Old Hong Kong-4 — Page 251

side, and the entrance was a door-way in the side, from which a handsome teak staircase led to the main decks.

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In his advertisement announcing the opening of the Marina Hotel, the manager, Mr. James Edwards, assured the public that the bedrooms and bathrooms were commodious, well ventilated and well furnished, and, in short, were suitable for married or single persons. The table d'hôte was to be supplied with only the best the market could provide.

There was a gala opening, performed by His Excellency the Administrator, the Hon. Mr. Francis Fleming, C.M.G. The report of the function, incidentally published two days after the event, is worth reproducing:

"On Monday afternoon there was quite a celebration on board Marina, that admirable floating boat which has already secured the support of a very considerable number of Hongkong residents. His Excellency the Administrator, the Hon. Francis Fleming, C.M.G., had promised to hold a reception on board this local sanitarium, and from about 5 o'clock till 6.15 the representative of Britain's majesty, with that hard-and-fast courtesy which is rapidly making Mr. Fleming a popular official, held high wassail among the rank and file of Hongkong's struggling thousands. The drones of the colony didn't show up. They never do unless at a so-called fashionable "function" where stale champagne-cup and insipid assess of the male gender predominate. However, Mr. Fleming went over the Marina, made a careful inspection of the vessel throughout, and expressed his approval of and satisfaction with all he saw. There were hundreds of visitors on board during the afternoon and evening, and quite a large party sat down to dinner on the spacious upper deck, where the cool breezes greatly contributed towards a most pleasant evening. The Marina is certainly a great success.

But the writer of that short report was not a good prophet. The Marina was not a great success. On April 3, 1891, there was a stormy meeting of shareholders, presided over by Mr. Fraser Smith, Editor of the Hongkong Telegraph and one of the most spectacular figures in the early days.

The chairman of directors, it appears, was unable to attend owing to fever. He wrote a letter to the secretary pointing out that it would be difficult to secure a quorum and suggesting the postponement of the meeting for a week. There was a quorum, however, and Mr. Fraser Smith was voted to the chair. On the head of the unfortunate chairman of directors, Mr. Fraser Smith poured his sarcasm, and concluded by saying he intended to see that the Chairman of Directors and his two Chinese associates were made personally responsible for the whole costs and outlay of the Company.

Mr. Rodyk, one of the directors, refused to accept responsibility for the alleged "disgraceful mismanagement of the affairs of the company." He had joined the Board only two months before the hotel was closed, and had steadfastly refused to pass accounts for payment.

It was Mr. J. Pitman, the biggest shareholder, who brought the business to an end by proposing that the company be wound up voluntarily and that Mr. Fraser-Smith, Mr. Rodyk, and Mr. A.G. Gordon be appointed liquidators. The motion was carried.