Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 630

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PUBLIC WORKS ANNUALLY RECURRENT.

These estimates have been re-arranged in order to eliminate all charges not strictly coming under the head "annually recurrent" and for clearness have been grouped under the natural divisions to which the items belong. "Extensions of Gas Lighting" and "Forming and Kerbing Streets" although undertaken annually are not recurrent matters such work being in respect of different localities each year. The miscellaneous items for Drainage, Water-works and other works more properly belong to the Extraordinary Votes and have been transferred accordingly. The nature of the works charged against these items can readily be seen from the Annual Report of the Director of Public Works.

There being no longer a separate Water Account, the Public Works Annually Recurrent now comprises all maintenance charges, including Waterworks, charge- able to General Revenue.

Maintenance of Buildings.—$500 separately provided in former Estimates is now properly included herein and the increase of $1,500 is for the maintenance of new buildings now completed.

Maintenance of Telegraphs.-The increases are to cover the cost of further work of replacing wooden by iron poles and the maintenance of additional lines.

Maintenance of Public Cemetery.--This item it is difficult to estimate for owing to the liability to landslips on the terraces which cannot be wholly prevented nor foreseen with certainty.

Maintenance of Sewers and Nullahs.-Increased lengths of Sewers and Nullahıs have had to be provided for as well as for the extra cost involved in the night cleansing of sewers along the new Electric Tramway route. The sum formerly voted has proved inadequate.

Maintenance of City and Hill District Waterworks.-The increase is to meet the cost of pumping in the Tytam Tuk Valley it being hoped that the large pum- ping engines may be got to work before the end of the year 1905.

Miscellaneous Services.-This head embraces many small but very necessary services always cropping up during the year which cannot with advantage be separately shown, and the provision made, which is not large, obviates the necessity for frequent supplementary votes; a close watch is kept on this and items of any importance are not generally charged against it without previous authority. The increase is based on past expenditure.

PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.

1. The original estimate of $40,000 was made before all the requirements were known.

2. Approved by C.O.D. 448 of 17th December, 1903.

Disinfecting Station, Kowloon,

3. See the Memorandum on the Estimated Expenditure for 1904. A further addition to the cost of this work was caused by the addition of an office for the Assistant Medical Officer of Health and Inspectors. See Mr. Mar's despatch No. 289 of 13th July, 1904.

4. Government Civil Hospital, Staff Quarters.-$24,000 was placed on the 1901 Estimates in accordance with Mr. CHAMBERLAIN's despatch No. 280 of 15th August, 1900, but the work was never begun. The promise to the Nursing Institute to erect quarters for its two Nurses was redeemed by the grant of $12,000, and the Nursing Institution is now making its own arrangements for housing its 2 Sisters. Additional accommodation for the Civil Hospital Sisters and Probationers is still required. It is met for the present by renting an adjacent house. The Public Works Committee recommended this work on 19th July, 1904.

5. Approved by C.O.D. 395 of 3rd November, 1903. See Memorandum on 1904 Estimates.

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