Alexander Findlay SMITH [1844-1926]

Date

Event

Pre-1844

John Grant Smith born, Nairn, Scotland to William Findlay Smith (tinsmith) and Jane Smith (née Wilson)

1844

7^th Feb: Alexander Findlay Smith born, Nairn, Scotland to same parents

He was baptised on 9 April 1844 in Nairn.

Also either before or later Frank Fraser Smith (see below 1869) and a ‘Pat’ Patrick Rose Smith (Morayshire public library – see also 1881 below)

1845

1846

1847

1848

Aberdeen Railway commences construction of line from Forfar & Montrose to Aberdeen

1849

1850

Aberdeen Railway completes line from Forfar & Montrose to Aberdeen

1851

1852

10^th August: Morayshire Railway opens 5.5 miles track between Elgin and Lossiemouth

1853

1854

19^th September: Great North of Scotland Railway’s Kittybrewster to Huntly line opened

19^th December: Great North of Scotland Railway’s Aberdeen to Huntly line opened

1855

George Norris (later McEwen Co) working in undesignated activity from premises on Queen’s Rd

5^th November: Inverness & Nairn Railway opens

1856

George Norris (ditto) working in undesignated activity from premises on Queen’s Rd

21^st July: first elements of  Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway open, completing in 1858

11^th October: Great Northern Railway Huntly to Keith line opens

1857

Messrs Morgan, McEwen & Co, Merchants and Commission Agents, London & Glasgow, trading in Singapore, Manila and Batavia as McEwen & Co. dissolve the partnership between Francis Richardson, Charles Bannatyne Findlay and John Harvey. Charles Bannatyne Findlay (1821-1877) of Cambusnethan House, Lanarkshire, and Boturich, Dumbartonshire was a prominent Scots banker and businessman with interests in London and elsewhere. Whether there is any connection to the Nairn area is unknown.

In Hong Kong the annual Jury List lists George Norris, Auctioneer, and James West as (storekeeper’s) clerk for Messrs McEwen & Co. McEwen & Co name does not appear before 1857 as trading in HK and may be some sort of fraction of the dissolved Morgan, McEwen & Co. (McEwen is variously spelled MacEwen in the record.)

28^th September: Eulalie Gustavine Louise de Sonnaville born in The Hague to Johannes Antonius de Sonnaville and Sophronie Ghislaine de Sonnaville (nee Steenberghe)

1858

James West as (storekeeper’s) clerk for Messrs McEwen & Co

25^th March: Inverness & Nairn Railway Nairn to Elgin stretch opens

18^th August: Inverness & Nairn Railway Elgin to Keith stretch opens

23^rd August: Rothies extension to Morayshire Railway opened

23^rd December: Craigellachie extension to Morayshire Railway opened

1859

Julius Hallpike, George A.F. Norris and Alexander Wilson are storekeepers, and George Embrechts (previously Burd & Co) is clerk of Messrs McEwen & Co. James West has shifted to become the Secretary, Club House (Hong Kong Club)

1860

Norris just ‘storekeeper, Queen’s Rd’ with no affiliation

In this year the de Sonnaville family begin investments in the development of Scheveningen as a seaside Kurhaus

18^th April: Inverness & Nairn Railway open Kinloss to Findhorn branch

17^th June: Johan Antonius Frédéric de Sonnaville born in The Hague

1861

AFS living at home with his parents at 8 Bridge Street Nairn and his occupation is recorded as railway clerk. Taken from the 1861 census.

Maurice A. Correa, accountant, E.F. Regan clerk of McEwen & Co

1862

Alexander Wilson storekeeper with. Maurice A. Correa, accountant, and E.F. Regan, James Wilson and William Wilson as clerks of McEwen & Co. (Alexander, James & William Wilson seem to have been related and all to have come from the Nairn area.)

12^th June: Inverness & Ross-shire Railway opens Inverness to Dingwall line

22^nd December: Inverness & Nairn Railway opens Alves to Burghead branch

1863

Maurice A. Correa, accountant and William Wilson clerk of McEwen & Co

25^th March: Inverness & Ross-shire Railway opens through line Inverness-Dingwall-Invergordon

1864

William Wilson & John Falconer Rose clerks of McEwen & Co (Nothing is known about John Falconer Rose, but his surname connects with the pattern noted above in the Smith sons' given names.)

