1941-01-25 — Page 17

JANUARY | 25, 1941.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST-HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, CENTENARY SUPPLEMENT

MANY COLONY PLACE-NAMES

RECALL EARLY CELEBRITIES

In any consideration of historical; associations, place-names must alwayn play their important part: thus are prominent men of the past, or nume Incident or association, commemorated. Often it is the only memorial to a pioneer who deserves to be remem- bered; and this applies to Hongkong.

Roads, hill-tops, bays and benches, and localities in the Colony have in most cases. Bome association which in of interest; and some of the more important of these from the point of view of old-time commemoration, are Hiven here. A few already appear in other sections of this supplement,

It is not proposed to deal with the Chinese placespames, a these alone would require a great deal of space: in most cases, they go back before thei British occupation.

A few localities have specially In- teresting asociations,, nnd include two villages on the south of the Islami. These are Stanley and Aberdeen-the Butler particularly puzzling to new- comers but are merely examples of in period when pleturesque native names were changed to suit the Iden of some local official who wished to honour the powers In London-in this ense, in 1845, It was decided to honour Lord Stanley, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the Earl of Aberdeen, who was, Foreign Secretary, Two atreels are also named after them. Lyndhurst Terrace was completed at that time งเก่ Bumrd after Lord! Lyndhurst, who was Lord Chancelhur of England; and Cochrane Street, od- Joining, commemorates the Comman- der-in-Chief of the China squadrena at the same period, Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrnae.

A photograph taken about forty years ago, showing the Time Hall tower on its former site opposite the Water Police Station. The view is down Canton Road,

.

It will be noticed that in this Hal., Germyn missionary who neied as inter- Fome of the names org attached 19 preter for Captain Elliot, and later leak and Kowtuon ronds, and rome, came to Hongkong, becoming Chinese having been omitted previously, were Secretary in 1843 after the death of

Air Mor used when new streets were laid out

Black' J's Point, where the alganli on the Praya Eust relnmntion. Other streets, both old and new, commemor-station at Kowloon, behinl Holt's ale former Colonial Secretaries or other Wharf, is named after a merchant of German orin, established here in the officials.

Ofties, whose name was anglicised fom Schwartzkopf.

GREAT POISON PLOT

One obviour name is Stonecutters) Island, where quarrying bad hewn in operation. Not no obvious, and often wrongly interpreted, is the mining of Repulse Bay and Sulphur Chanel: there are both after inval craft which, were out here in the curly years.

The naval and military surveyors, who did nil the survey work before, the Pubile Works Department had come into being, made full use of their opportunities, and both ships and com- manders were commemorated. Hong-i This matter of omission is seen in kong peaks theshes the obvious ron- one mitstanding case-Captain Ellot memoration of the Queen in Vietarin! There used to be an Elliot Battery, Peak) were named after Vier-Admiral above the western disulet of the town; Sir William Parker, who was Com otherwise. he ts not commemorated tri mander-in-Chief of the naval forceg'out any outstanding way, except perhaps

Crescent, off here at the time of the occupation of by Elliot

Robinzon Hongkong. nnt! Major-General Sir Tand. 21 place frw people know Hugh Gough, the General Officer Com- about. On the other finnd. the manding the troops in China at the allitary have made full tise of the name sume date (there is also a Gough Murray, naming their early barracks Street) Commander (afterwards Vice- and parade ground, the old battery Admiral) Sir 11. Kellett R.N., whose near the Government Offices thence alip. U.M.S. Starling, gave its name to Battery Path, as well as a pier and

to not the road lending thereto, after General Starling Inlet, near Shatavkok) only had a penk named after him, Lut Sir George Murray, the Master Cieneral also a shoal at Green Island, and the of Ordnance who died in 1846, and who islet which the R.H.K. Yacht Club i was one of the most celebrated soldiers accupies. Belcher's Bay and Belcher's of his time, considered second only to Street are named after Sir Edward the great' Duke of Wellington. The Belcher, N., who carried out the first Duke, Incidentally, is commemorated in survey of Hongkong harbour, in 1881, Wellington Barracks and Wellington

board 13.A.S. Sulphur.

