Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 1090

694-698

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The cable to Gap Rock Lighthouse, which became faulty early in the year, was repaired in the beginning of August by splicing in a piece of small-sized cable near the rock, but it was broken again during the typhoon of the 29th September and, in consequence of a proposal to establish wireless telegraphy, no further steps were taken in the matter of repairing it.

31. Maintenance of Felegraphs, New Territories.-The typhoons of the 18th and 29th September almost completely wrecked the whole of the Telephone System in the New Territories.

In reconstructing the lines, it was decided to adopt a new route for the Au Tau and Ping Shan lines, namely, through Sheung Shui and San Tin instead of through the Lam Tsun Valley. Iron poles were erected from Fan Ling to Sheung Shui and from thence through Sau Tin on to Au Tau. The work of restoring the Ping Shan and Sha Tau Kok lizes was still in hand at the end of the year.

32. Maintenance of Sewers, Nullahs, &c.-The sewers, stormwater drains and trained nullahs were cleansed and maintained in good condition. A considerable amount of damage and silting up was caused by the typhoons which occurred in eptember and, as the damage was of an exceptional nature, the cost of the necessary repairs was charged to a special vote. The flushing tanks have been systematically worked during the period of low water.

The details of the expenditure under this heading are as follows:-

Labour for cleansing operations,

Repairs....

Tools for cleansing operations,.

.$12,705.40 4,335.94 800.92

Total,.

.$17,842.26

as against $17,111.88 in the previous year. In addition to the items already enumerated, a sum of $1,067.32 was expended in connecting up the Barker Road sewer with theity sewerage system. This was done by laying a sewer from Bowen oad near the Tramway to a point on the hillside below the Victoria Hospital where the Barker Road sewer had hitherto discharged. As the work was not completed by the close of the year, the amount stated is only part of the cost.

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33. Gas Lighting, City and Hill District.-The total number of lamps in use at the end of the year in the City was 952-n increase of 10* over the previous year-and in the Hill District 10,-an increase of 4. The lighting of the Military Cantonment by 15 lamps remained on the same footing as formerly.

34. Electric Lighting, City-No alteration has been made in the number of lamps

which remains at 75.

35. Gas Lighting, Kowloon.—The total number of lamps in use at the close of the year was 237, an increase of 13 over the previous year. Particulars of the positions of the additional lamps will be found under "Extensions of Gas Lighting”.

36. Electric Lighting, Kowloon.—No alteration has been made in the number of lamps which remains at 22.

37. Ma wenance of Praya Wall and Piers.-A very considerable amount of damage was done to the Praya walls and public piers in Hongkong, Kowloon and the New Terri- tories by the typhoons of September 18th and 29th. The sea walls at Kennedy Town, along Praya East, and along the West and East sides of Kowloon Peninsula were all more or less damaged and the Police l'ier at Kowloon Point and Cattle Landing Pier at Kennedy Town were partially destroyed. The shelters on the former were ent rely demo ished, the matsheds on Blake and Queen's Statue Piers were also demolished and the temporary pier near Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE'S office was completely carried away. The outer face-

* In last year's report, the nu uter of amps was unioneously státal ás 94) instead of 942.