Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 1094

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42. Maintenance of Kowloon Waterworks.-Up to the 24th December, the supply was derived partly from Wells Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in the Kowloon Valleys by pumping and partly from the Intakes at Cheung Sha Wan assisted by the Catchwater of the New Gravitation Works, a supply of water from the latter having been rendered available on the 24th March.

On the date first mentioned, a temporary connection was made by which water from the the New Impounding Reservoir, still under construction, was turned on to the Peninsula, thus dispensing with the original works which were inaugurated on the same date 11 years earlier.

The total consumption for the year amounted to 179,828,000 gallons, of which 82,104,000 gallons were derived from the Catchwater and Cheung Sha Wan Intakes and 97.724,000 from Wells Nos. 1, 2 and 3. The average daily consumption amounted to 192,680 gallons or, taking an estimated population of 79,150, 6.2 gallons per head. These figures show a decrease of 5.862,000 gallons under the consumption during 1905. Details are given in Appendices H and J. The analyses made throughout the year showed that the water was of excellent quality.

The pumping machinery, buildings, &c., were maintained in good condition throughout the year, but, as already stated, the introduction of the supply from the new gravitation reservoir has superseded the pumped supply.

There were 301 meters in use at the end of the year, an increase of 21 over 1905. Private services were constructed, altered, or repaired in 76 instances, whilst 10 building supplies were laid.

43. Maintenance of Waterworks, Aberdeen and Shaukiwan.-A satisfactory supply of water was maintained to Aberdeen and Shaukiwan during the year, the total consumption amounting to 5,815,000 and 13,891,000 gallons respectively, or about 16,000 and 37,000 gallons per day. Details are given in Appendices K and L. The repairs to the Eastern Intake at Shaukiwan, mentioned in last year's report, were completed, affording an increased supply, and the new main laid to the Barracks, &c., on Sywan Hill yielded 24 million gallons. There were 6 meters in use at Aberdeen, and 7 at Shaukiwan.

44. Maintenance of Lai Chi Kok Waterworks.—Water-Boat Supply.—The total quantity of water supplied during the year amounted to 92,845,600 gallons or an average of about 254,000 gallons per day. Details are given in Appendix M.

The stagings, shoots and pipes for conveying the water from the shore to the boats, most of which were privately owned, were practically destroyed by the typhoon of the 18th September. Some of the smaller firms did not restore their services, but the principal ones, namely the Hongkong Steam Water-Boat Co. and the Union Water-Boat Co. had theirs restored within a short period. The damage done to the works on shore was comparatively trifling.

PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.

The

45. Civil Hospital-Extension of Staff Quarters.-This work was completed and handed over to the Medical Department in March. The extension comprises a dining room, a sit- ting room, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a boxroom and pantry and 4 rooms for servants building is faced with Amoy bricks and granite dressings to correspond with the original building.

46. Harbour Office.-The new Harbour Office was formally opened by His Excellency the Governor on the 16th July. Erected on the Harbour front, about 370 yards to the Eastward of the site of the old office, which had been relegated to an inland position by the carrying out of the Praya Reclamation Scheme, it is rendered conspicuous by being flanked on either side by buildings of the ordinary Chinese tenement class, from which it differs greatly in character.

The main building, which extends round two sides of a quadrangle, is partly two and partly three stories in height, the remaining two sides of the quadrangle being occupied by outbuildings, principally utilized as quarters for boatmen.