GOVERNORS COMMEMORATED

Street

SOME OF THE CIVILIANS

A peak and a city street commerror. To come to civilian pioneers, we have ate an early Governor, Sir Henry Morrison He probably jointly named Feltinger; and other past administrators | after Mr J. R. Morrison, san of the Bid Governers honoured in the aming famous sinalogue the Rev. Dr Robert of streets in their chronological order) Morrison (who died just over six years fre Mr A. R. Johnston, Sir John before Hongkong became

British

Davis Mount Davis), Major-General possession, and his lustrious father. D'Aguilar, Sir Samuel Bonham, Minjor MF J. R. Morrison WOS Chinese

General

the

Then and Now

How Colony Has Grown

Two hy streets in the central city area of intereel are Zeilond Street) Cormed in connection with Zelland] Lodge, atungalde), and Duddell Street, which recalls Mr George Duddell. whol was appointed Government Auctionser] Ist 1857. rd was alsa made bakeryj

To make a comparison be- tween, trade, finance, popula- contractor to the troops the same year. Duddell's In connection with Air

tion, pubile health and other contract, there occurred a sensational! statistics of the early days of. attempt. poison the European

Hongkong and the present time, population and garrison by the Chinese) baker who

It is necessary to refer to the had held

contract

1843. No records are to 1 mounnaly fur

year some! practically

be found between 1841 and 1844. ime. In Jummary, 1857, someone at the bakery mixed arsenic with the bread, However, in 1841 the Chinese but uned such a quantity that after population was estimated at very little had been eaten the effecla

5,650, while there was present were felt, and the attempt falled!

in the Colony a garrison of 700 though some 100 Europeans became ill, some of them being for a time in a

men. In 1939 the total popula- serious condition. Mr Duddell's con-

tion of the Colony was estimat tract was to start in April. that year. cd at 1,050,250, based on the but the authorities induced him to takej

1921 census, and. probably It up earlier, After the poisoning

larger to-day. attempt. No evidence could be pro- duced to convlet the Chinese baker or

any of his assistants.

It is worthy of note here that Ward-

ley Street, does not form a memorial! to any individual. It is the telegraphle address of the Hongkong Bank, and was given to the narrow street that

L

The first record of the European population occurs in 464 1844, which shows that non-Chinese

inese were resident here.

In the same year, 538 ships, total tonnage 189,257, entered the harbour. In 1939, a total of 74,617 ships, with tonnage of 30.897.918, came to Hongkong,

Revenue in 1814 amounted to £63.769. W

which is equivalent

to $1,020,304 at the present rate of exchange. Estimated TC- venue for 1940-41 is $50,881,470. Expenditure In 1844 amount- 10 £33,108 (S819.728). whereas estimated expenditure for 1940-41 is $51,302.178.

ed

The military contribution in 1844 was £152.343 ($2,437,488) _and_this_year It totals $7,500,000

in addition to $1,000,000 special

expenditure, $1,111,627 for A.R.P., SG5.303 for the Hongkong Naval Volunteer Force and $329.167 for the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps,

L529

First revenue derived from assessed taxes was realised In 1815 and amounted to ($8,404). Estimated assessed taxes for 1940-41 are $9,303,100. In 1844 there were live total attendance

schools with

of 117. To-day there are over 1,200 institutions under the supervision of the Education Department, with a total aften- dance of not less than 118,000. First figures showing the rate- able value of the Colony were riven in 1808, when the valua tion was $1,642,265. In 1939, the to tat rateable value of Hongkong, Kowloon and New Kowloon was $43,077,122.

Nathan Road, Kowloon. In the late 'ninelles, with Ils famous banyan avenue,

William Staveley, Major Secretary to Captain Elliot, and later General Jervois, Sir John Bowring. became # member of the first Major (Inter Lleut-Colonel) William Legislative Council, which was con- Colne, Sir Hercules Robinson, Mr W. T. stituted in April. 1843. On this hill Mercer, Sir Alchard Macdonnell, Major (now almost obliterated by excava adjoined their old premises. on the other very old highway, may perhaps. General Henry Whitfeld (Whitdeld)tions) on early sctioni was established other side of which was erected the refer to some wood of Hongkong holly Barracks), Sir Arthur Kennedy. Mr by the Morrison Education Society of City Hall. -

nearby, but there is no evidence of J. G. Austin (Mount Austin Barracks), Canton and Macao. Erected in 1842-43,

this to-day. Sir John Hennessy, Mr W, H., Marsh languished, and was closed in 1849,

fa, this reference to celebrities and Only in the contemplation of old, and paintings by the (afterwards Sir William Marsh), Mr

