Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 688

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In the case of (ii.), excesses occurred under the following sub-heads :----

Maintenance of Buildings,

}}

Lighthouses,

Roads and Bridges in City,

.$ 7,999.69

2,064.43

290.96

49

"

11

>>

outside City, ...

1,340.57

35

,, Telegraphs,

4,275.54

Sewers, Nullahs, &c.,...

3,619.77

Gas Lighting, Kowloon,

234.60

Miscellaneous Services,

911.20

Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages,......

Maintenance of Shaukiwan Water Works,

94,159.93

248.06

Lai Chi Kok

378.19

"7

The excess on Maintenance of Buildings was due to some exceptional repairs being required in the case of Government House, Kennedy Town Cattle Depôt and Kennedy Town Hospital; that on Lighthouses to the damage caused to the Gap Rock establishment by typhoons and to the transfer of the old Green Island light to Cape Collinson; that on Roads and Bridges outside the City to new roads taken over from the Military Authorities; that on Telegraphs to the establishment of a new cable reserve, the transfer to it of the cables and the erection of new cable huts; that on Sewers, Nullahs, &c., to the occurrence of severe rainstorms; that on the Gas Lighting, Kowloon, to the extensions of lighting there; that on Miscellaneons Services to the large increase in the number of plans required, the materials for which are charged against this vote; that on Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages to the typhoon of the 18th September, 1906, and the rainstorms of 1907; that on Shaukiwan Water Works to the repairs required to one of the intakes and that on Lai Chi Kok Water Works to various alterations of the mains.

66

The subheads under which the principal savings occurred were "Maintenance of Buildings in New Territories" ($4,795.77); "Public Recreation Grounds" ($2,653.99); Dredging Foreshores" ($5,732.55); “City and Hill District Water Works" ($7,826.32) and "Kowloon Water Works" ($3,760.40). In the case of the first-mentioned item, the saving was due to most of the buildings having undergone repairs during 1906; in the case of the second item, to no extensive turfing or other repairs being found necessary; in the case of the third item, to the dredger being hired for some part of the year and requiring no expensive renewals; and in the case of the two remaining items, to less puinping being required than was estimated for.

The large saving under (iii.) was due principally to the Tytam Tuk Scheme (2nd section) not being proceeded with ($200,000); and to the expenditure on the following works falling short of the amounts estimated to the extent stated, viz. :-

Kowloon Water Works,.

Law Courts,

Post Office,...

Reinforced Concrete Piers,

$118,450

75,690

29,520

20,870

whilst the material for Blake Pier Shelter, though ordered, did not arrive and consequently the work, estimated to cost $20,000, could not be proceeded with.