The cost of the Garden and Chekiang Road Bridges over the Soochow Creek has been exceeded, primarily as a result of necessary strengthening works on the dams and of xubstitation of Quarry ballast for tuud in the raising of the approaches. The final estimates are still to some extent incomplete, and it is proposed in the course of the year, when the whole of the works are ved, to compile and publish an analysed statement of the total cost of these bridges. The item for the Bund Bridge over the Yangkingpang represents the Council's share of the cost of this work, which is estimated at Tls. 78,000. It is suggested that the whole expenditure be borne in equal shares by the Council, the French Council, and the two Tramway Companies, but the negotiations in the matter are still in an inconclusive state. The renewal of the Kiangse Road Bridge and the erection of one over the Sawginkiang in the Dixwell Road are again deferred for lack of fands, Four of the items for Bunding are connected with the approaches to the new steel bridges, while that at the Fokien Road, involving some reclamation, will improve the conditions under which vegetable and other produce is landed at this point. The bunding of the Soochow Creek west of the Thibet Road, and up on the Markham Road frontage, is regarded by the Council as desirable. Of the-sections of the Hongkew, Defence and Sawgin Creeks, proposed by the Engineer for trentment, place has only been found for one, small piece of the first-named north of the East Scott Road, which is to be carried out in compliance with the request of the adjoining owner, who contributes largely to the making up of the road extensions in the vicinity.
The Drainage work in the neighbourhood of the Great Western Road, Tls. 28,000, is proposed with a view to improving the flow of water in the Chaugpang, the sanitary condition of which has been unsatisfactory for some time past. A three-foot sewer will shortly become necessary in the Avenue Road.
The estimates for land purchases under negotiation or contemplated require little explanation. The principal amount, thatter a new site for the Sinza Market, has already been expended in the purchase of ''cadastral jots 456, 456A and 457; the measure was considered advisable so that the whole of Cadastral lot 420, upon which the Market at present stands, may be available for the expansion of the Police Station when necessary.
The building -programme is long one and consists in the main of additions and alterations to the Police Stations, recommended with " to accommodating the largely increased strength of the Force. The foregoing reworks relating to Police maintenance apply with equal force to this estimate of capital expenditure. No item is included except upon the strong recommendation of the Captain-Superintendent and after close seratiny by the Watch Committee.
Under Parks and Open Spaces will be found provision for repaying the balance of the Special Loan obtained from the Recreation Fund Trustees in 1901, on one year's call, for the purchase of the Hongkew Recreation Gro Due notice was given for the return of the money on March 31, 1908. The balance of the vast of raising and laying out the Ground is estimated at Tls. 19,000, and of this sum the Council recommends that Tls. 9,000 be spent in 1908 and the balance in the ensuing year. The erection of new conservatories is under contemplation, either in the Reserve Garden or elsewhere if that site is considered too restricted or otherwise unsuitable. The Council will a the recommendation of the Parks Committee during the year on this subject. In the uieanwhile it is inoprobable that the matter will be far enough advanced to involve more than. preliminary expenses.
The usual entry for acquiring land for new roads and for their construction concludes this estimate, of an aggregate total of Tls. 625,980.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.