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PEDDER HILL - (Contd.)
There may be some question about the steepness of Pedder's Hill as it appears to be in this picture, and as it is to-day. The difference is easily explained by subsequent cutting into the hillside. This hill must at one time have been fairly high for it is noted, with reference to an early land sale of marine lots near the Parade Ground, that the Government, as one of the conditions of sale, permitted the removal of earth from Pedder's Hill for the purpose of filling in the land then sold.
Research reveals that later a Coroner's inquest was held on the bodies of two Chinese who were killed by a sudden fall of earth at Pedder's Hill. On that occasion, the jury drew the attention of Government to the dangerous state of the hill and especially to the fact of the flag-staff being permitted to remain though the cuttings had approached to within a few feet of it. As a result of this "special finding" Government shortly afterwards removed the flag-staff.
That flag-staff is presumably the one shown in the picture published to-day.
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