Sessional_Paper_1905 — Page 298

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58. (Item 15.) Saiyingpoon School Latrine.—This building is of red Canton brick pointed in cement and has accommodation for 4 seats and 6 urinals. The urinals are fitted with automatic flushing tanks. The preparation of the site included cutting away of earth and building a retaining wall along the South side of the playground. The cost was $2.380.02.

59. (Item 16.) School and Caretaker's House, Yaumati.-A contract for the erection of these buildings was entered into with Mr. Li A PiNg in October.

The delay in commencing the work arose through the large buildings in pro- gress for which many drawings were necessary to prepare.

The trenches to School were excavated but on examination it was found. necessary to pile them, a total of 450 China fir piles average 10′ 6′′ long being driven at the close of the year.

60. (Item 17.) House and Servants' Quarters, Tai Po.-A contract for the erection of these buildings was entered into with the late Mr. CHAN A TONG in May.

Great difficulty was experienced in getting the workmen to remain out at Tai Po, time after time the men left the work after being out but a few days. con- sequently it has been much delayed; notwithstanding this, at the close of the year the walls of the house were up to the first floor level, the steel joists, etc., to first floor and veranlah were fixed in position and concrete to verandahs com- menced.

The walls to Servants' Quarters were built to an average height of 8 feet above floor line:

A new contract for carrying on the work was entered into with Mr. CHAN A TONG Junior, in December.

61. (Item 18.) Volunteer Headquarters.-There was no sum put down for this in the Estimates for the year though the work was noted therein.

62. (Special vote.) Additional Storey to Central Police Station. This work for many years contemplated was at last commenced in June, 1904, under a special vote and up to the end of the year good progress had been made, most of the roof being in position. The increase of accommodation to the Station will be four rooms each 40′ 6′′ × 22′ 6′′ and two 33′ 6′′ × 22′ 6′′, one 20′ 0′′ × 14′ 0′′, one 15′ 11′′ × 14' 9", and two 16′0′′ × 10′0′′ and several rooms 7′ 10′′ × 5′ 9′′ on staire. Matsheds for the temporary accommodation of the men displaced, who formerly occupied the second floor, were erected on the Praya opposite the Hong- kong Club.

63. (Supplementary vote.) Extension of Inspectors' Quarters, Kennedy Town. -This work was begun early in 1903 and was finished in March. 1904, out of a re-vote. There was great delay owing to the Contractor not pushing on with the work and eventually the actual finishing was done by another Contractor. The extra accommodation of the extension is one room 19′0′′ x 14′ 3′′ and one 19′ 0′′ x 18' 6" over. Each room has a verandah 18′ 0′′ × 5′ 0′′ of concrete supported on iron columns. The total cost of the work was $3,014.92.

TELEPHONES.

64. (Item 19.) Cable for Observatory and other Telephone lines to Kowloon, -- This cable was successfully laid on 25th April, between North Point Cable House and Kowloon. It is one mile in length and has eight specially wound cores in anticipation of metallic circuit being employed on the Government lines and for which extensive preparations have already been made.

tons.

It is the heaviest cable ever laid in the Harbour weighing approximately 17

Drainage Works.

65. (Item 20.) Gullies Re-construction.-The re-constructing of the old gullies was continued throughout the year. There were 176 double and 76 single (new type) gullies put in making a total of 428 gratings. Most of the low levels gullies are completed.

This work will be continued throughout the year 1905. The type of gully is described in the previous Report, total number constructed is 706.