A PAGE FROM KOWLOON HISTORY (cont.)
this land was a sandy beach, at the water's edge.
60%
24
In an article on the opening up of Kowloon after it came under British control in the early Sixties (see 25.8.33) it was mentioned that the earliest assignments of land consisted of garden and farm lots, and it has also been shown (see 5.9.33) that the Portuguese were largely the first settlers at Yaumati. By the kindness of the Land Officer, I have been able to look up the old register, where the names of the original lot-holders are recorded, as well as some of the old sale plans, which definitely locate the position of those early plots.
The Yaumati area allotted to settlers consisted entirely of farm lots. They numbered twelve altogether, and up to No.10 were leases for a period of 999 years, the last two being for only 75 years. All have since been resumed by Government.
It is shown in the old register that only five of the twelve Yaumati farm leases were assigned to foreigners, the others going to Chinese. The names of the foreigners concerned, and the dates when they entered into possession, are given below:
No.1 to Marcos do Rozario and Delfino Noronha (1869), No.2 to R. A. do Rozario (1869), No.6 to Frederic Sander (1870), No.11 to Henry Charles Caldwell (1869), and No.12 to J. M. d'Almada e Castro in 1869 (see 16.11.33).
There is an old sale plan showing an "Extension of Farm Lot No.1", indicating that it was later enlarged, and the total area then became 77,575 square feet. It was leased at a rental of $5 an acre, the total rent on the 1.78 acres being $8.90 per annum.
An old plan of Farm Lot No.12, dated September 25, 1872, shows it to have had a total area of four acres.
All these lots were in the northern part of Yaumati, mostly adjoining the seafront.
It is interesting to note that a fine house was erected there by Mr. Marcos do Rozario after he had married Miss Delfino Noronha, and the place was called "Delmar," being a combination of the first syllables of their Christian names. This house was a landmark for many years. (see 5.9.33).
****
We might proceed now to consider the original Garden Lots, leased under entirely different terms. These were actually intended for gardens, and were granted at first for a term of only fourteen years, all being dated September 1874. They passed through several hands in some cases, and eventually, at a higher rent, were re-assigned as Kowloon Inland Lots, as we know them to-day.
It is disclosed in the old register that Sir Paul Chater's land at the corner of Austin and Nathan Roads, since sold, came into his possession at a later date than the original leases.
As a record of the individuals who originally came into possession of these Garden Lots is useful to-day, suggesting the pioneers of Kowloon, I give most of them below. The list is practically complete: in some cases the people named owned several plots adjoining one another, and it will be seen that there were a great number. Nearly forty non-Chinese names are registered as original lessees, but the Chinese names are comparatively few, so that foreigners must have been the main applicants for garden areas when they came to be offered.
The old plans show these to have covered the whole of the middle of Kowloon as we know it to-day, mainly bordering the east side of the present Nathan Road (then known as Robinson Road), and especially covering the area between Kimberly and Jordan Roads.
A PAGE FROM KOWLOON HISTORY (cont.)
this land was a sandy beach, at the water's edge.
60%
24
In an article on the opening up of Kowloon after it came under British control' in the early Sixties (see 25.8.33) it was mentioned that the earliest assignments of land consisted of garden and farm lots, and it has also been shown (see 5.9.33) that the Portuguese were largely the first settlers at Yaumati. By the kindness of the Land Officer, I have been able to look up the old register, where the names of the original lot-holders are recorded, as well as some of the old sale plans, which definitely locate the position of those early plots.
The Yaumati area allotted to settlers consisted entirely of farm lots. They numbered twelve altogether, and up to No.10 were leases for a period of 999 years, the last two being for only 75 years, All have since been resum- ed by Government.
The n
It is shown in the old register that only five of the twelve Yaumati farm leases were assigned to foreigners, the others going to Chinese. names of the foreigners concerned, and the dates when they entered into possession, are given below:
No.1 to Marcos do Rozario and Delfino Noronha (1869), No.2 to R. A. do Rozario (1869), No.6 to Frederic Sander (1870), No.11 to Henry Charles Caldwell (1869), and No.12 to J. M. d'Almada e Castro in 1869 (see 16.11.33).
There is an old sale plan showing an "Extension of Farm Lot No.1", in- dicating that it was later enlarged, and the total area then became 77.575 square feet. It was leased at a rental of $5 an acre, the total rent on the 1.78 acres being $8.90 per annum.
An old plan of Farm Lot No.12, dated September 25, 1872, shows it to have had a total area of four acres.
All these lots were in the northern part of Yaumati, mostly adjoining the seafront.
It is interesting to note that a fine house was erected there by Mr. Marcos do Rozario after he had married Miss Delfino Noronha, and the place was called "Delmar," being a combination of the first syllables of their Christian names. This house was a landmark for many years. (see 5.9.33).
****
We might proceed now to consider the original Garden Lots, leased under entirely different terms. These were actually intended for gardens, and were granted at first for a term of only fourteen years, all being dated September 1874. They passed through several hands in some cases, and even- tually, at a higher rent, were re-assigned as Kowloon Inland Lots, as we know them to-day.
It is disclosed in the old register that Sir Paul Chater's land at the corner of Austin and Nathan Roads, since sold, came into his possession at a later date than the original leases.
As a record of the individuals who originally came into possession of these Garden Lots is useful to-day, suggesting the pioneers of Kowloon, I give most of them below. The list is practically complete: in some cases the people named owned several plots adjoining one another, and it will be seen that there were a great number. Nearly forty non-Chinese names are regis- tered as original lessees, but the Chinese names are comparatively few, so that foreigners must have been the main applicants for garden areas when they came to be offered.
The old plans show these to have covered the whole of the middle of Kowloon as we know it to-day, mainly bordering the east side of the present Nathan Road (then known as Robinson Road), and especially covering the area between Kimberly and Jordan Roads.
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