POST OFFICE
(Contd.)
"The trees, which are now planted, are not shown in the drawing, but they are in front of the building, at the distance of about six feet from each column."
These trees must have become the special pride of the department, for in October 1850 a letter addressed to Major Caine (acting Colonial Secretary) from the Postmaster, Mr. Hyland, complains that one of a party of midshipmen from H.M.S. Hastings, who had landed at Pedder's Wharf (probably in high spirits) had wantonly torn down a branch of one particularly fine tree which shaded the Post Office!
The act had been witnessed by a Mr. Rienaecker, and duly reported to the Postmaster.
831
In September 1847, there is a letter from the Postmaster to the Colonial Secretary mentioning that the Post Office, being at the water's edge and facing north-east, was open to the full force of most of the summer gales, and requesting the provision of typhoon bars for the doors and windows.
The liability to damage by typhoon continued, for in a letter dated September 1, 1848, there is reference to serious damage done to the premises by "last night's gale."
In September 1849 part of the ceiling collapsed, apparently after a storm, doing some damage to the property of the Postmaster for which he later wrote in requesting some small compensation from the Government, his landlords. In communicating the news of the collapse to the authorities, he refers to the building as being "unsafe," and partly "decayed." Later, repairs were instituted, and as the building was standing up to about twelve years ago, when it was demolished to make room for China Building, the early complaints about its condition seem to have been hardly justified.
Throughout this period, certainly up to the Nineties, the Postmaster and various members of the Chinese staff continued to live in part of the premises.
That the building was completely renovated in due course is evident from a letter written in October 1882 by Mr. S. Barff, who was acting Postmaster General, to Dr. F. Stewart, the acting Colonial Secretary, suggesting that a policeman should be assigned duty at the Post Office from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. "during the repairs," which had necessitated the staff temporarily evacuating the living quarters.
We learn from the records that an annual rent of $150 was being paid to the Hong Kong Government for the use of the building housing the local Post Office; and in 1855 this was doubled to $300.
In October 1855, referring to this increase when writing Home to the P.M.G., the local Postmaster mentions an important date, states "When these premises were handed over in January, 1846, the north-east angle of the building was reserved as an office for the Registrar General who subsequently moved to quarters in the Central Police Station buildings." The burden of the letter is that the higher rental was probably justified.
As already mentioned, the local Post Office was originally placed on the footing of a subsidiary of the General Post Office in London. All matters were referred to the P.M.G. and it is interesting to find that from July 1854 the correspondence was being addressed to the famous Rowland Hill. Prior to that, letters had been written to Lt.-Col. Maberly.
Page 255
Page 256
POST OFFICE
(Contd.)
"The trees, which are now planted, are not shown in the drawing, but they are in front of the building, at the distance of about six feet from each column."
These trees must have become the special pride of the department, for in October 1850 a letter addressed to Major Caine (acting Colonial Secretary) from the Postmaster, Mr. Hyland, complains that one of a party of midshipmen from H.M.S. Hastings, who had landed at Pedder's Wharf (probably in high spirits) had wantonly torn down a branch of one particularly fine tree which shaded the Post Office!
The act had been witnessed by a Mr. Rienaecker, and duly reported to the Postmaster.
831
In September 1847, there is a letter from the Postmaster to the Colonial Secretary mentioning that the Post Office, being at the water's edge and facing north-east, was open to the full force of most of the summer gales, and requesting the provision
of typhoon bars for the doors and windows.
The liability to damage by typhoon continued, for in a letter dated September1, 1848, there is reference to serious damage done to the premises by "last night's gale."
In September 1849 part of the ceiling collapsed, apparently after a storm, doing some damage to the property of the Fostmaster for which he later wrote in requesting some small conpensation
from the Government, his landlords. In communicating the news of the collapse to the authorities, he refers to the building as being "unsafe," and partly "decayed." Later, repairs were instituted, and as the building was standing up to about twelve years ago, when it was demolished to make room for China Building the early complaints about its condition seem to have been hardly, justified.
Throughout this period, certainly up to the Nineties, the Postmaster and various members of the Chinese staff continued to live in part of the premises.
That the building was completely renovated in due course is evidently from a letter written in October 1882 by Mr. S. Barff, who was acting Postmaster General, to Dr. F. Stwert the acting Colonia 1 Secretary, suggesting that a policeman should be assigned duty at the Post Office from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. "during the repairs,' which had necessitated the staff temporarily evacuating the living quarters.
*
*
*
*
We learn from the records that an annual rent of $150 was being paid to the Hong Kong Government for the use of the building housing the local Post Office; and in 1855 this was doubled to £300.
He
In October 1855, referring to this increase when writing Home to the P.M.G. the local Postmaster mentions an important date. states "When these premises were handed over in January, 1846, the north east angle of the building was reserved as an office for the Registrar General who subsequently moved to quarters in the Central Police Station buildings." The burthen of the letter is that the higher rental was probably justified.
As already mentioned, the local Post Office was originally placed on the footing of a subsidiary of the General Post Office in London. All matters were referred to the P.M.G. and it is interesting to find that from July 1854 the correspondence was being addressed to the famous Rowland Hill. Prior to that letters had been written to Lt.-Col. Maberly.
Page 255Page 256
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