1^st June: Inverness & Ross-shire Railway opens Inverness-Invergordon extension to Bonar Bridge

1865

William Wilson & John Falconer Rose clerks of McEwen & Co

Highland Railway Company formed by merging all north of Scotland lines

1866

John Grant Smith, Storekeeper, William Wilson & John Falconer Rose clerks of McEwen & Co

16^th December, William Wilson, ex-clerk McEwen & Co dies in Nairn, Scotland

1867

1^st January: in a 1917 story in the Straits Times (10^th January, 1917), Singapore, this is the date Alexander Findlay Smith says he arrived in Hong Kong

John Grant Smith, John Falconer Rose Storekeepers, William Wilson (actually at this point dead) & Henry Gibson clerks of McEwen & Co

1868

John Grant Smith and Alexander Findlay Smith storekeepers, Henry Gibson clerk of McEwen & Co.

1869

Alexander Findlay Smith, storekeeper, Frank Fraser Smith clerk of McEwen & Co (don’t know what happened to Frank Fraser – no trace bar this one)

The de Sonnavilles and others invest in the first horsedrawn tramline between The Hague & Scheveningen

L. Frickel & Co, Ship Chandlers, Sailmakers, General Storekeeper and Commission Agent at 45, Queen’s Rd, HK

1870

John Grant Smith and Alexander Findlay Smith storekeepers, Edwin Farrell clerk of McEwen & Co.

1871

John Grant Smith storekeeper, Edwin Farrell clerk of McEwen & Co.

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1872

Alexander Findlay Smith, Assistant and Edwin Farrell, clerk at McEwen & Co

Hermann von Drensche, assistant and Thomas Henry de Silver, shipchandler at L. Frickel & Co.

31^st December: retirement of Leopold Frickel, proprietor of L. Frickel & Co (ship chandlers) and assumption of proprietorship by Alexander Findlay Smith – no explanation for this development. 

John Grant Smith out of town on leave in Scotland to get married?

1873

1^st January: William Dolan admitted to partnership in L. Frickel & Co (but in the year’s Jury List as Assistant)

Edwin Farrell is clerk of McEwen & Co at 13 Queen’s Rd, Central

Alexander Findlay Smith, Storekeeper, Frickel & Co, 45 Queen’s Road, Central

John Grant Smith out of town

16^th April: John Grant Smith marries Marjory Janet MacEwen in Dyke, Morayshire (about 6 miles from Nairn), her father was a local Presbyterian minister - a possible link to some unknown Mc/MacEwen in early 19th century business in Manila, Singapore and Batavia?

1874

Farm Lot 53 (Later the lot was re-designated as RBL 77) sold to Nathaniel J. Ede, Manager, Union Insurance Co of Canton, 1871-1899 

John Grant Smith and Alexander Findlay Smith storekeepers, William Dolan and Edwin Farrell, Thomas William Sewell Assistants, McEwen, Frickel & Co

In The Blockade of the Port and Harbour of Hongkong, by the Hoppo, or Farmer in Canton of Customs Duties Levied upon Chinese Vessels. Proceedings at a Public Meeting Held at the City Hall, Hongkong, on the 14th September, 1874. London: Kent and Co., 1874, J.G. Smith signs statement as manager of the ‘shop’, William Dolan seconds a motion as firm’s representative.

1875

John Grant Smith & William Dolan, storekeepers, Alexander McConachie, Thomas William Sewell, William Griffiths Humphreys assistant, McEwen, Frickel & Co

N.J. Ede builds ‘Dunheved’ on a plot on The Peak at Victoria Gap

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1876

Earlier in the year Alexander Findlay Smith may have been returning to HK via Chicago and Yokohama – see 1888 below.

John Grant Smith, Alexander Findlay Smith & William Dolan, storekeepers, Alexander McConachie, Thomas William Sewell, William Griffiths Humphreys assistants, McEwen, Frickel & Co

1877

John Grant Smith, Alexander Findlay Smith & William Dolan, storekeepers, Thomas William Sewell, William Griffiths Humphreys (unknown whether this Humphreys is connected with H. and J.D. Humphreys who enter the story in 1891) assistants, McEwen, Frickel & Co

John Grant Smith posts notice in Hong Kong Government Gazette as administrator of the state of William Wilson

1878

John Grant Smith, Alexander Findlay Smith & William Dolan, storekeepers, Thomas William Sewell, William Griffiths Humphreys assistants, McEwen, Frickel & Co

1879

Alexander Findlay Smith, storekeeper, William Dolan, sailmaker, Thomas William Sewell, William Griffiths Humphreys, Henry Maclehose, assistant, McEwen, Frickel & Co

John Grant Smith, Commission Merchant, Queen’s Road – at this point for reasons unknown the Smith brothers cease working together, John Grant Smith is no longer clearly involved in McEwen, Frickel & Co. and never seems to have had any direct or obvious connections with his brother’s businesses hereafter until his death.

