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been shown to be practicable, then it is hardly an exaggeration to say that the present water famine would not have occurred. I will again repeat that the Universal Use of Meters coupled with an appropriate price for water, over and above a certain quantity, is the only efficient means of checking waste. Therefore, I recom- mend that the existing Water Ordinauce be amended, in the sense of the original Draft Ordinance of 1890.

supply of

18. I have nothing to add to what I have already stated, with regard to the Water- practicability of obtaining a supply of water for Hongkong, from the New Kowloon. Territory. From any information obtained, since writing that report, it seems to me that, within the New Territory, water will not be an over-abundant commodity. I hope to make a more complete examination of the New Territory shortly, and will embody any further remarks in a special report.

ments to

apparatus at

19. It is most important to measure the water, drawn from the reservoirs and Improve- from the filter-beds, with every possible accuracy. I have pointed out that the measuring present arrangements are far from perfect. As the drawings of the improved reservoirs arrangements are in hand, and as the instruments and appliances can be made locally, and I will not lengthen this report by giving a full description of them.

As regards the measurement of the yield of filter-beds, I would observe that the best appliance is a modification of the Venturi Meter devised in connection with a small water-works in the West Indies. If, as is probable, the Albany Filter-beds require alteration, I recommend this adoption of the form of Venturi Meter, which has this advantage that it gives at a glance, without reference to tables or calculation, the quantity of water afforded by the filter-bed, and also the head of water lost in passing through the sand, information which is essential to proper filteration. I also recommend their introduction in connection with the new Kowloon Filter-beds. They are made by Messrs. KENT, 101, High Holborn, London. I cannot remember the price, but it is not great. Prices could be obtained by informing Messrs. KENT of the maximum and minimum quantities to be measured by each gauge.

Peak Water-supply.

and filter-

20. In order to meet the increasing demand for water, throughout the Peak Reserve

pumping- District additional reserve steam-plant is desirable, especially at the Western or plant

required. Bonham Road pumping-station. Here there is. at present, one hydraulic motor and one steam-engine.

falling-off

of water

21. It was originally intended that the Peak District should be principally Causes of supplied, by the hydraulic motor at Bonham Road (No. 3), the power being afforded in quantity by the water which passes to the lower Zone of the City. The quantity that can raised by No. be pumped, in this manner, is some fixed proportion of the water, consumed by the 3 Motor. lower Zone. Now, however, the consumption of water, in the lower Zone, or that part thereof which is supplied from Pokfoolum, is so small that very little work is obtained from the hydraulic motor. The steam-engine, originally provided as a reserve, is now used, almost continuously. This condition is aggravated by the fact that No. 2 Tank is in a ruinous condition, and cannot be filled. If this tank were reconstructed, as I recommended for other reasons, in another report, the flow of water through the motor would be rendered uniform and more work would be obtained from it. I therefore recommend the prompt reconstruction of No. 2 Tank.

22. A large proportion of the water, supplied to the Peak, must always be pumped, by steam, at the Bonham Road Station. As aforesaid, the quantity of water, which can be pumped by hydraulic power, is a fixed fraction of the water consumed, within that portion of the lower Zone. For this reason, the necessary quantity of water, for working the motor, may not always pass through it. Again, though water from Taitam can be pumped, at this station, by steam, this water cannot be used for driving the motor, on account of the relatively low level of

Reason for at

a new engine

No. 3

Station.

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