Sessional_Paper_1906 — Page 677

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54. Quarters for Officers, Tai Po.After many difficulties occasioned by the workmen deserting the work on account of the cold during the winter months and on account of sickness during the summer months, this work was nearly brought to completion at the end of the year. The building occupies, an exceptionally fine situation on the summit of a small island near the head of Tolo Harbour, the site having been levelled off in connection with the construction of the Tai l'o Road in order to obtain material for forming the embankment on which the road is carried at this point. The main building is 2 storeys in height and contains dining-room, drawing-room, office, 4 bed-rooms, 4 bath-rooms, hall, staircase, pantry and lavatory. It is in great measure surrounded by verandahs. In a small, detached building, erected at a somewhat lower level, are the servants' quarters, containing European kitchen, larder and store, 2 boys' rooms and accommodation for 6 coolies and, at the base of the hill is a stable. containing 2 stalls and a loose box, a coach- house and haruess-room. A tower on the main building contains a water-tank and a light which is intended to serve as a beacon for purposes of navigation.

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The buildings are of red brick in lime mortar, covered for the most part with rough- cast plaster. Cement panels, in imitation of timber framing, are introduced on the upper storey of the inain building. The roofs are covered with double pan and roll tiling laid ou timber purlins and principals and the floors are of hardwood on hardwood joists, except in the case of the verandahs, bath-rooms and out-buildings, where they are of cement concrete.

The walls of the drawing-room are panelled in China fir for a height of 6 feet, the remainder of the internal walls being plastered.

A short length of embankment leading to the island was widened from 5 to 14 feet, a road to the stable was formed and an entrance gate was erected near the main road.

55. Volunteer Headquarters.-The erection of new Volunteer Headquarters which has long been under consideration, was undertaken in June. It was at one time proposed to erect the necessary buildings at Happy Valley immediately to the north of the Golf Club House and designs for this were prepared, but the proposal was ultimately abandoned in favour of the site of the old building at the corner of Garden and Lower Albert Roads. The old building was practically entirely taken down, only some of the basement walls being made use of in connection with the crection of the new one. Fair progress was made with the work, the walls being generally 6 feet above the level of the drill-hall floor, the cou- creting of which was completed. A large quantity of joinery was in readiness for fixing. The cost of the building is being defrayed principally from funds in the possession of the Volunteer Corps, the Government contributing a sum of $5,000 only.

56. Gullies Reconstruction.--This work was continued, 81 single and 36 double gullies of the new type being constructed during the year, or a total of 193 gratings. Most of these were situated in the Central and Western Districts of the City, between Queen's Road and Caine Road. The total number of new-type gullies is now 348 single and 495 double, or a total of 843.

57. Training Nullahs.—The following is a statement of the works executed under this heading-

Length trained.

(i). Albany Nullah-Branches south of Service Reservoir,....lineal ft. 1,200 (ii). Bowen Road District-Two nullahs east of Military

(iii). Bowen Road District-Nullah east of I.L. 1711,

Hospital,

1,421

79

190

(iv). Happy Valley-Nullah between Mahominedan Cemetery

and L.L. 1578,

670

"

(v). Stanley-Two nullahs east of village,

846

11

(vi). Branch nullah south of Bridge No. 4 on Shaukiwan

Road,....

200

Item (i.) includes 128 lineal feet of nullab, 12 feet wide and about 4 feet deep, with invert of rubble masonry, set and grouted in cement mortar, on a lime concrete foundation, 12 inches thick, and with side walls of rubble masonry built in lime mortar; 282 lineal feet, 6 feet wide and 6 feet deep, with invert of cement concrete, 4 inches thick, on a lime concrete foundation and with rubble masonry side walls; 418 lineal feet, semi-circular in section and 3 feet 6 inches in diameter, constructed of 3 inches of cement concrete laid on a bed of. lime concrete; and 372 lineal feet irregular in section on account of its traversing the rocky bed of the stream,