Phineas Ryrie builds ‘Craig Ryrie’ on R.B.L. 11, a site on Victoria Peak above the future Tram Terminus

The de Sonnavilles and others invest in transition to steam of The Hague to Scheveningen tramline

1880

Alexander Findlay Smith, storekeeper, McEwen, Frickel & Co

John Grant Smith, Commission Merchant, Queen’s Road

1881

Alexander Findlay Smith, storekeeper, McEwen, Frickel & Co, Special Juror

John Grant Smith, Commission Merchant, Queen’s Road

May: Alexander Findlay Smith is said to have presented a petition for Peak tram to Governor Pope Hennessy (see below HK Telegraph, 1889) Alexander Findlay Smith petitions for right to introduce funicular railway to Hong Kong (HK Heritage Project document: no trace of this in extant government records online) petition mentioned in The China Mail, 27^th June 1885, p.2)

June: Mr Robert Gervase Alford (Bishop Alford’s son and a Civil Engineer, once with HK Govt but at this time in private practice), Secretary of the Hongkong & China Tramway Co writes to Alexander Findlay Smith proposing amalgamation (see HK Telegraph, 1889), it was about this time that “the Hon. P. Ryrie appears to have joined hands with Mr Smith”, to whom it was jointly proposed that they “should become Co-Promoters of the ‘Hongkong and China Tramway Company,’ with seats on the Board.” Ryrie & Smith rejected these proposals (according to HK Telegraph, 1889).

18^th June: HK Government Gazette, Notice No. 220: Bill authorizing Chinese Tramway Company of Hongkong to build low level tramways in Hong Kong gazette -  no shareholders listed

25^th June: HK Government Gazette, Votes & Proceedings of the Legislative Council, No. 4 1881, F. Bulkeley Johnson (whose junior colleague was Edward Alford, Robert Gervase Alford’s brother) supported by Phineas Ryrie introduce bill for construction of tramways in the Colony – introduction of bill postponed to allow “for proper formalities to be observed”

Honourable Ng Choy asks permission to introduce “at a future date, of a Tramway Bill on behalf of another company.”

2^nd July: HK Government Gazette, notice given of proposed Bulkeley Johnson tramways ordinance with text. Five low level lines along coast.

15^th July: HK Government Gazette, notice given inviting those whose property may be affected to make representations. Five low level lines along coast.

18^th July: Revised Proposal to link the Ryrie/Smith company and promotion to the alternative “to which these two gentlemen finally attached their signatures and by which they consented to amalgamate their tramway scheme with the of the rival concern.”

20^th July: Letter from R.G. Alford to Ryrie and Smith saying the amalgamation was not to be ratified and Ryrie and Smith were free to pursue their own scheme independently, but the two schemes (Low Level Tramway and High Level Tramway) would be “obtained by a single bill, and their part (messrs Ryrie and Smith’s) assigned to them by deed, which was afterwards accomplished.” (see HK Telegraph, 1889 below)

30^th September: HK Government Gazette, Notice of Special Committee meeting on Tramway Bill to take place 10^th October 

11^th October report of meeting (Hong Kong Telegraph 11.10.1881, p.3) – president Francis Snowden (Acting Chief Justice) present W.M. Deane, A. Lister, P. Ryrie, E.R. Belilios, F. Bulkeley Johnson. N.J. Ede objects to “any tramway scheme with the terminus placed where it was proposed to erect this one, on the ground that he had a house at the Gap, to which the tramway would prove a great nuisance.” William Danby (an architect) mentioned as “a professional gentleman connected with the Tramway scheme”. Conspicuous absence of Alexander Findlay Smith at any of these meetings, or of any mention of his name. N.J. Ede’s objection to the funicular was the only discussion of that line, the rest being a discussion of the merits of single v. double tracks and the possible lack of adequate space for double tracks.

13^th October, second meeting (The Hong Kong Telegraph, 13.10.1881, p.2), present again as on 11^th Oct. 

Quarter ending Dec 1881 (27.11.1881), Patrick Rose Smith death registered in Greenwich district of London aged 33. See below for AFS involvement as an executor of the estate HK in 1882.

