centrifugal pump with engine and boilers was erected at the main collecting well in the Valley and the water was then pumped through the main. The boilers used were those originally supplied and erected for working the engines in the Yaumati Pumping Station.

d. After the removal of the above boilers, steam was supplied to the engines in the Pumping Station by a spare boiler which had been erected as a stand-bye. In June a new and more powerful locomotive boiler arrived from England and was erected and the spare boiler reverted to the purpose of a stand-bye.

e. The storage capacity for the Peninsula was increased during the year by raising the Dam of No. 1 Valley 5 feet; this work

was completed in June.

f. At the end of the year there were 101 meters in use in Kowloon.

g. During the year, 53 private services were constructed or repaired and 2 were inspected and connected to the mains.

SHAUKIWAN.

a. A full supply was maintained to the Village during the year. During September a meter was fixed on the outlet main from the service reservoir and since October 1st the whole supply to the village has passed through this meter.

b. The total supply for the three months, as registered by the meter, was 1,987,000 or an average consumption of 21,600

gallons per day.

c. During the year one private service was constructed and connected to the mains.

private supplies in the Village.

There are now 5 metered services for

ABERDEEN.

a. A constant supply of water was maintained to the Village throughout the year.

was 5,209,000 gallons, particulars of which will be found in Appendix G. of 14,270 gallons.

b. There are now 4 private metered supplies in the Village.

The total quantity of water supplied This gives an average daily consumption

PUBLIC WORKS ANNUALLY RECURRENT.

16. -Maintenance of Buildings.-The chief item of expenditure incurred during the year on this vote was on Government House, which, having been very little used for some years, had fallen into a serious state of disrepair.

The sanitary arrangements had never been satisfactory, and required a complete overhaul, includ- ing proper ventilation of the closets by carrying the soil pipes entirely outside the house and above the roof. New baths of a modern type were fitted in several of the bath rooms. An examination of the verandah roofs, which had been patched and tinkered for years, revealed the fact that, owing to the ravages of white ants and dry rot, they were not only beyond repair but becoming unsafe. The ́entire roof was stripped, all rotten timbers removed, an enormous mass of double tiling got rid of, and an entirely new roof of a stronger but lighter description fixed; such timber as was found to be still sound and good being utilized. In many cases the floor joists were also found to be decayed, some important timbers being entirely destroyed and of the appearance of a sponge. In some cases steel rolled joists were substituted.

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