UBLic Works Department
CHAPTER XXIV
HE Public buildings, roads, highway bridges, punts or pontoons, Village waterworks. Irrigation works, etc., etc., are controlled by the Chief Engineer. Public Works Department (J. F. Evelyn Barnes, Esq.. c.m.c. M.i.c.E.). whose staff, as at present established, consists of two District Engineers — one for the Coast belt and Zululand. worked from the District Office at Durban, and one for the Northern Districts, worked from Ladysmith. Each of these offices has its District Accountant. Field Assistant, and District Foreman and workshops. The Midlands District is just now being controlled without a District Engineer, from headquarters at Pietermaritzburg. where are also located the architectural and accounting branches, as well as the Public Works yard and shops, with the District Foreman in charge.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.—These embrace Courthouses, Magistrates' residences, Post and Telegraph offices, Natal Police quarters and barracks, gaols, schools, etc., for every town and village throughout the Province; while in Pietermaritzburg (the seat of Government) there are also Government House, the Legislative Buildings, General Post Office, Government Offices. Natal Government Asylum, Maritzburg College, Museum, Grey's Hospital. Drill Hall, Central Goal, and Abattoir. In Durban the principal Government buildings are—King's House (the Governor's coast residence), the Court House. Post Office, Customs House. Drill Hall. Water Police Station, and several important schools.
The value of the foregoing Natal public buildings in round numbers is over £1.500,000
sterling.
ROADS.—As in other countries, the growth of road mileage in Natal is fairly representative of the development of the country, In 1875 the Natal public roads totalled 500 miles. In 1894 (the year in which the Colony adopted Responsible Government) the mileage
526