1882

Alexander Findlay Smith, storekeeper, McEwen, Frickel & Co, Special Juror

John Grant Smith, Commission Merchant, Queen’s Road

Mar 13 Alexander Findlay Smith one of executors of estate of GBP4000 of Patrick Rose Smith, who died in England, 27^th November 1881.

9^th February: Tramways Bill accepted and gazetted HK Government Gazette, 18^th February Bill No.1 of 1882.  6 lines now incorporated, the 6^th being the Peak Tram line.

5^th December: Tramways Bill read for first time permitting the Hongkong and China Tramways Co. Ltd. To build 6 lines

1883

16^th June: Ordinance No. 6 of 1883, Tramways Ordinance passed. The promoters are Francis Bulkeley Johnson, Frederick David Sassoon, Charles Vincent Smith (at the time of Victoria, but by 1885 of Shanghai, businessmen with Russell & Co.) and William Kerfoot Hughes. Alexander Findlay Smith name not mentioned at any stage. Line 6 to be “moved by means of locomotive or stationary engines and steel-wire ropes”

20^th December: Ordinance No. 18, Amendment to the Tramways Ordinance. Amendment allows the promoters “with the assent and approval of the Governor in Council, (to) grant the right to construct and maintain any one or more of the Tramways hereby authorized to be made, and all or any of the privileges hereby conferred, without receiving any valuable consideration therefor, or for any consideration that the Promoters may think fit to accept, to such persons, or person, Corporation, or Company…”

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

John Grant Smith out of town? 

1884

20^th August launch of The Hongkong and China Tramways Company and expectation that “within at most the next twelve months we shall have steam tramcars traversing Hongkong from end to end.” (The China Mail, 20.8.1884, p.2) No mention in story of proposals of a line up the Peak to the Gap.

8^th October: letter from Brereton, Wotton & Deacon, 35 Queen’s Rd, seeking an extension of the time limit for commencement of construction, the $500,000 capital raised by means of 10,000 $50 shares not having been subscribed because of poor business confidence thanks to the Sino-French war.

13^th October: extension of time to build the tramway granted

1^st November: prenuptial settlement between Alexander Findlay Smith & Eulalie Gustavine Louise de Sonnaville

6th November: AFS and Eulalie de Sonnaville married in The Hague.

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

John Grant Smith out of town?

1885

Alexander Findlay Smith, storekeeper, McEwen, Frickel & Co, Special Juror

John Grant Smith, Commission Merchant, Queen’s Road

26^th January: letter from Wotton & Deacon, 35 Queen’s Road, seeking permission to transfer right to construct and maintain Tramway, Numbered Six to Phineas Ryrie and Alexander Findlay Smith for the sum of $2,000. This is probably the formal accomplishment of what was "obtained by a single bill, and their part (messrs Ryrie and Smith’s) assigned to them by deed" referred to for 20th July 1881 above.

11^th February: permission granted

2^nd March: Survey of the line for the track of the Peak Tramway begun by James Fettes Boulton (see HK Telegraph, 1889 - J.F. Boulton was a Civil Engineer (elected M.I.C.E. in 1884 and an ex-student of the Institute of Civil Engineers), who not only played a role in the Peak Tram construction, but was in charge of the Praya Reclamation, was one of HK's first registered architects (1903-1911), and in 1904 was Acting Director of Public Works - little is other wise known.

4^th March: Order in Council under s.4 of the Tramways Ordinance as amended, transferring right to “construct and maintain the Tramway, Numbered Six” to Phineas Ryrie and Alexander Findlay Smith” for a consideration of $1,000 each. By implication construction was required to commence by 3^rd March 1886.

26^th March: tenders advertised for construction of the Peak Tramway line. Tender for first section won by Sun Shing (a leading local contractor, whose leading figures seem to have been Tam Kwok-Ying and Tam Kwok-Hing), who afterwards won the tenders for all the other sections (see HK Telegraph, 1889)

17^th August (China Mail, 17.8.1885, p.3) Hongkong High Level Tramways Co. Ltd. formed (newspaper data of chairman, Alexander Findlay Smith, and consulting committee (i.e. board of directors), which includes JAF de Sonnaville), has early financial difficulties that are overcome. It appears with completion of line Alexander Findlay Smith ceases to be chairman but McEwen, Frickel & Co become General Managers

31^st October (China Mail 31.10.1885, p.2) applications for shares in Hongkong High Level Tramways Company opened until 4^th November. 

