Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 1002

HONGKONG

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ted, with two intervals, until April, 1854, the Colony continued to progress, but garrison and residents still suffered severely from malaria. On the 13th April, 4, Sir John Bowring took the oaths as Governor, and held the reins until y, 1859. Sir John Bowring was the last Governor who united that office th that of Minister Plenipotentiary and Superintendent of British Trade in China. ring his administration various public works were carried out, and the Bowrington nal was constructed. On October 1st, 1857, The Hongkong Daily Press made its pearance, being the first daily paper published in the Far East. In September, 1859, Hercules Robinson arrived and assumed the administration. In 1860 the peninsula of owloon was placed under British control, and soon afterwards became a great camp, e English and French troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force being for some time artered there. The principal work effected during the government of Sir Hercules obinson was the construction of the original Praya wall, in connection with which an tensive reclamation of land from the sea was made. Prior to that time the marine t-holders had the entire control of the sea frontage of their lots, and no public road, operly speaking, existed along the water frontage. In 1862 a Clock Tower (demolished a hindrance to traffic in 1913) was completed, and the Hongkong Mint was erected, at owing to the loss attending the working of this institution it was closed early in 64, the plant being sold to Japan and re-erected at Osaka. In March, 1865, Sir ercules Robinson left the Colony, and Mr. Mercer, Colonial Secretary, became Acting overnor until the arrival, in March, 1866, of Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell. November, 1867, a great fire occurred, which swept the whole district between he Queen's Road and the Praya, from the Cross Roads to the Harbour Master's ffice. During Sir Richard MacDonnell's vigorous administration the revenue of he Colony, which had fallen much below the expenditure, was augmented by the mposition of the stamp duties and other measures. One of His Excellency's st official acts was to preside at the opening, in February, 1872, of the Tung Wa Chinese) Hospital. In April, 1872, Sir Arthur Kennedy arrived and assumed the eins of government, which he held with such tact and dexterity that he acquired he title of "Good Sir Arthur," and a bronze statue of him was erected in the ublic Gardens. Under his administration the Colony prospered, but the year 1874 as made memorable in Colonial annals by one of the most destructive typhoons which ad down to that time visited it, causing enormous damage and great loss of life. The eaceful reign of Sir Arthur Kennedy was followed by the stormy administration of Sir John Pope Hennessy, who arrived in April, 1877, and left in March, 1882. In this nterval the trade of the Colony increased greatly and Governor Hennessy accumu- ated a large surplus, but public works made little progress, the Breakwater at Cause- vay Bay being the principal work completed during his administration, while the Observatory was projected. On Christmas Day, 1878, a fire broke out in the Central District of Victoria which destroyed 368 houses and entailed enormous loss on the community. On Sir John's departure Sir William (then Mr.) Marsh, the Colonial Secretary, assumed the Government, and affairs proceeded placidly until the arrival, n March, 1883, of Sir George Bowen. His advent was the signal for great activity in the orosecution of public works, amongst others being the Tytam Waterworks, the Victoria College, the Lunatic Asylum, the Observatory, and the enlargement of the Government Civil Hospital. He was also the means of securing to the residents the privilege of nominating two of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council. Sir George Bowen left Hongkong on the 19th December, 1885, and another interregnum followed. Mr. Marsh administered the Government until April, 1887, when he retired from the service, and Major-General Cameron assumed the reins until the arrival of Governor Sir William G. Des Voeux in October of the same year. The Colony steadily progressed, though naturally with some fluctuations in its prosperity, until in 1889, when, writing to the Secretary of State on its condition and prospects, Sir William Des Vœux was able to remark, with obvious satisfaction:-"It may be doubted whether the evidences of material and moral achievement, presented as it were in a focus, make anywhere a more forcible appeal to eye and imagination, and whether any other spot on the earth is thus more likely to excite, or much more fully justifies, pride in the name of Englishman." After that date a period of deep depression, arising partly from the fluctuations of exchange, partly from over-speculation, and partly from other causes, was experienced, and continued for five years. Sir William Des Voeux resigned the Government on the 7th May, 1891, and, in the absence of the Colonial Secretary, Major-General Digby Barker was sworn in as Acting Governor. Sir William Robinson was appointed Governor and arrived in the Colony on the 10th December, 1891. A petition addressed to the House of Commons at this time in favour