BOTANIC GARDENS (5)
Continuation.
There are references to the original park (see 17-10-33) laid out in Happy Valley at Bowrington, which ultimately was developed for sports grounds. We read that "Banian trees were transplanted from the gardens at Bowrington plantation, and placed along the roadside at Pokfulum and Shaukiwan, in 1881. Later, there is a reference to an effort to establish Australian black swans in Bowrington canal, but the birds gave trouble in continually getting out of the place, and eventually escaped for good into the harbour.
Early this century the Department also took over the planting up and care of King's Park, originally a private piece of land. As late as 1910 we read that a park-keeper's hut had been erected there. As we have seen (23-11-33) Kowloon lost this piece of its very own botanical garden when the land was taken over, about ten years ago, for development into sports grounds.
The abandonment of Happy Valley as an area for a public garden or park occurred in the Eighties. By 1890 it was realised that sports and other development would detract from a purely botanical area. I take the following extracts from contemporary newspaper references to indicate that the middle of Happy Valley was also at one time thought suitable for planting up as a park:
The Hongkong Telegraph of May 1, 1883 states in a leader:-
We submit to the Government that the race-course at Wongneichong could at a comparatively trifling outlay be converted into one of the finest recreation grounds in the East. It requires merely to be developed in some parts and a few necessary provisions made for its necessary drainage. At present, Wongneichong Valley is a nasty unhealthy swamp rampant with malarious fever. In the morning dense mists rise from its boggy soil. By a little care and at very slight expense it could be converted into a noble park and recreation ground where cricket, lawn tennis, and other sports and amusements could be carried on under the most favourable auspices.
The same paper on March 10, 1885 makes a reference to an imposing ceremony of cutting the first sod (by Sir George Bowen) to inaugurate the levelling and laying out of a public recreation ground in the centre of the Wongneichong Valley. At the time it was the intention of Government to call this ground the "Bowen Park" but this name was unfavourably commented upon by the public with the result that it soon fell into disuse.
The park-like area has since practically disappeared.
The Botanical and Forestry Department is now consolidated as a self-contained and essential activity of the local Government. The list of Superintendents might be given as a conclusion to this brief history.
ん
BOTANIC GARDENS (5)
Continuation.
There are references to the original park ('see 17-10-33) laid out in Happy Valley at Bowrington, which ultimately was developed for sports gounds. We read that "Banian trees were transplanted from the gardesn at "Bowrington plantation. " and place along the readside at Pokfulum and Shaukiwan, in 1881. Later, there is a reference to an effort to establish Australian black swans in Bowrington canal, but the birds gave trouble in conti- nually getting out of the place, and eventually escaped for good into the harbour.
Early this century the Department also took over the planting up and care of King's Park, originally a pri- vate piece of land. As late as 1910 we read that a park- keeper's hut had been erected there. As we have seen ( 23- 11-33) Kowloon lost this piece of its very own botanical garden when the land was taken over, about ten years ago.. for development into sports grounds.
The abandonment of Happy Valley as an area for
By
a public garden or park occurred in the Eighties. 1890 it was realised that sports and other development would detract from a purely botanical area. I take the following extracts from contemporary newspapers references to indicate that the middle of Happy Valley was also at one time thought suitable for planting up as a park:
The Hongkong Telegraph of May 1, 1883 statesin
a leader:-
We submit to the Government that the race-course At Wongneichong could at a comparatively trifling outlay be converted into one of the finest recreation grounds in the East. It requires merely in to be developed in some parts and a few necessary provisions made for its necessary drainage. At present, Wongneichong Valley is a nasty unhealthy swamp rampant with malarious fever. In the mor- ning dense mists rise from its boggy soll By a little care and at veryslight expense it could be converted into a noble park and recreation ground where cricket lawn tennis and other sports and amusements could be carried on under the most favourable auspices.
The same paper on March 10, 1885 makes a reference to an imposing ceremoney of cutting the first sold ( by Sir George Bowen ) to inaugurate the levelling and laying out of a public recreation ground in the centre of the Wong- neichong Valley. At the time it was the intention of Government to call this ground the " Bowen Park " but this name was unfavourably commented upon by the public with the result that it woon fell into disuse.
peared.
The park-like area has since practically disap-
The Botanical and Forestry Department is now BOD sålidated as a self-contained and essential activity, of the local Government. The list of Superintendents might be given as a conclusion to this brief history
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