Sessional_Paper_1905 — Page 293

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The grand total pumped during the year amounted to 75,181,000 gallons. Tabulated statements containing particulars of the quantities pumped to the Peak and High Level Districts respectively in successive years since 1892 will be found is Appendices G and H.

All of the motors were maintained in a good state of repair. The steam pumping engine at Bonham Road is being supplemented by a new one, now in course of erection. This addition will enable each engine to remain for a longer time at rest in case of any extensive repairs, which could not be done for the last few years.

Difficulty was again experienced toward the end of the year in keeping up the supply of water in this District, but when the additional pumping plant is ready there should be no further trouble.

The temporary puinp, however, erected in 1903, at the West Point Filter Beds has been working steadily and has given great assistance in keeping up the supply of water to the High Levels.

The number of meters in use at the end of the year was 815 in the City and 151 in the Peak District. This number shows a great increase on last year's totals which were 534 and 151 respectively. A large number of meters have been fixed on supplies that will be outside the Rider-Main District and this work is still going on.

The quantity of water supplied by meter was:

Gallons.

Filtered-Trade,

94,563,000

Domestic (City),

91,536,000

(Peak District),

13,681,000

Unfiltere!,

22.429,000

Total,.............

.222,209,000

The increase in the number of meters was 281 and in the quantity of water supplied through them 18,823,000 gallons as compared with 1903.

During the year new services were constructed or old ones altered and in- proved, and others inspected and connectel to the mains in 862 instances and there were 67 other connections made for Building supplies. Besides these con- nections there were 180 small repairs done to other services.

There were 665 houses inspected with regard to possible defective water ser- vices, viz., in the Western District, and the whole of the Military Establishments, Hongkong Hotel, Hongkong Club and Annexe, Ice Works, Kowloon Docks, Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company's premises, all the Govern- ment latrines and urinals and the Central and Western Markets. No notices were

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served to the houses that were inspected in the Western District owing to the Rider-Mains being under way in that neighbourhood.

Repairs have been carried out on both the Tytam and Pokfulam conduits. These repairs have partly been due to the roots of banyan trees finding their way into the conduit and blocking up the waterway. A large number of these roots have been cleared out of both conduits. The Wong-uei-chong Valley stream course was also cleared of sand which had accumulated after the heavy rainfalls.

The conduits and Nos. 1 and 5 Filter Beds at Albany required attention in the early part of the year. Extensive cracks were found in the foundations, especially in the former bed and these were all repaired.

The bank on the low side of the N. W. corner of the Bowen Road Filter Beds slipped during the rains of the preceding year and was repaired in the early part of this year.

The toe of the slope was carried further out and a batter of 1 to I given. The rains in June again caused the upper portion to slip, (the lower portion remained intact) and this was repaired and withstood the heavy rains of August.

The West Point Service Reservoir was thoroughly cleaned out and repaired, thus saving some of the leakage which was taking place from this reservoir.