Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 717

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90. Reconstruction of Retaining Wall behind "Braeside" (I.L. 1523).--In consequence of repeated landslips which had occurred since the hill was cut away in order to level the lot mentioned, the safety of the Bowen Road Conduit was threatened and, as any accident to it would have been attended with serious consequences to the water supply of the city, the Government decided that the necessary work of partly reconstructing and partly strengthen- ing the retaining wall should be carried out by the Public Works Department, the cost being borne in equal shares by the lessee of the lot and the Government. The work was satisfactorily completed at a total cost of $7,696.63.

91. Hot Water Apparatus, &c., Government House.-A contract was let to Messrs. Warren & Co. for installing the apparatus required to render a supply of hot water available throughout the bathrooms, kitchens, &c., of Government House. A separate boiler was provided, the necessary tanks were fixed and pipes were laid to the various points through- out the buildings. Sundry improvements in the bathrooms were effected at the same time and an additional lavatory was fixed in the Ball-room wing. The whole of the work was satisfactorily completed at a cost of $2,999.45, part of which was still outstanding at the close of the year.

92. Queen's College: Latrines and Urinals.-New latrines and urinals were constructed at Queen's College to replace the old ones situated in the main building and a bathroom was also provided. The drainage system was overhauled and improved at the same time.

93. Kowloon Cattle Depôt and Slaughter Houses. As the construction of the Kowloon- Canton Railway entailed the demolition of the old Slaughter House and Depôt near Hunghom, it became necessary to provide new buildings elsewhere. After full consider- ation, a site at Ma Tau Kok was decided upon as the most suitable in all respects and, in October, a contract was let to Mr. LI PING for the construction of the necessary buildings. They included a general Slaughter House (105'x50′), another for the use of Indians (40'x15'), 3 sheds with accommodation for 120 cattle, 200 sheep and 400 swine respect- ively, a fodder store and offices and shroffs' quarters. Some alterations to a small building in the vicinity, which was taken over by Government from Messrs. Punchard, Lowther & Co. on the completion of their quarrying operations, in order to adapt it for quarters for an inspector, were also included. Ample space has been provided between the various buildings and the site will admit of large extensions in the future.

In view of the fact that the necessity for a new depôt and slaughter house arose out of the construction of the railway, it was arranged that the Railway Fund should contribute a sum of $18,000 towards the work, and the expenditure incurred during the year, which amounted to $17,380.94, was defrayed from this source.

The expenditure included a sum of $1,616.61 which was spent in making temporary arrangements for the carrying on of slaughtering operations in the old depôt as the early demolition of the slaughter house was required on account of the railway works. Good progress had been made with the new buildings by the close of the year, most of the brickwork being completed and some of the roof principals in position.

94. Civil Hospital-Stoff Quarters.-In consequence of the decision of the Government to take over the staff and duties of the Hongkong Nursing Institute, it became necessary to again extend the Staff Quarters and a contract was accordingly let in August for the addition of two rooms at the eastern end of the building. The expenditure on the work, which amounted to $2,160.27 up to the close of the year, was defrayed from the Nursing Institute Fund which was handed over to Government.

95. Obelisk, Kowloon.-Funds having been raised for the erection of a memorial to the French sailors who lost their lives through the foundering of the Torpedo Boat "Fronde' near the Torpedo Depôt, Kowloon, during the typhoon of the 18th September 1906, a contract was let for the erection of a granite obelisk at the bifurcation of Gascoigne Road, Kowloon. The work was completed by the close of the year with the exception of the inscription on the panels.

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