Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 65

Old Hong Kong 昔日香港 All AI Reviewed

BOTANIC GARDENS (7)

Continuation.

The fountain which was designed and purchased in England by the Government especially for Hongkong, is made of Ransome's patent concrete stone; it consists of a column twenty feet in height divided into three sections, each rising out of basins, which diminish in diameter from the base upward. The lower basin is on the plan of a quatre-foil, with square projections; its faces being ornamented with scroll ornaments in panel, designed from water-plants. The middle basin is a quatre-foil on four columns, standing round a central pier, out of it rises a shaft, the column being a pointed quatre-foil with tufts of ferns at the base, and in the angles rise up models of the Arum and Reed mace; the cap being design of water-plants. The underside of the upper basin is in the design of shells and water leaves, while the edge is ornamented with four small figures of crouching lions.

Out of this basin rises a single pipe from which a large jet of water 30 ft. in height will surmount the whole. The overflow of each basin will be delivered into the one immediately beneath it, by four wastes arranged so as to come out of the mouths of the lions in the upper basin, and of dolphins in the middle one. The lower basin stands upon a foundation, built up some four feet above the ground level, and which is to be ornamented with rocks and foliage, thus giving it the appearance of a small island rising out of the large basin in which the whole structure stands. This enclosing basin was designed here and is on the plan of the lower basin of the fountain, and is sixty feet in diameter, the sides being constructed of finely wrought granite and the floor paved with marble tiles. On either side are planted weeping willows; the branches of which will droop into the water. The depth of water in this large basin will be twenty inches. As already stated, there are to be in all 370 jets of water when the fountain is in full operation, 350 small and 20 large. The smaller jets will be arranged in circles in the large basin, and around the fountain proper, while the large one will come out of this latter structure on the principle adopted at Versailles and the Crystal Palace.

The quantity of water used will thus be very considerable, and will be brought through a five-inch feed leading from the Military tank above the Gardens, from which the supply is to be obtained. The water when used is not to be wasted, but will be carried off into the aqueduct that supplies the nullah. The total cost of the fountain, when finished, will be about $5,000.

It is evident from the above description that the fountain which most old residents will recollect was not quite the same as the extremely ornate one originally erected; and the explanation lies in the alterations which had to be effected at a later date. The structure appears to have required nothing more than minor repairs until 1910, in which year the upper basin split into two, and one half fell away. This necessitated considerable repairs to the whole structure, which were carried out with local cement.

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BOTANIC GARDENS (7) Continuation. The fountain which was designed and purchased in England by the Government especially for Hongkong, is made of Ransome's patent concrete stone; it consists of a column twenty feet in height divided into three sections, each rising out of basins, which diminish in diameter from the base upward. The lower basin is on the plan of a quatre-foil, with square projections; its faces being ornamented with scroll ornaments in panel, designed from water-plants. The middle basin is a quatre-foil on four columns, standing round a central pier, out of it rises a shaft, the column being a pointed quatre-foil with tufts of ferns at the base, and in the angles rise up models of the Arum and Reed mace; the cap being design of water-plants. The underside of the upper basin is in the design of shells and water leaves, while the edge is ornamented with four small figures of crouching lions. Out of this basin rises a single pipe from which a large jet of water 30 ft. in height will surmount the whole. The overflow of each basin will be delivered into the one immediately beneath it, by four wastes arranged so as to come out of the mouths of the lions in the upper basin, and of dolphins in the middle one. The lower basin stands upon a foundation, built up some four feet above the ground level, and which is to be ornamented with rocks and foliage, thus giving it the appearance of a small island rising out of the large basin in which the whole structure stands. This enclosing basin was designed here and is on the plan of the lower basin of the fountain, and is sixty feet in diameter, the sides being constructed of finely wrought granite and the floor paved with marble tiles. On either side are planted weeping willows; the branches of which will droop into the water. The depth of water in this large basin will be twenty inches. As already stated, there are to be in all 370 jets of water when the fountain is in full operation, 350 small and 20 large. The smaller jets will be arranged in circles in the large basin, and around the fountain proper, while the large one will come out of this latter structure on the principle adopted at Versailles and the Crystal Palace. The quantity of water used will thus be very considerable, and will be brought through a five-inch feed leading from the Military tank above the Gardens, from which the supply is to be obtained. The water when used is not to be wasted, but will be carried off into the aqueduct that supplies the nullah. The total cost of the fountain, when finished, will be about $5,000. It is evident from the above description that the fountain which most old residents will recollect was not quite the same as the extremely ornate one originally erected; and the explanation lies in the alterations which had to be effected at a later date. The structure appears to have required nothing more than minor repairs until 1910, in which year the upper basin split into two, and one half fell away. This necessitated considerable repairs to the whole structure, which were carried out with local cement. Page 65 Page 66

