STREETS
Where stands the National City Bank of New York was a small bungalow amongst a bamboo grove, which continued up to the Masonic Hall. Several changes have taken place in the subsequent buildings erected thereon.
The shops opposite the National City Bank of New York at the foot of Lyndhurst Terrace are built on the site formerly occupied by the Hongkong Ice Depot. (Hence Ice House Street.- "Colonial").
Stanley Street up D'Aguilar Street and Pottinger Street formerly consisted of two-storied European houses on the ground floors shops, and upstairs residences.
At the corner of D'Aguilar and Wellington Streets was the printing house of Geddes and Co., with a residence upstairs.
Wellington Street from D'Aguilar to Pottinger Streets had a railed-in-garden in the centre. Looking west on the right side were some European style houses. At the left corner of Wellington Street and Pottinger Street stood the Roman Catholic Cathedral approached by an imposing flight of granite steps. At the end of Wellington Street, on the left side of Queen's Road, was Gibb, Livingston's offices and godowns.
Lyndhurst Terrace from the foot of Old Bailey to the junction with Hollywood Road had all two-storied European houses, including two occupied by E.R. Belilios and E. Remfrey, Indian Merchants in opium and yarn.
In Wellington Street between Lyndhurst Terrace and Queen's Road were several European buildings in which were housed some Indian and Parsi firms.
Where the present Police Headquarters stand was the Lunatic Asylum and European property. I am not sure, but think the great fire which commenced on Christmas Eve 1879 burnt some of this property.
The block bounded on the east by Old Bailey, south by Caine Road, west by Shelley Street and north by Hollywood Road, consisted of European bungalows with small gardens, and Alexandra Terrace. Chinese houses, and the gaol extension, now occupy the site, with the exception of the old Club Lusitania, two or three of the old bungalows and the new houses at top of Old Bailey and those on Caine Road.
As for Caine Road, the Roman Catholic Cathedral site was given in exchange for the old Roman Catholic Cathedral in Wellington Street.
The European dwellings in Arbuthnot and just below the Cathedral were built on the spare ground by the Mission.
Proceeding west, we come to four European dwellings on the left side built for the late Mr. Ho Fook and Mr. Sin Tak-fan, who were among the first Chinese to live on Caine Road.
Next was Rose Hill, the residence of the senior partner of Russell and Co. Where Leung Yat Terrace are was the Spanish Procuration. Then where stood the "Douglas Villas" occupied by the Mission Étrangeres there are now two terraces, one on Caine Road and one behind (Prince's Terrace).