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Dorabjee (one of the lessees of the Hongkong Hotel), and Tang-a-Lok. It was sold for a total of $1,350. One of the documents designates the land as being "at the back of the Eastern Slaughter-house," and in another letter it is referred to as situated "at Wanchai."
We find therefore that the hill on which the R.N. Hospital stands had by this date been named after Admiral Shadwell, who was in command out here at the time the place was acquired. How many to-day are aware of this fact? In this connexion it is also interesting to note that the hill across the road is still known as Mount Parish, evidently named after the Commodore of that time.
A letter dated July 27, 1876, from Messrs. Sharp, Toller and Johnson dated from the Supreme Court House and addressed to the Secretary to the Commodore, might be quoted, as it clearly indicates how the land on Mount Shadwell had been acquired. The following paragraph appears:
"It will be remembered that this lot, which originally formed a portion of the hill now called Mount Shadwell, was three years ago purchased by the Admiralty of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. for the sum of $35,000. Much more space being required, the local government consented to grant the surrounding ground which had not previously been demised to any private persons. The Admiral being desirous of possessing one title only and that direct from the Crown, it was arranged that the old lot No. 620 should be surrendered for the whole hill. On receiving back these two titles properly executed together with the memo, we will see that the several documents are dated and registered in the Land Office after which we shall be able to obtain the original leases and complete the whole matter.
A proposed extension on the adjoining ridge came that same year. A letter dated April 26, 1876, from the Surveyor, R.E. Department, to the Naval Commander-in-Chief, states that the site selected on the hill opposite Mount Shadwell "appears to be the only suitable one available for the proposed extension of the Royal Naval Hospital."
A later letter from the Governor dated June 10, 1876, indicates that the land opposite Mount Shadwell had been granted for the extension of the Naval Hospital. This was later referred to in documents as Mount Parish.
A question which soon cropped up was the provision of an adequate water supply. A letter from Government House dated May 5, 1876, signed by Sir Arthur Kennedy, who was then Governor, refers to a despatch from Admiral Ryder proposing to make a small reservoir on the hill opposite Mount Shadwell for the use of the Naval Hospital, and stating that there was no objection to the erection of a tank on the hillside.
That same year, following heavy rains, a serious land slip occurred on the edge of Mount Shadwell, doing some damage to nearby property. There is a reference in August, 1876, to a claim by some Chinese, residing on what is described as Wanchai Road, for damage owing to the land-slide, which occurred within the Naval boundaries. It appears to have done serious damage to Chinese houses situated just below the hill. There is no indication how the claim was met.
The first definite mention of Mount Parish is made in a letter dated December 12, 1878, from Messrs. Sharp, Toller and Johnson to the Naval authorities referring to the forwarding...
حيد
524
6.
Dorabjee (one of the lessees of the Hongkong Hotel), and Tang-a-Lok. It was sold for a total of $1,350. One of the documents designates the land as being "at the back of the Eastern Slaughter-house," and in another letter it is referred to as situated "at Wanchai."
We find therefore that the hill on which the R.N. Hospital stands had by this date been named after Admir al Shadwell, who was in command out here at the time the place was acquired. How many to-day are aware of this fact? In this connexion it is also interesting to note that the hill across the road is still known as Mount Parish, evidently named after the Commodore of that time.
A letter dated July 27, 1876, from Messrs. Sharp, Toller and Johnson dated from the Supreme Court House and addressed to the Secretary to the Commodore, might be quoted, as it clearly indicates how the land on Mount Shadwell had been aċ- quired. The following paragraph appears:
"It will be remembered that this lot, which originally formed a portion of the hill now called Mount Shadwell, was two (it should be three) years ago purchased by the Admiralty of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. for the sum of $35,000. Much more space being required, the local government consented to grant the surrounding ground which had not previously been demised to any private persons. The Admiral being desirous of possessing one title only and that direct from the Crown, it was arranged that the old lot No. 620 should be surrendered for the whole hill. On receiving back these two titles properly executed together with the memo, we will see that the several documents are dated and registered in the Land Office after which we shall be able to obtain the original leases and complete the whole mat-
ter.
19
A propos ed extension on the adjoining ridge came that same year A letter dated April 26, 1876, from the Surveyor,
*
R.E. Department, to the Naval Commander-in-Chief, states that the site selected on the hill opposite Mount Shadwell "appears to be the only suitable one available for the proposed extension of the Royal Naval Hospital."
A later letter from the Governor dated June 10, 1876, indicates that the land opposite Mount Shadwell had been granted for the extension of the Naval Hospital. This was laver referred to in documents as Mount Parish.
A question which soon cropped up was the provision of an adequate water supply. A letter from Government House dated May 5, 1876, signed by Sir Arthur Kennedy, who was then Governor, refers to a despatch from Admiral Ryder proposing to make a small reservoir on the hill opposite Mount Shadwell for the use of the Nacal Hospital, a nd stating that there was no obje ction to the erection of a tank on the hillside.
That same year, following heavy rains, a serious land slip occurred on the edge of Mount Shadwell, doing some damage to nearby property. There is a reference in Augut, 1876, to a claim by some Chinese, residing on what is described as Wanchai Road, for damage owing to the land-slide, which occurred within the Naval boundaries. It appears to have done serious damage to Chinese houses situated just below the hill1. There is no indication how the claim was met.
The first definite mention of Mount Parish is made in a letter dated December 12, 1878, from Messrs. Sharp, Toller and Johnson to the Naval authorities referrring to the forwarding
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