Lt. Wm. PEDDER. R.N.
779
Reference to Pedder's Hill, the rising ground on the east side of Wyndham Street (7-7-33), recalls the man after whom that hillock, and the still-existing Pedder Street, were named. He was a Naval officer connected with the Colony from its earliest days, and one whom we can recall as a true pioneer. On the 31st July, 1841, Lieutenant William Pedder, R.N., of H.M.S. Nemesis, was appointed the Colony's first Harbour Master and Marine Magistrate, and regulations for the port of Hong Kong were drawn up at the time of his assuming office. Additionally, he was a surveyor of shipping and in 1849 complaints were formulated against the Harbour Department owing, it was alleged, to the want of time of the Harbour Master to attend to his manifold duties. The protests appear to have come to nothing, and while they were not directed personally against Lieut. Pedder they seem to have had good grounds as aimed against the vicious system of one man holding various appointments; a system that has not much changed in certain branches of the Government Service even up to the present time.
Lieut. Pedder died at Ryde in the Isle of Wight, while on leave on March 16, 1854, after thirteen years service, and was succeeded by Captain T. V. Watkins, R.N.
Bindihi:
PEDDERS HILL
Congratulations upon the formation of the Historical Club of Hong Kong, though I think the word "Hongkongiana" would be more suitable and convenient as a name. Perhaps, however, a nick-name will evolve. The Club undoubtedly will fill a long felt want. I remember a few years ago there were a number of old hands who knew a lot about early Hong Kong. I tried to induce one of them to write his reminiscences, but although he promised to do so he never could concentrate sufficiently on the task, and he died before he could begin. Even in my time here about eighteen years, the Colony has changed greatly. I can remember when Kowloon was truly rural, and I recall wandering around Pedder's Hill when there was a boarding house on top and the old Sassoon fort below. I believe it was used as a magistracy for a time. Afterwards it became a godown for the Electric Company (opposite the old China Mail office in Wyndham Street). Now it is gone and there is a row of shop buildings there. Much of history of this sort can be recaptured and set down, and I hope the old timers will come forward.
The reference to the old German Club in Wyndham Street is interesting, as the building stood almost exactly opposite the present offices of the S.C. Morning Post. The mention of Robert Fraser-Smith recalls that he went more than once to gaol in the cause of free speech in the Press, and the paper he founded, the Hong Kong Telegraph is still known among the Chinese as See Mit Dai Po or Smith's newspaper. Though some Chinese still adhere to Simit Sun Man Chi, I think the latter name is rarely used to-day, and the common contraction is merely See Mit. Thus has Fraser-Smith, who lies buried at Happy Valley, been unofficially commemorated. He was a power in the land at the time, and on his first emergence from prison was met by a public deputation of welcome and congratulation.
To-day, by the courtesy of "Old Mortality", a previous contributor to this column, I am able to reproduce a Chinnery picture of great interest. The original painting has been considerably reduced for purposes of reproduction in the paper but much of Chinnery's particular style will be apparent.
The view is mainly of the old Hong Kong Club building at the bottom of Wyndham Street (see 7-7-33). The artist was looking down Wyndham Street from a point probably about half-way up Pedder's Hill (see also 11-7-33), and the Club is seen to the left a little lower down. The low buildings which stood where China Building has since been erected, enabled the artist to include a vista of the harbour in the background.