Page:Europe in China.djvu/419

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THE ADMINISTRATION OF SIR H. ROBINSON.
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84, Rifles (including the Canton detachment) 91, honorary members 67, total 267 men. The officers of the Corps at this time were Major Scott (22nd Regiment), A. Coxon, H. J. Tripp, H. Cohen, H. J. Hohnes, W. J. Henderson, F. I. Hazeland and T. G. Linstead.

The erection of a Clock Tower, a City Hall and a Sailors' Home constitutes another exhibition of the public spirit that animated the community at this time. At the suggestion of Mr. J. Dent, a public meeting (July 28, 1860) took into consideration the proposal to erect by public subscription a clock tower (80 feet high) with town clock and fire bell, the tower to be connected with a drinking- fountain, and arrangements were also to be made for the dropping of a time ball. A Committee was appointed (J. Brodersen, J. H. Beckwith, D. Lapraik, G. Lyall, C. St. G. Cleverly) to collect subscriptions, which at first flowed in generously. Delay in the execution of the scheme soon caused the enthusiasm to cool down, subscriptions stopped, the scheme had to be curtailed, all the decorative features of the original pretty design had to be abandoned, and the result was an ugly tower obstructing the principal thoroughfare. Mr. D. Lapraik came generously to the rescue of the Committee and provided, at his own cost, the town clock, which sounded for the first time on new year's eve (December 31, 1862), ushering in the year 1863. Mr. J. Dent also stepped in and erected, apart from the Clock Tower, a drinking fountain (December 15, 1863) which now graces the front of the City Hall. The dropping of a time ball had to be indefinitely postponed. The Government, however, took over (May 22, 1863) the maintenance of the tower and its clock. At the close of the year 1861, the erection of a 'Theatre and Assembly Room' was publicly discussed, a provisional Committee was appointed to make all preliminary arrangements and plans were exhibited at the Club in October 1862, calculated on an expenditure of $34,000. The name of the 'City Hall,' and the combination in one building of a theatre, a library and a suite of assembly rooms, having been agreed upon, the Government

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