CLEVERLEY C. St. G.
Mr. Charles St. Georges Cleverly was appointed Assistant Surveyor in the earliest organised government in the Colony, established in 1843 by Sir Henry Pottinger. The name of Mr. Cleverly is found on a large number of old plans and tracings filed in the record offices here, and much of what surveying was carried out in those early days came under his control; so he is deservingly commemorated. Two years after the original appointment he was promoted to be Surveyor General, and was responsible for supervising the completion of St. John's Cathedral in 1849.
It is worth recording that he was also one of those Officials who, in the Legislative Council in 1859, voted against the Praya reclamation scheme of the then Governor, Sir John Bowring, who sought to get firms with sea frontages to pay for the work entailed by special Ordinance. There was much criticism aroused, it being declared that such things could only happen when Government officials such as the Surveyor General (and Attorney General) could accept private practice. Apparently, the suggestion was that the powerful mercantile firms were able to exert an influence in the Council in this way which they would not otherwise have. Mr. Cleverly, who had at first supported the Governor's plans, frankly stated that he had changed his mind. This influence exerted by the "commercial aristocracy" which defeated the first Praya Bill was guarded against in subsequent phases of the Colony's development schemes, but it was a point frequently referred to in local controversies.
It is interesting to find Mr. Cleverly called upon to represent the Civil Government on a board appointed by Sir Hercules Robinson, the next Governor, in 1861, which was to consider the whole question of allotting the newly-acquired peninsula of Kowloon between the Colony on the one hand and the Services on the other. The Board's other members were Representatives of the Navy and Army. It is not intended to go into this matter; for the present, suffice it to state that one old commentator declared afterwards that the Army obtained "the lion's share".
About this time, Mr. Cleverly was one of those who approved of the adoption of the water scheme which resulted in the construction of Pokfulum Reservoir, connected by means of an aqueduct to two tanks above the Taipingshan area (referred to earlier in this article), the work being commenced in 1860 and completed in 1863, but proving only a temporary palliative of the needs of the growing population in the western and central parts of the city. This former Surveyor General was also associated with the efforts made in 1862-3 to improve the sanitary arrangements of the city, particularly the drainage, owing to a cholera scare. Little was done at the time, however, and the Government's manner of setting about the matter was generally ridiculed. Mr. Cleverly was succeeded at the end of 1864 by Mr. Wilberforce Wilson.
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CLEVERLEY C. St. G.
Mr. Charles St. Georges Cleverly was appointed Assistant Surveyor in the earliest organised government in the Colony, established in 1843 by Sir Henry Pottinger. The name of Mr. Cleverly is found on a large number of old plans and tracings filed in the record offices here, and much of what surveying was carried out in those early days came under his control; so he is deservingly commemorated. Two years after the original apointment he was promoted to be Surveyor General, and was re onsible for supervising the completion ofSt. John's Cathedral in 1849. It is worth recording that he was also one of those Officials who, in the Legislative Council in 1859, voted against tha Praya reclamation scheme of the then Governor, Sir John sparing who sought to get firms with sea frontages to pay for the work entailed by special Ordinance. There was much criticism arouse, it being declared that such things could only happen when Government officials such as the Surveyor General (and
rney General ) could accept private practice. Apparently e suggestion was that the powerfub mercantile firms were able to exert an influence in the Countil in this way which they would nototherwise have. Mr. Cleverly who had at first support- ed the Governor's plans, frankly stated that he had changed his mind. This influence exerted by the " commercial aristocracy which defeated the first Praya, Bill was guarded against in subsequent phases of the Colony's development shcemes but it was a point frequery reffered to in local controversies.
It is interesting to find Mr. Cleverly called upon vc represent the Civil Government on a board appointed by Sir Fer- cules Robinson, the next Governor, in 1861 which was to consider the whole question of allotting the newly-acquired peninsula of Ko: Loor. between the Colony on the one hand and the Services on the other. The Board's other members were Representatives of the Navy and Army. It is not intended to go into this matter for the present suffice it to state that one old commentator declar- ed afterwards that the Army obtained " the lion's Bbare " About this time Mr. Cleverly was one of those who approved of the adop- tion of the water scheme which œsulted in the construction of Pokfulum Reservoir, connected by means of an aqueduct to two banks above the Taipinghshan area ( referred to earlier in this article) the work being commenced in 1860 and completed in. 1863 but proving only a temporary palliative of the needs of the growing population in the western and central parts of the city. This former Surveyor General was also associated with the efforts made in 1862-3 to improve the sanitary arrangements of the city particularly the drainageowing to a cholera scare. Little was done at the time however, and the Government's manner of setting abcut the mattef was generally ridiculed Mr. Cleverly was succeeded at the end of 1864 by Mr. Wilberforce Wilson.
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