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BOTANIC GARDENS ( 7 ) Continuation. The fountain which was designed and purchased in England by the Government especially for Hongkong, is made of Ransome's patent concrete stone, it consists of a com lumn twenty feet in hieght divided into three sections, each rising out of basins, which dimnish in diameter from the base upward. The lower basin is on the plan of a quatre-foil, with square projections its faces being or- namented with scropl ornaments in panel, designed from water-plants. The middle basin is a quatre-foil on four columns, standing round a central pier, out of it rises a shaft, the column being a pointed quatre-foil with tufts of ferns at the base, and in the angles rise up models of the Aram and Ree mace the cap being design of water- plants. The underside of the upper basin is in the desiį of shells and water leaves, while the edge is ornamented with fursmall figures of crouching lions. gn Out of this basin rises a single pipe from which a large jet of water 30 ft. in height with surmount the whole. The overflow of each basin will be delivered into the one immediately beneath it, by four wastes arranged as to come out of the mouths of the lions in the upper basin, and of dolphins in the middle one. The lower basin stands upon a foundation, built up some four feet above the ground, level and which is to be ornamented with rocks and foliage, thus giving it the appearance of a small island rising out of the large basin in which the whole structure stands. This enclosing basin was designed here and is on the plan of the lower basin of the fountain, and is sixty feet in diameter, the sides being constructed of finely wrought granite and the floor paved with marble tiles. On either side are planted weeping willows the branches of which will droop into the water. The depth of water in this large basin will be twenty inches. As already stated there are to be in all 370 jets of water when the fountain is in full operation, 350 small and 20 large. The smaller jets will be arranged in circles in the large basin, and a round the fountain proper, while the large one will come out of this latter structure on the principle adopted at Versailles and the Crystal Palace. The quantity of water used will thus be very consi- dorable, and will be brought through a five-inch feed lea- ding from the Military tank above the Gardens, from which the supply is to be obtained. The water when used is not to be wasted, but will be carried off into the aqueduct that supplies the nullah. The total cost of the fountain, when finished, will be about $5,000. It is evident from the above description that the fountain which most old residents will recollect was not quite the same as the extremely ornate one originally erected; and the explanation lies in the alterations which had to be effected at a later date. The struct::re appears to have required nothing more than minor repairs until 1910, in which gear the upper basin split into two, and one half fell away. This necessitated considerable repairs, to the whole structure, which were carried out with local cement. Page 65Page 66

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BOTANIC GARDENS ( 7 )

Continuation.

The fountain which was designed and purchased in England by the Government especially for Hongkong, is made of Ransome's patent concrete stone, it consists of a com lumn twenty feet in hieght divided into three sections, each rising out of basins, which dimnish in diameter from the base upward. The lower basin is on the plan of a quatre-foil, with square projections its faces being or- namented with scropl ornaments in panel, designed from water-plants. The middle basin is a quatre-foil on four columns, standing round a central pier, out of it rises a shaft, the column being a pointed quatre-foil with tufts of ferns at the base, and in the angles rise up models of the Aram and Ree mace the cap being design of water- plants. The underside of the upper basin is in the desiį of shells and water leaves, while the edge is ornamented with fursmall figures of crouching lions.

Out of this basin rises a single pipe from which a large jet of water 30 ft. in height with surmount the whole. The overflow of each basin will be delivered into the one immediately beneath it, by four wastes arranged as to come out of the mouths of the lions in the upper basin, and of dolphins in the middle one. The lower basin stands upon a foundation, built up some four feet above the ground, level and which is to be ornamented with rocks and foliage, thus giving it the appearance of a small island rising out of the large basin in which the whole structure stands. This enclosing basin was designed here and is on the plan of the lower basin of the fountain, and is sixty feet in diameter, the sides being constructed of finely wrought granite and the floor paved with marble tiles. On either side are planted weeping willows the branches of which will droop into the water. The depth of water in this large basin will be twenty inches. As already stated there are to be in all 370 jets of water when the fountain is in full operation, 350 small and 20 large. The smaller jets will be arranged in circles in the large basin, and a round the fountain proper, while the large one will come out of this latter structure on the principle adopted at Versailles and the Crystal Palace.

The quantity of water used will thus be very consi- dorable, and will be brought through a five-inch feed lea- ding from the Military tank above the Gardens, from which the supply is to be obtained. The water when used is not to be wasted, but will be carried off into the aqueduct that supplies the nullah. The total cost of the fountain, when finished, will be about $5,000.

It is evident from the above description that the fountain which most old residents will recollect was not quite the same as the extremely ornate one originally erected; and the explanation lies in the alterations which had to be effected at a later date. The struct::re appears to have required nothing more than minor repairs until 1910, in which gear the upper basin split into two, and one half fell away. This necessitated considerable repairs, to the whole structure, which were carried out with local cement.

Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 65

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