Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 379

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The reasons of the great decline in the first three items, as compared with 1901, have already been sufficiently explained. The fourth item, which shows a large increase over 1901, is largely dependent upon the condition of the sugar-refining industry.

During the year new services were constructed or old ones altered and im- proved in 447 instances and in addition 340 services were inspected and connected to the mains. The services of 1,425 houses were inspected, 667 of which were found to be old and inadequate for supplying the tenements to which they were laid, though not actually causing waste of water. All defective services were re- paired after the usual notices had been issued.

38. Maintenance of Waterworks, Kowloon.—Kowloon, in common with thə City, suffered from the severe drought. Fortunately, the wells, which form the source of supply in connection with the old waterworks, continued to yield water throughout the dry season. The Cheung Sha Wan Intakes, at which im- provements had been made, were utilized to the fullest extent possible and assisted greatly in enabling a supply to be maintained.

The total consumption for the year amounted to 164,922,000 gallons or an average consumption of 452,000 gallons per day, which, with an estimated popul- ation of 56,500, gives 8 gallons per head per day for all purposes. Details are given in Appendix H.

The pumping engines were maintained in good repair throughout the year. During the year, 71 private services were constructed or repaired. The num- ber of meters in use was unaltered, namely 144.

39. Maintenance of Waterworks, Aberdeen and Shaukiwan.—The water supply at both these places was maintained in a generally satisfactory manner, the total consumption amounting to 5,932,000 and 7,325,000 gallons respectively. Details are given in Appendices J. and K.

40. Water-works, Miscellaneous. The following is a statement of the prin- cipal items of expenditure under this heading, several of them being for works which were carried out primarily on account of the severe drought, but designed to be of lasting benefit in connection with water supply.

In some cases the amount given is only part of the cost of the work, as it had not reached completion by the end of the year, or had been begun in 1901.

Extending main in Shaukiwan Road in order to connect

with Taikoo Reservoir,..

$4,380

Constructing small channels alongside catchwaters to

take the dry-weather flow of streams,

3,778

Constructing catchwater from Wanchai Gap round

Mounts Cameron and Nicholson,

1,713

Erecting new fountains,

3,335

Repairs, &c. at Albany Filter Beds,.

1,550

Altering main in Station Street, South, on account of

cutting down road,..

580

Cleaning out Pokfulam Reservoir,

560

Cleaning out Blue Pool,.

535

Extension of main in Belchers Street,

539

760, Yaumati,

459

Extension of main to Kowloon Inland Lots 759 and

41. Water-works Ordinance.—A new Ordinance prepared principally with the object of causing economy in the use of water by penalizing the waste or ex- travagant use of it, was read a first time on the 4th June and, after undergoing extensive amendinents, passed on the 13th August. The principal provisions of the Ordinance as passed were the disconnection of all services to tenement houses whenever a supply of water was rendered available from public fountains in their vicinity and the metering of all services to premises other than tenement houses. Steps were taken to carry these provisions into effect and, as mentioned elsewhere, public fountains were extensively fitted up in certain districts of the City. In consequence of instructions received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, however, the disconnection of the services to tenement houses was not proceeded with and the fixing of fountains was discontinued.