Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 438

342

See Gor- ernment

No. 1018.

( 210 )

Appendix No. 4.

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE, HONGKONG, 6th December, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to forward, for the information of the Public Works Com- mission, a copy of Mr. Cooper's Report on the Water Supply of the City of Victoria and Hill District and to subjoin the following remarks with regard to what has been done in order to give effect to the recommendations contained in it.

On page 11 will be found particulars of a project for increasing the capacity of Notifica Tytam Reservoir which included the raising of the dam and the extension of the catchment area by the construction of a catchwater to the East a little over one and a 11th July half miles long. These works were completed early in 1897.

tion, No. 260 of

1898.

Ibid.

Ibid.

The estimated capacity of Tytam Reservoir is now 384,800,000 gallons to over- flow level and can be increased to 407,000,000 gallons by inserting sluice boards 2 feet in height on top of the overflow dam.

On page 14, under the heading "Distribution of Water within the City and Hill Districts," reference is made to certain works which were in progress at the time the Report was written and to the necessity of laying new mains in certain roads. These works have been carried out, as has also the construction of the covered service reservoir at the Peak referred to in paragraph 120.

The repairs to No. 2 Tank have not been carried out however, the tank having been disconnected from the distribution system since the date of the Report. I consi- der that it will be necessary to reconstruct this tank entirely and that it will be advisable to move the position of it at the same time, as its present site cannot be regarded as a satisfactory one.

On page 17, under the heading "Particulars of Proposed Works to meet Present Requirements" are detailed certain works, which include a reservoir at Wongueich'ung Gap, catchwaters to increase the catchment areas of this reservoir and of that at Tytam. and certain additional Filter Beds.

These works have all been carried out and the only modifications which were made in the proposals were the substitution of thin steel for cast iron pipes for conveying the water across the ravine below Tytam Reservoir and the omission of the 5′′ cast iron main from Wongneich'ung Reservoir to the Tytam Conduit.

The former modification was made by Mr. Cooper himself. With regard to the- latter the provision of the 5′′ main was considered unnecessary in carrying out the work, as the natural stream course was available for conveying the water the greater part of the distance, a small dam and pipe being provided to lead it into the conduit.

Of the works referred to in the tabulated statement on page 17, all have been carried out with the exception of the first item and the repairs to No. 2 Tank, already mentioned.

With regard to the Improvements of Pokfulam Conduit, there is no definite information on the subject as to what Mr. Cooper's intentions were. I have no doubt, however, that he meant to improve or alter the syphons which convey the water flow- ing through the conduit across several deep valleys occurring along the route.

I am of opinion that the best method of carrying out the improvements will be to bridge the valleys in the same manner as has been done in the case of the Tytam Conduit.

The object of the work is to enable a larger proportion of the supply to be drawn from Pokfulam Reservoir during the summer months, as that Reservoir fills up and is liable to overflow at a much earlier period than Tytam.