HONGKONG DESCRIPTION (1)
To-day's old picture shows Queen's Road in the Eighties, looking westward from Battery Point. This battery stood above Battery Path, and an old gun-pit still exists next to the Boy Scout meeting place at Lower Albert Road. The old gun was there up to a few years ago, and for some time has lain opposite the P.W.D. Office extension.
In the old photograph can be seen a number of trees, that lined Queen's Road in those days, as well as many buildings since demolished and replaced by more modern structures. The twin spires of the former Roman Catholic Cathedral in Wellington Street (substituted by the Cathedral in Caine Road) can be discerned in the left background; while in the middle, just to the right of the far end of the road, is the old Clock Tower which stood almost on the spot where there is now the traffic policeman's shelter at the top of Pedder Street. This clock tower was demolished in 1912, and the clock is now in the Customs House at Canton.
The old picture reproduced to-day is of the harbour as it appeared nearly fifty years ago. It is a photograph taken from the "Albany" shortly after that place was built. Unfortunately, the original picture was not a clear one, so that the reproduction has suffered. There is sufficient detail, however, for instead of modern masts and funnels, we see several old ships, with auxiliary sails; at anchor, of course, with sails furled. It takes little imagination to visualise those same ships leaving or entering port, with the canvas billowing to the breeze. A little to the right of the middle of the picture, painted white, and with an awning along its whole length, is shown H.M.S. Tamar, now anchored in the dockyard, but in commission at the time this old photo was taken. The background is also of great interest, for it shows Kowloon before the reclamation, with Blackhead Point jutting out prominently, just behind the furthest three-masted ship, towards the left.
Several readers point out that if the view of the harbour published yesterday (4-7-33) was taken about fifty years ago, the warship which it was stated was the Tamar was probably the Victor Immanuel. There is on record a reference to a Naval supply ship named the Princess Charlotte, stationed here in 1866. She was followed by the Victor Immanuel, and then by the Tamar. If the date of the photo was in the Eighties, it was probably the Victor Immanuel which is shown. The photo was taken after the "Albany" was built, and it was presumed that the picture was at least fifty years old, as stated. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to obtain the exact date of the photograph, unlike the one published to-day.
"Dramaticus". - A pen-picture of early Hongkong (1866) is contained in a criticism of the street lighting of those days:
"We beg to call the attention of the proper authorities to the very unequal distribution of the Gas Lamps in different quarters of the town. The German Club by the Tank, to the head of Ice House Lane there is not even one lamp, yet that corner is as dark and dangerous as any in Hongkong. Every one must have noticed the depth of gloom that overhangs at night that portion of the Queen's Road from the Clock Tower to beyond the Ice House. There is only one gas lamp in a distance of at least five hundred yards and that is partially hidden by being
HONGKONG DESCRIPTION (1)
To-day's old picture shows Queen's Road in the Eighties, looking westward from Battery Point. This battery stood above Battery Path, and an old gun-pit still exists next to the Boy Scout meeting place at Lower Albert Road. The old gun was there up to a few years ago, and for some time has lain opposite the P.W.D. Office extension.
In the old photograph can be seen a number of trees, that lined Queen's Road in those days, as well as many buildings since demolished and replaced by more modern structures. The twin spires of the former Roman Catholic Cathedral in Wellington Street (substituted by the Cathedral in Caine Road) can be discerned in the left background; while in the middle, just to the right of the far end of the road, is the old Clock Tower which stood almost on the spot where there is now the traffic pliceman's shelt er at the top of Pedder Street. This clock tower was demolished- in 1912, and the clock is now in the Customs House at Canton.
The old picture reproduced to-day is of the harbour as it appeared nearly fifty years ago. It is a photograph taken from the "Albany" shortly after that place was built. Unfortunately, the original picture was not a clear one, so that the reproduction has suffered. There is sufficient detail, however, for instead of modern masts and funnels, we see several old ships, with auxiliary sails; at anchor, of course, with sails furled. It takes little imagination to visualise those same ships leaving or entering port, with the canvas billowing to the breeze. A little to the right of the middle of the picture, painted white, and with an awning along its whole length, is shown H.M.S. Tamar, now anchored in the dockyard, but in commission at the time this old photo was taken. The background is also of great interest, for it shows Kowloon before the reclamation, with Blackhead Point jutting out prominently, just behind the furthest three-masted ship, towards the left.
Several readers point out that if the view of the harbour published yesterday (4-7-33) was taken about fifty years ago, the warship which it was stated was the Tamar was probably the Victor Immanuel. There is on record a reference to a Naval supply ship named the Princess Charlotte, stationed here in 1866. She was followed by the Victor Immanuel, and then by the Tamar. If the date of the photo was in the Zighties, it was probably the Victor Immanuel which is shown. The photo was taken after the "Albany" was built, and it was presumed that the picture was at least fifty years old, as stated. Unfortunately it has not been possible to obtain the exact date of the photograph, unlike the one published to-day.
"Dramaticus". - A pen-picture of early Hongkong (1866) is contained in a criticism of the street lighting of those days:
From
"We beg to all the attention of the proper authorities to the very unequal distribution of the Gas Lamps in different quarters of the town. the German Club by the Tank, to the head of Ice House Lane there is not even one lamp, yet that corner is as dark and dangerous as any in Hongkong. Every one must have noticed the depth of gloom that overhangs at night that portion of the Queen's Road from the Clock Tower to beyond the Ice House. There is only one gas lamp in a distance of at least five hundred yards and that is partially hidden by being
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.