other interesting residents of old, a nowadays valuable, Ileads of the older hongs are com M. S. Tonnechy Sir George Bowen, memorated in a number of local place number of rames are perforce omitted; artist George Chinnery 11774-18527 who Major-General W. G. Cameron (Mount nanes, Jardine's Bazaar, Jardine's to mention everybody would probably painted a great deal at Macao and also Cameron), Sir George Des Voeux, Mr Lookout (where the end of the firm

require a mall book. Within fairly did some pictures of Hongkong, does Frederick Stewart. Mr Francis Fleming. of Jardine, Matheson and Company

recent times, however, there stands out anyone learn that he was out here in Infancy. And so it is Major-General Barker: Sir William built a house In the 'toriles, the

figure who will always be recalled the Colony'n Robinson, Mr G. T. M. O'Brien, Major-

In connection, with the development of with many personalities whose sojourn crumbling ruins of which are still to General Wilene Black Black's Link), be seen), and Jardine's Corner on the

this Culony-he was Hongkong's Grant here, however brief, would have been Sir Henry Blake (Blako Pier), Major- Peak, will occur to all: and there is

Old Man, the late Sir Paul Chater, worth recording in place-nunes. whose connection with commercial and Apart from the names of individuals, General Sir William Gascoigne. Sir also a Matheson Street, Landale Street, Mancini enterprise, nad bequests for there are some localities which recall Matthew Hallian, Sir Frederick (after and Gresson Street. Gilman's Bazaar the Colony's welfare, will ever be interesting. and even amusing, incl wards Lord!) Lugard, Sir Francis lienry May. Mr (later Sir) Claud Severn, Siri

and Gliman Street are in commemora remembered. He died in May, 1928, at dents. tion of another commercial magnate of the age of eighty, after a resklence here (Reginald) Edward! Stubbs, and, to con- his

Two excellent examples exist in going back to 1804. le Jackson, ค clude with a comparatively recent former Chief Manager of the Hongkong Chick Paul, and Chater Rond and I, both named by some military wils

Armenian, his Christian names being Scandal Point and Soven and Sixpenny- Governor, Slr Cecil Clementi (Sir Dank, is also honoured in this way. Cecil's Ride).

Guizlaff Street recalls Dr Gutzläß, a

Calchick Street commemorate him. One of old, and puzzling to many who are of Kowloon's roads in named after his unaware of their origin. They com- partner, the Inte Sir Hormuzice Mody, prise two small adjoining Brena in n Parsee where benefactions included a military property above, Queen's Road, huge sum for Hongkong University, and opposite the Naval Yard. whose arrival in the Colony dated back to 1858.

OLD BOAT

HOUSE

HOUSE

QUEEN'S

BUSINESS

DONT'S

T

time. Sir Thomas

WELLINGTON ST.

HARADUA

CLUB

HALTER'S KILL

ROAD

PREMISES

A ̧ally plan of the Yordion, the "propo sed road" being now Ice House Sienst.

MORE RECENT NAMES

WOR an

SCANDAL POINT

Scandal Point was so termed because

it was to this place, in former days, that the ladies, and presumably somo men escorts, used to stroll from St John's) A number of present-day realdents of Cathedral after Sunday afternoon ser- prominence, who pass from one century vico, and meet to exchango gossip-and of the Colony's history into the not the casual stroller, having been bullt scandal. The place is now barred “tá will no doubt be commemorated in time over with milliary establishmenta to come; others, perhaps as worthy, may not be. This thought is engender- Two versions of Seven and Sixpenny ed when one considers the omissions: Hill exist. One is that here, for many when one looks in vain, for example, years, the soldiers went up to draw for a Shewan Street, named after the their weekly pay at 7s. Bd. Another is late Mr Roberi Gordon Shewan, or any that the red tunles of the old days cost commemoration of men like the late 7, d, to repince, and any time a man Mr E. A. Hewelt, and several others who had drunk too much attempted to negotiate the steep slope, he fell und who will ocmar to readers.

damaged his tunle,, which he had to Yet failure to recall men worthy of replace, However picturesque the nate is evident even from the earlier laiter version, the first is probably the yrars .ot this Colony's existence. correct one.

Wyndham Street remains to tease the Here we must, perforce, leavé a very historien, for until now the Wyndham interesting subject, on which much after whom it is namad has not been could be written in a longer history of identified: and Hollywood Road, an the Colony.

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