CLUBS (13) Continuation.
209
a poor specimen of a cricket ground and it is also too small to answer the purpose for which it was originally intended, namely a place of resort for the amusement and recreation of the public. We do not for a moment suggest that the Cricket Club should be deprived of their ground so long as the members of that institution are content to burlesque the noble game within its circumscribed limits:
The writer of the above appears to have been just a little piqued!
The Hongkong Telegraph on October 24 that same year returns to the attack:
"With reference to the proposed formation of the Victoria Cricket Club, the question arose as to its right to use the Cricket Ground, and in this connection was quoted a letter written on October 10, 1866, by Mr. W. T. Mercer, then Colonial Secretary relating to the Hongkong Cricket Ground, as follows:
"H. E. The Governor has referred to all the previous correspondence and despatches on this subject and finds that the ground in question was levelled at the expense of the Colony and with the sanction of Her Majesty's Secretary of State appropriated to the Recreation of the Community of Hongkong. The condition attached was that the Garrison might use it on occasions when paraded in such numbers that the ordinary Parade Ground did not suffice.
14 ILLUSTRATED
CLUBS (14)
The Hongkong Cricket Club has no more title to the ground than the rest of the General Public, but as the Club has for many years been at the expense of keeping the Ground in order, there has been a tacit understanding that they should not be interfered with. At the same time the Club has no right to make any charge for the use of the Ground which belongs solely and entirely to the Government of this Colony."
What became of the proposed Victoria Cricket Club we do not know - probably the founding of the Kowloon Cricket Club and Happy Valley Institutions left the H. K. C. C. unchallenged users of their present ground.
Before closing this review we might observe that the ground was at one time used for sports other than cricket and tennis. There is a newspaper reference to the "Hongkong amateur athletic sports" held there on March 12, 1883, the first of these annual sports meetings was held in 1880.
Then, who says baseball is completely new to the Colony? We find a reference dated March 8, 1883, to the fact that "Base Ball Match took place between the officers of the United States Navy, from on Board the Richmond and Monocacy, and the Hongkong Cricket Club and the game was played on the Cricket Club's ground.
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Page 211
CLUBS (13) Continuation.
ী
209
a poor specimen of a cricket ground and it also too small to answer the purpose for which it was originally intended, namely a place of resort for the amusement and recreation of the public. We do not for a moment suggest that the Cricket Club should be deprived of their ground so long as the members of that insti- tution are content to burlesque the noble game within its circumsbribed limits:*
·
The writer of the above appears to have been just a little piqued!
The Hongkong Telegraph on October 24 that same year returns to the attack:
"With reference to the proposed formation of the Victoria Cricket Club, the question arose as to its right to use the the Cricket Ground, and in this connection was quoted a letter written on October 10, 1866, by Mr. W. T. Mercer, then Colonial Secretary relating to the Hongkong Cricket Ground, as follows:
"H. E. The Governor has referred to all the previous correspondence and despatches on this subject and finds that the ground in question was levelled at the expense of the Colony and with the sanction of Her Majesty's Secretary of State appropriated to the Recreation of the Community of Hongkong. The condition aftached was that the Garrison might use is on occasions when paraded in such numbers that the ordinary Parade Ground did not suffice.
14 ILLUSTRADED
CLUBS (14)
bas
The Hongkong Cricket Club/no more title to the ground than the rest of the General Public, but as the Club has for many years been at the expense of keeping the Ground in order, there has been a tacit understanding that they should not be interfered with. At the same time the Club has no right to make any charge for the use of the Ground which belongs solely and entirely to the Government of this Colony."
What became of the proposed Victoria Cricket Club we do not knwo - probably the founding of the Kowloon Cricket Club and Happy Valley Institutions left the H. K. C. C. unchallenged users of their present ground.
Before closing this review we might observe that the ground was at one time used for sports other than cricket and tennis. There is a newspaper referente to the " Hongkong amateur athletic sports " held there on March 12, 1883, the first of these annual sports meeting was held in 1880.
The, who says baseball is completely new to the Colony? We find a reference dated March 8, 1883, to the fact that " Base Ball Match took place between the officers of the United States Navy, from on Board the Richmond and Monocacy, and the Hongkong Cricket Club and the game was played on the Cricket Club's ground.
Page 210Page 211
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