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(xvi.) Temporary Bungalow at “ The Cliffs.”—Owing to the inadequacy of the accommodation provided by "The Cliffs," which was leased as a summer residence for His Excellency the Governor, a temporary wooden bun- galow containing 4 rooms, bath-rooms and verandahs was erected and connected by means of a covered way to the main building.

(xvii.) Lighting of Government House.In consequence of a decision to extend to the whole of the building the electric lighting system, which had hitherto been confined to the Ball-room wing, advantage was taken of the opportunity afforded by the general repairs in progress to run the necessary wires. This portion of the work has been completed and all is in readiness for the erection of the fittings whenever they arrive from England. (xviii.) Pokfulam Conduit Road.-Owing to several sites for residences being sold above the level of the Robinson Road sites, it became necessary to construct a road giving access to them. A commencement has been made with the approach road up Glenealy Ravine, which is a troublesome piece of work involving some heavy cutting in close proximity to dwelling houses, through ground containing numerous large boulders.

(xix.) Water Supply, Kowloon.—The inadequacy of the supply to meet the rapidly-growing wants of Kowloon caused some further works to be undertaken. The raising of the dam in No. 1 Valley, referred to in last year's Report, was completed early in 1899, and has been of service in impounding an additional quantity of water. The consumption has, however, outgrown the sources of supply rendered available under the original water-works scheme, a scheme which, it may be pointed out, involved continual pumping. Upou the acqui- sition of the New Territory, an examination was made of the hills immediately to the north of the old boundary where some streams were found near Cheung Sha Wan, capable of being intercepted at such an elevation as to admit of obtaining a gravitation supply from them: The necessary extension of the main and the construction of the dams and intake works are in progress. It is estimated that a yield of 100,000 gallons per day will be obtained from these works which is equal to an addition of 50% to the supply hitherot available.

A special report on the subject of works to be undertaken for the establishment of a gravitation scheme of sufficient extent to meet the present requirements of the entire district and to admit of extension when necessary has been prepared by Mr. GIBBS, Assistant Engineer, and laid before Government.

(xx.) City of Victoria and Hill District Water-works.--The Wongneichong Reservoir was fully completed in the end of April and has formed a useful addition to the water-works of the City for the year under review, when 'the rainfall was considerably below the average. The capacity of the reservoir is 30,337,000 gallons or, with

the insertion of the sluice boards provided for raising the overflow level, 33,994,000 gallons.

The construction of two new filter beds alongside the existing beds in the Western District of the City was undertaken and nearly completed. This will increase the number of beds to six, all of the same area.

A new motor and pumping main have been ordered from Eugland, the former of which is to be erected at the Bowen Road filter beds to act as an anxiliary to the present motors for pumping up the water supply for the Peak District. Arrangements are also being made for certain alterations in the Arbuthnot Road motor which will have the effect of doubling its pumping capacity.

(xxi.) Gaol Extension. The whole of the works contemplated under the scheme for Gaol Extension have been,

completed, with the exception of the erection of a new block of cells in the upper cast yard and the roofing over of a portion of the unoccupied area of this yard, for both of which a contract was let before the close of the year.

Numerous minor works were carried out during the year, largely by prison labour, materials being supplied by this Department. They included the provision of a hot water supply, the removal of the old drying apparatus and reconstruction of same with large additions in a new building, the erection of a new washing shed, an addition to the workshed erected in 1898, and the taking down of B wing to make room for the new block of cells now in course of erection.

(xxii) Sewerage of Victoria.-Four bundred and fifty-seven (457) lineal yards of storm drains were built as

extensions in the City, and 742 lineal yards in Kowloon,

Three thousand (3,000) lineal yards of sewer were constructed in the City, and 1,628 lineal yards in Kowloon.

(xxiii.) Water-works Miscellaneous.--The work executed under this heading included the construction of a meter house to enclose the meter fixed on the new 5" Peak supply main at a point above where house services are taken from it. The only other work worthy of notice was the laying of a water main, partly 4" and partly 3" diameter, from Victoria Gap along Barker Road to join the main in the old Magazine Gap Road in order to provide for the supply of houses in course of erection ou Barker Road. The iron tauk, of 10,000 gallons capacity, which was removed from the Peak on the construction of the service reservoir there in 1897, was erected above Plantation Road for the purpose of regulating the pressure in the main referred to.

(xxir.) Drainage Works Miscellaneous. The principal items carried out under this vote were an extension of the Hunghom sewerage system to provide for the new buildings erected ou sites recently sold; the laying of a main sewer to Wongneichung Village in order to intercept the sullage water and prevent the fouling of the stream; the provision of sewers in connection with the houses in course of erection on Barker Road; an extension of the sewerage system at Tsim Tsa Tsui point; and the construction of a new storm-water drain in Gongh Street. In addition to these, mumerons extensions were made in various parts of Kowloon and else- where and several ventilators were constructed on the Peak system of sewers.

(xxv.) Quarters for Gaol Staff.-A contract for the preparation of the site and construction of the buildings was let in April, 1899. Owing to the configuration and irregular shape of the site, the work of preparing it for building on, has been somewhat troublesome. It has however been practically completed and the foundations of some of the buildings have been put in.

(xxvi.) Swine Depot, Kennedy Town.--The erection of the shed on the southern half of the lowest terrace at Kennedy Town was begun during the year and has been nearly completed. It has been divided off into pens by means of iron fences and provided with drinking troughs similarly to the sheds built ou the other terraces. With the erection of this shed the last of the possible extensions on the present site has been completed. It is worthy of note that the scheme for the construction of these depôts was only begun in 1890 and it was then considered that provision was being made for sufficient expansion to meet the Colony's requirements for many years to come. It proves however that, after the lapse of only 10 years, it has been found necessary to exhaust the capabilities of the site by carrying out the last of the extensions for which provision was made.