Hong-uri-
Chong Valley. I have now the
honour to travecit a report of the.
Enclosure
proceedings
at the
Con meuceurut
of
this work, so
important
on
sanitary
well as on other grounds of public
convenience, and which has been long
desired by the Colonial legislature and by this
community
at large.
I have the honour to be,
My Font,
Your Lordship's Most Obectivet,
Bumble. Servant,
5.Bowen
8.5. March and Fannex a lea.
leading article prom the
on the subject
pruicipal journal of this Colony
I of in this wropatch.
treated of in
5.9.B.
Enclosure I
Enclosure 1.
TURNING OF THE FIRST SOD OF
THE-BOWEN PARK.
Yesterday was the day fixed for the inangurs. tion of a work which the community have long wished to see commenced, namely, the trans- formation of the swamp enclosed by the Race- course into a publie park. The plan it is in- tended to adopt in the laying out of the grounds is indicated in the speech of the Hon. J. M. Price, Surveyor-General, reported below. Saf- fice it here to say that few prettier spots for a public park could be found in any part of the world than the Wong-nei-ohong Valley, and we doubt not that when the work is completed the park will be largely availed of by the public gen- erally for purposes of recreation and pleasure. It was at the instance of Governor Sir George : Bowen that the necessary funds were voted by the Legislative Council and the sanction of the Secretary of State was given, and a general desire was expressed that the name of His Excellency should be permanently as- sociated with the work. To this desire His Ex- cellency has seceded, and the ground will hence- forth be known as the Bowon Park. Unfortunately many who wished to be present at the ceremony were disappointed, owing to the event taking place a little earlier than was generally auti- cipated. The time was announced as soon after twelve o'clock or just before the first race. A the first race did not take place until one o'clock the intimation was somewhat indefinite, and there seems to have been an impression that people would be in time if they arrived about half-past twelve. By that time, however, the proceedings were just being brought to a conclusion. His Excellency, accompanied by Cap- tain Lewis, A.D.C., arrived on the ground soon after noon, and shortly afterwards proceeded to the spot selected for the cutting of the sod, which was in front of the Grand Staud. There were present the Hon. J. M. Price, Hon. W. Keswick, Hon. T. Jackson, Colonel Graves, Mr.! C. P. Chater, Mr. A. Coxon, Mr. H. J. H. Tripp, Captain Dempster etc., etc.
The Hon. the SURVEYOR-GENERAL opened the proceedings by addressing His Excellency the Governor as follows:-Your Excellency, it is my agreeable duty to invite you to take to-day the initial step in the important sanitary work which is to be carried out on this spot. The conversion of the meadow lands within the Race- course, which have hitherto lain unused into a recreation ground for the people is a project which I am certain has met with the approbation of the entire community, and I am equally certain it is a project which will materially contribute to the health and enjoyment of all classes. In commemoration of your Excellency's connexion with this undertaking, I am given to understand it is the wish that this publie pleasure ground when completed may re- ceive the name of the Bowen Park. (Ap- plause). As a park it is perhaps to be re- gretted the ares is limited to about thirty acres, but I may mention that it is the intention to make the most of this limited area by laying it out in walks and carriago drives, in a polo ground, a cricket ground, and tennis lawns for the public. Our friends the Trustees of the Jockey Club have expressed a wish that no trees such as would develope into large timber and obstrust a continuons view of the racecourse may be planted in the interior of the grounds. There is every intention to defer to this very natural wish of the Trustees and members of the Jockey Club, although it must be confessed the absence of
large
large timber will be somewhat of a drawback în any design for a public park, still by the indi- cious laying out of the ground I trust it may be possible to attain some degree of picturesque landscape effect, and to make this place suffl- ciently attractive to allure the future residents of Victoria to come here and spend their sum- mer evenings in healthful recreation. (Applause.) I will not detain your Excellency longer, but with these brief remarks will ask you now to turn the first sod.
His EXCELLENCY-Mr. Prico, and gentlemen, I am sure we have all listened with much pleasure and interest to the statement Mr. Price has just made of the manner in which it is pro- posed to lay out this park, and in fact to convert the swampy and malarions centre of the Wong- nei-chong Valley, on which we are now assembled, into a healthy resort for all classes of the popu lation. Soon after my arrival here I was struck by the omission hitherto to provide for the city of Victoria any public park or recreation ground such as is reserved in the plan of every now township and almost every village in Australia and New Zealand. Such a park or recreation ground one would say is much more necessary in the tropical climate of Hongkong than it is there. Not that we have had much to complain of in the way of tropical weather of late; but in a few weeks more we shall be under a tropical sun. Nature has provided in this valley a most suit- able and picturesque site for a park; just such | a site as every traveller in Greace and Italy knows would have been selected by the ancient Greeks and Romans as a stadium for the display of their national games. In view of the circum- stances at which I have glauced I caused a plan for the drainage of this ground to be prepared and submitted to the Colonial Legislature, which unanimously adopted it and voted the necessary funds. The cost is estimated at only $25,000, which will be spread over two or three years. The project has also received the emphatic sane- tion of the Imperial Government, and (as I am informed) of this entire community, which re- gards it as an important work, required for sanitary and other purposes of public con- venience. It is believed, moreover, that it will prove reproductive both directly and indirectly --directly as increasing the seiling value of the Government lands in the neighbourhood, and in- directly as improving the public health. The plan which has been approved includes the exist- ing Racecourse, together with new grounds for polo and cricket, and for military exercises and reviews. I have great pleasure in being present to take part in the commencement of this work, and I an gratified to learn it is the general wish of the Colonial Legislature and of this com- munity that my name should be connected with it-(applause) as it has already been connected with many parks, towns, districts, and public institutions of all kinds in the colonies of Queens. land, New Zealand, Victoria, and Mauritius, over which I have already presided during the last quarter of a century as the representative of the Queen. (Applause). The ceremony is very simple and I will now proceed with it.
His Excellency then cat the sod and wheeled it away a few paces in a burrow.
Three cheers were given for the Governor, and His Excellency called for three for the Queen.
Hon. W. KERWICK then said-Your Ex- cellency, on behalf of the Trustees of the Race- course, I beg to convey to you their thanks for what you have done towards the improve- ment of the Racecourse. The place will car- tainly be greatly enhanced in pablic value by the change which is to be made, and I am sure
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