Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 223

127

[iii]

MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS, ROADS, &c.

ap-

11. Mr. CHATHAM is of opinion that an additional Assistant Engineer should be pointed to assist in maintenance work generally, including roads, and that another Eu- ropean Overseer should be appointed to supervise the roads inside the City of Victoria.

The evidence showed that the staff, as at present constituted, is not sufficient to exercise proper supervision over the roads, and the Commission is, therefore, in favour of increasing the staff as proposed.

The Commission took a great deal of evidence regarding the unsatisfactory condition of the roads, especially in the City of Victoria.

The evidence regarding roads shows that road-making in this Colony is not an easy matter, and that opinions vary as to the best mode of constructing roads, and the most suit- able materials to be used in such construction. Amidst such a variety of opinion it is difficult to arrive at a definite conclusion, but, as the present condition of the roads cannot be regarded as satisfactory, the Commission would urge the necessity of every attempt being made to bring them into a state creditable to the Colony.

In view of the evidence of Mr. CHADWICK as to the asphalt road laid under his instructions at Malta, which has worn so well, and of the evidence of other witnesses as to the desirability of giving wood pavement a trial, the Commission recommends that a portion of a road in a busy thoroughfare be laid with asphalt and another portion with wood pavement with a view to ascertaining whether roads constructed of either material are likely to prove a success in this Colony.

The attention of the Director of Public Works should also be directed to the evidence given before the Commission regarding roads, as the preponderating weight of that evidence tends to show that the present mode of constructing roads is faulty.

TELEGRAPHS AND TELEPHONES.

Evidence.

7

10

22-30

61-66

67

115-116

118-119 163-165

170-172

172-174

183-181

66-70

12. The evidence of Mr. FARRELL makes it clear that he has not time to attend to the Evidence. work involved in the laying and maintenance of telegraphs and telephones in addition to Pages- the duties of supervising the roads outside the City of Victoria. Mr. CHATHAM is also of opinion that one Overseer should devote his entire time. to telegraphs and telephones.. The Commission endorses that opinion and recommends its adoption.

Mr. TookER recommends that iron poles should be substituted for the timber poles Evidence. now in use. Mr. CHATHAM also advises the same course, which the Commission thinks Page 31 should be followed.

CEMETERY.

Pages:- 31-32

13. In view of the shifting nature of the population of Hongkong, the Commission Evidence. strongly recommends that the care of all the monuments in the Cemetery should be un- dertaken by the Government—a recommendation which it has the less hesitation in making, as the estimated extra expenditure involved is trifling.

BUILDING ORDINANCE.

14. A new Building Ordinance has been drafted and is at present before the Legislative Council. It is not, therefore, necessary for the Commission to enter into details regarding that measure, which is now being carefully considered by the public and will be fully discussed elsewhere.

The question of the staff required to carry out the Building Ordinance, so far as the Public Works Department is concerned, is one which comes within the purview of the Commission.

The present staff consists of :-

1 Executive Engineer.

1 Assistant Engineer.

1 Overseer.