Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 242

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MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN VICTORIA.

30. The roads in the City were maintained in fairly good order during the year. The hard blue stone experimented with in 1898 was found to wear so well, that as much as could possibly be obtained, through the use of the stone-breaker at Kennedy Town, was utilized. The old Praya from Ice House Lane to the Canton Wharf was entirely re-surfaced, as well as a great part of Queen's Road West. It will be some years before the full advantage of using this hard crystalline stone instead of the granite will become very noticeable. The streets were soft and choked with dirt, the detritus of the soft granite used for years, and this stuff works up through the blue stone still in wet weather and forins mud. Excellent work has been done with the 10-ton steam-roller, its use makes it possible to lay the stone clean, or with but a slight blinding of grit from the quarries, and gradually a harder and better surface is being obtained. With the light traffic in Hongkong streets, there should be no mud by the time a good layer of the blue stone has been consolidated. Roads considered settled and solid years ago went down like loose earth before the 10-ton roller, and will in consequence become better able to withstand the traffic in future. The work is done much more rapidly and with less inconvenience to the traffic, and full employment for the roller is found throughout the year. It has also been utilized in consolidating the earth filling on the Praya Reclamation, making it possible to proceed much more quickly with the construction of the New Praya Roads, and the laying of sewerage, water and gas pipes.

Much difficulty was experienced during the year in getting the contractor to supply sufficient labour for work on the roads, owing to the fact that he had contracted for a low suni, while the increase in wages for coolies was considerable.

On the whole the roads were maintained in a satisfactory condition, with a few exceptions. The roads outside Victoria, including that round the Island, are so much more used by cyclists now, that a better and smoother surface is expected by the public. A heavy rainstorm and flood on the south side, resulted in the undermining and destruction of one of the piers of the bridge at the Aberdeen Paper Mills, and from similar causes a large culvert on the Shaukiwan Road was carried away, making a considerable breach in the road.

31. It may be noted here that large additions have been made to the mileage of roads in the Colony owing to the completion of various sections of the Praya Reclamation, the opening up of new building areas in Hongkong and in Kowloon, while the vote for maintenance has remained at almost the same figure for many years.

MAINTENANCE OF SEWERS.

32. The vote of $10,000 for this work is becoming insufficient owing to the large extension continually taking place. It was expended with as good effect as possible, and there is little to add to the remarks made last year under the head Drainage and Sewerage Works. Ninety-two (92) house connections to Government sewers were made in the year, and 73 disconnecting traps were renewed.

LIGHTING Contracts.

33. The lighting of the City under the contracts with the Gas and Electric Light Co. during the year was satisfactory.

The total number of lamps in use in the City at the end of the year was 707 and in Kowloon 165, only 23 of these remained to be fitted with incandescent burners.

The number of Electric lights still remains 75.

PUBLIC RECREATION GROUND.

34. The Public Recreation Ground was kept in as good order as the funds available admitted. The completion of the proposed work of improvement by altering and diverting the nullah still stands

over.

PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.

35. Some delay in starting work occurred at the commencement of the year awaiting the sanction of the Secretary of State to the Estimates for the year, and as stated in para. 2, several of the proposed works were postponed.

36. Mr. CHATHAM, Assistant Director of Public Works, reports as follows regarding works carried out under his supervision:-

(1.) New Territory,—The taking over of the New Territory caused heavy demands to be made on this Depart- ment for the erection of buildings of a temporary or permanent nature, the construction of Telephone Lines and Roads, repair and alteration of existing buildings, etc. Many designs and estimates were prepared for buildings which were afterwards altered in their arrangement or method of construction, entailing the prepa- ration of new plans and estimates, or were abandoned entirely. The difficulties of carrying out works in the New Territory have been great owing to the absence of facilities for travelling, good roads being nou- existent and the rough tracks which serve for roads being often flooded with water in the rainy season. The importance of constructing good trunk roads through the principal valleys to aid in the development and administration of the district cannot be too strongly urged upon the Government.