A TRAGIC FLOUR MILL VENTURE
The Hongkong Government recently called for tenders for the demolition of the old Rennie's Flour Mills, at Junk Bay, which have been standing derelict for a number of years. Behind that small paragraph which appeared in the Gazette last month, lies a tragic story of enterprise, which failed soon after its inception: so that a clever business man was driven to take his own life, and two of the Colony's most capable financiers had to own themselves beaten and bear a big monetary loss.
Opened in January, 1907, the mills lost heavily during their first year, and had closed down by the end of 1908. We might resuscitate the story from the contemporary records.
859
In the S.C.M. Post of January 26, 1907, appears an account of the commencement of this tragic enterprise. It states in part:
The two fine launches Canada and Kwong Sing left Hongkong on January 22 (1907) and steamed at full speed towards Junk Bay, where Mr. A.H. Rennie's new flour mills have been established. This occasion was the official opening of this splendid enterprise, and the presence of His Excellency and Mrs. May added distinction to the celebration.
Amongst those on the Canada were His Excellency Hon. Mr. F.H. May, the Officer Administering the Government and Mrs. May, Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Sir Paul Chater, Mr. and Mrs. Rennie, Major and Mrs. Chatty, Dr. Thornicraft (Kobe), Mr. H.N. (later Sir H.) Mody, Mr. H.F.R. Hunter and Miss Hunter, Messrs. C.W. May, G. Hastings, J.C. Feter, T.P. Cochrane, Carl Steiner, J. Orange, and A. Raymond.
In the course of a speech Mr. Rennie stated:- I am more delighted than I can tell you that I have been enabled to turn out flour in this short space of time. Had I not had the good fortune to pick out the very best of partners, Sir Paul Chater and Mr. Mody, who have given me a free hand throughout, I am confident that I could not have accomplished my ideal, the Junk Bay flour mills, in that time.
Mr. Rennie added that Mr. Shank, the millwright, installed the entire milling plant and was without doubt a genius. The head miller, Mr. Gaddie, was an expert in milling. If any error in his (Mr. Rennie's) judgment had crept in, he alone was to be blamed and he would not shirk the responsibility.
Continuing, he said:- The Hongkong and Whampoa Dock have come to my aid at any time, day or night, and have supplied the shafting and ironwork. I believe they can make anything that is practicable in the world in the way of machinery. As for my friend Mr. Orange, who personally assisted in the installation of every large iron pillar in cement concrete and worked side by side with me six hours a day for twelve months, I think the praise is due to him, and not to me, as far as the building is concerned.
A TRAGIC FLOUR MILL VENTURE
The Hongkong Government recently called for tenders for the demolition of the old Rennie's Flour Mills, at Junk Bay, which have been standing derelict for a number of years. Behind that small paragraph which appeared in the Gazette last month, lies a tragic story of enterprise, which failed soon after its inception: so`that a clever business man was driven to take his own life, and two of the Colony's most capable financiers had to own themselves beaten and bear a big monetary loss.
Opened in January, 1907, the mills-lost heavily during their first year, and had closed down by the end of 1908. We might resuscitate the story from the contemporary records.
859
In the S.C.M. Post of January 26, 1907, appears an account of the commencement of this tragio enterprise. states in pert:
It
The two fine launches Canada and Kwong Sing left Hongkong on January 22 (1907) and steemed at full speed towards Junk Bay, where Mr. A.H. Rennie's new flour mills have been established. This occasion was the official opening of this splendid enterprise, and the presence of His Excellency and Mrs. May added distinction to the celebration.
Amongst those on the Canada were His Excellency Hon. Mr. F.H. May, the Officer Administering the Government and Mrs. May, Hon. Mr.W.Chatham, Sir Paul Chater, Mr. and Mrs. Rennie, Major and Mrs. Chatty, Dr. Thornicraft (Kobe), Mr. H.N. (later Sir H.) Mody, Mr. H.F.R. Hunter and Miss Hunter, Messrs. C.W. May, G. Hastings, J.C. Feter, T.P.Cochrane, Carl Steiner, J.Orange, and A. Raymond.
I am
In the course of a speech Mr. Rennie stated:- more delighted than I can tell you that I have been enabled to turn out flour in this short space of time. Had I not had the good fortune to pick out the very best of partners, Sir Faul Chater and Mr. Mody, who have given me a free hand throughout, I am confident that I could not have accomplished my ideal the Junk Bay flour mills in that time.
had
Mr. Rennie added that Mr. Shank, the millwright, installed the entire milling plant and was without doubt a genius. The head miller, Mr. Gaddie, was an expert in milling. If any error in his (Mr. Rennie's) judgment had crept in, he alone was to be blamed and he would not shirk the responsibility.
Continuing, he said:- The Hongkong and Whampoa Dock have come to my aid at any time, day or night, and have supplied the shafting and ironwork. I believe they can make anything that is practicable in the world in the way of machinery. As for my friend Mr. Orange, who personally assisted in the installation of every large iron pillar in cement concrete end worked side by side with me six hours a day for twelve months, I think the praise is due to him, and not to me, as far as the building is
concerned.
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