280
DENT & CO..
A plot of land off Queen's Road, close to the parade ground (now the H.K. Cricket Club ground) and was put up towards the close of 1863, being in use the following year. One of the plaques bore an inscription stating that it had been presented to the Colony by Mr. John Dent in 1864 - and up to last year (1933) stood as a memorial to the man, in a prominent enough position as the City Hall was erected alongside a few years later and completed in 1869.
Reference has already been made in these articles to the demolition last June of the old fountain; there was some speculation at the time as to what would become of it.
Since then it has been ascertained that two of the four stone lions which crouched at the corners of the pedestal have been placed at the gateway of a house in Kowloon Tong, while the other two are to grace a new residence at Tsun Wan.
On enquiry, it is learned that the Government, at one period contemplated re-erecting the fountain, but the central portion was found to be composed of stucco, and broke up on removal after dismantling. Consequently nothing could be done with the structure and the contractor appears to have acquired the sculptured lions and disposed of them.
The Government, however, have stored the inscribed plaques and these it is hoped will be restored to public view when a new Hongkong museum materialises. It is well that Mr. John Dent's philanthropy be not entirely forgotten.
280
DENT & CO..
a plot of land off Queen's Road, close to the parade ground ( now the H.K. Cricket Club ground) and was put up towards the close- of 1863, being in use the following year. One of the paques bore an inscription stating that it had been presented to the Colony by Mr. John Dent in 1864 - and up to last year (1933) stood as a memorial to the man, in a prominent enough position as the City Hall was erected alongside a few years later and completed in 1869.
Reference has already been made in these articles to the demolition last June of the old fountain: there was some specu- lation at the time as to what would become of it.
Since then it has been ascertained that two of the four stone lions which crouched at the corners of the pedestal have been placed at the gateway of a house in Kowloon Tong, while the other two are to grace a new residence at Tsun Wan.
On en- quiry, it is learned that the Government, at one period contem- plated re-erecting the fountain, but the central portion was found to be composed of stucco, and broke up on removal after dismantiling. Consequently nothing could be done with the structure and the conteactor appears to have acquired the s cup- tured lions and disposed of them.
The Government, however, have stored the inscribed plaques and these it is hoped will be restored to public view when a new Hongkong museum materialises. It is well that Mr. John Dent's philanthropy be not entirely forgotten.
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