The work done by the whole staff has been generally satisfactory. The watchmen, though giving much of their time in the winter season to working on the roads, did not neglect their own special duties, and it is a pleasure to state that no house has been broken into during the year. The man in charge of the Rest House at Lien-Hua-Tung has proved ficient, but it is hoped that a man of greater power and with some knowledge of English may soon be secured for the post. The Estimates for the coming year provide larger wages for the Lien-Hua-ung caretaker in order to secure such a man, The large receipts of this year will be gratifying to all lot-holders. "Every item is in excess of the estimates made last year. Taxes are swelled mainly by the collection of arrears, and by the ground rent, which this year is not asked for by the Trustees. The item of commissions is much more than twice the estimate, while the Rest House receipts continue to attest the growing popularity of Kuling. Against this Fast item, however, nut be placed the License of $100.00 per annum on the Kiukiang Rest House, imposed by the Kiukiang Municipality this year for the first time.
Increase of expenditure was possible because of the increased income. A small beginning has been made on the much-needed enlargement of the Office staff by the employment of a second assistant. A typewriter has been purchased, and the treasury admits the very desirable reduction of $800.00 in the amount of the mortgage on the Estate House. By the appropriation of $50.00 to the working capital, this sum is raised to $450.00, and the provision of $50 in the budget for next Fear will raise it to the limit toward Which we have been aiming for several Fears. For the first time we have been uble to appropriate a considerable sum to the improvement of the Park. This item will he mentioned later in the report.
Roans asp Bripues Several improvements have been made in the roads within the Estate. The Hankow Valley road has been put into good order, as also has the road from the Estate Hose to the North-east end of the Estate, and new roads have been made from near lot 100 to the bottom of the hill. It is proposed to make the main middle toad into a good promenade.
A beginning has been made in this direction, and it is hoped that the scheme may be fully realised before next. season. Seven Estate seats similar to those in uso on the Hankow bund, have been provided. These have been much appreciated by the community, and if funds permit more will be added in the coming year. The wooden bridges continue to give satisfaction, and the watercourses generally have been so regulated that the heavy spate of August 8th did very little damage to the roads. A certain amount of damage is inevitable as a result of these sudden, heavy rains; but in this case the damage would have been much less had not certain lot-holders neglected to control the watercourses on their private grounds. In their own interests, as well as in the interests of the Estate, the attention to this matter." lot-holders are urgent! nested to give
Outside the Estate, the road of the gap has been improved by the making of good drains, costing about $100. The expense of these, together with the wages of a man to sweep the streets, have been entirely met by the Chinese. It is probably owing to these measures that there has been much less sickness at the this year than usual. A part of "Eighteen Bends," on the Main Road, has been fenced in, and arrangements made for immediately fencing in other parts of the road which are considered dangerous.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.