Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 225

CLUBS ( 24 )

(24) Continuation.

That the sanction of His Excellency and the Lieutenant

...-

224

Governor (an office held by the General ) had been obtained to the adaption of the Parade Ground for purposes of public recreation that this adaption was to be carried into effect on the opening of the new road by the water-side by levelling and turging all the space from the upper part of the Parade ground to the new road that the Parade Gound would be extended and improved by this, and its use by the military in no way interred with that it had been stated that the Board of Ordnance intended, if they had the power, to appropriate part of this ground in a manner which would be prejudicial to the inhabitants of Victoria, by depriving them of the only open space adjacent to the town - that if the proposed plan be carried out, it would be highly conducive to the health of both the civil and military population - that a certain amount of funds would be necessary, as the Government only proposed to hear the expense of making the alteration of the road, etc, etc,

"Mr. Bridges concluded by moving:- "That the adaptation of the Parade Ground ( when not used as such ) for Cricket and sikilar amusements, will be highly beneficial to the civil and Mlitary population of this island.

#

Which motion was seconded by Mr. Antrobus.

Before being

out from the chair, some observations were made upon the expression" Cricket and similar amusements "when the reeting was given fully to understand that the Cricket was named as being the game that would probably be most generally played; but that the gound might be used bor bowls, golf, quoits, any other outdoor amusement for which it might be found sulta.... ble. Mr. Bridges's motion was then put, and carried unanimous-

y.

or

Mr. Shortrede moved:- " That a Committee be appointed consisting of the following gentlemen namely - The Chairman Fiessrs. Bridges, Antrobus, Smith, Lane, Captain Lodder and Lieut. Chadwick ( two of whom shall be a quorum } who are authorized to communicate with the Government and make such arrangements as may be neccessary for carrying the purpose of this meeting into effect. "

Which motion having been seconded by Mr. Leslie, and put to the meeting, was carried unanimously,

CLUBS ( 25 )

THE FIRST RECREATION GOUND - 2

( All Rights of Reproduction are Strictly Reserved. )

yesterday's article gave the first portion of an news- paper report which describes the agitation, in june 1851, for the use at least parţially pf the early military parade,

ground for recreation purposes. The public meeting called/that

at

ime passed resolutions to call upon the authorities to put the ground in order, so that cricket and other games could be played there. The record of the proceedings continues:

k

" A discussion hereupon took place, in which Messrs. Phillips, Bridges, Pollard, Shortrede and Campbell took part, a rising from a question put by Mr. Phillips to Mr. Bridges whether any defined plan has been formed in what way the propo- sed objects were to be carried into effect, and for the regula tion and management of the Ground when put in order.

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