Francis Bulkeley Johnson retires from Jardine, Matheson & Co around this year

Around about this year also Edward Alford moves to work for Jardines in Shanghai and his brother Robert Gervase returns to UK.

1886

15th Feb: Francis Bulkeley Johnson died in Cannes, France aged 57

28^th August: HK Government Gazette, notice of tenders for abutments for tramway bridges

Alexander Findlay Smith not on Jury List so out of town. 

John Grant Smith at ‘Greenmount’.

1887

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, ‘Myrtle Bank’, The Peak

John Grant Smith, Special Juror, ‘Greenmount’

N.J. Ede still listed in Hong Kong Directory as living at ‘Dunheved’ but Jury List gives Seymour Terrace

D.R. Crawford living in ‘Craigieburn’

13^th June, John Grant Smith granted a patent to 14 years of exclusive rights to manufacturing ginger products by processing machinery patented by JGS and Oliver Imray in London 

N.J. Ede may at this point sell ‘Dunheved’ to Alexander Findlay Smith and move to ‘Terverbyn’ nearby but dating uncertain.

16^th November: Application for a licence for The Peak Hotel by William Thomas

1888

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, ‘Craigieburn’, The Peak (the Peak Directory has J.S. Anderson in ‘Craigieburn’ and Alexander Findlay Smith in ‘Myrtle Bank’, N.J. Ede in ‘Dunheved’)

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, The Peak (Peak Directory, ‘The Shieling’)

21^st February, A.C. Wylie an engineer writing from Tianjin to the journal Industries, recall meeting Alexander Findlay Smith in Chicago in 1876 and journeying with Smith from Chicago to Yokohama during which Smith talked of the possibilities of a tramway up the Peak (The China Mail, 21.2.1888)

10^th February: Erika de Sonnaville, daughter of Johan Antonius Frederic de Sonnaville born in Hong Kong

21^st February, promotional, pre-formal opening trip on Peak Tram for Ng Choy (Wu Tingfan, 伍廷芳)and Wong Shing (黃勝, also Wong Tat-kuen, 黃達權) (with journalists) arranged by Alexander Findlay Smith in attendance (The China Mail, 21.2.1888, p.3)

26^th May: HK Government Gazette, Notification No. 219, Tramway permitted to open for public use

28^th May: Governor, Lady des Voeux, Maj. Gen. Cameron & Mrs Cameron, the Attorney-General, Mr Slingsby Bethell (PS to Governor) and Lt Anderson (ADC) make inaugural trip on Peak Tram and met by Phineas Ryrie and Alexander Findlay Smith at Peak station. After inspecting machinery, they were entertained at The Peak Hotel. (Hong Kong Daily Press, 2.6.1888, p.3) 

29^th May: open day on Peak Tram with no fares charged

30^th May: fare charging service on Peak Tram begins and carried 600 pax (see Hong Kong Telegraph, 1889 below)

12^th-13^th June: letter of complaint about fares and refusal to allow westerners to travel on other than 1^st class ticket. Alexander Findlay Smith answers indicating single car service but implicit ‘class’ divisions in car between that “‘belong lady and gentleman’, that ‘belong soldier man’, the other ‘belong Chinese coolie’” even if everyone actually has to travel in the same car. (The China Mail, 12^th June, p.3 and 13^th June, p.3) 

20^th June: first case of drunkenness on Peak Tram before magistrate (The China Mail, 20.6.1888, p.3)

3^rd July: A Sunday with fine weather. Peak Tram running for 5 hours and carried 900-1000 people (The China Mail, 3-7-1888, p.2)

17^th August: published timetable with cars running weekdays 0800-1000, 1200-1400, 1600-2000 and on Sundays 1230-1330 and 1600-2000. MacEwen, Frickel & Co, General Managers (The China Mail, 17.8.1888, p.2)

20^th December: 4th annual report and accounts, Alexander Findlay Smith chairman (board members P. Ryrie, J. de Sonnaville, J.B. Coughtrie), shareholders present J. Anderson, A.G. Apcar, R. Lyall, J.D. Hutchinson, Cheong Kai, A.F. de J. Soares, C. Mooney and Remedios), total receipts $14,953.75 – dividend of $4 a share paid “at the rate of 16% per annum”, representing 90.5% of the net profits! (The China Mail, 20.12.1888, p.3)

21^st December: Suggestion of information leaks to manipulate Peak Tram Company’s share values. Company reported to be carrying a debt of $29,000 at 7% interest. General Manager’s fees 5% of gross receipts. (The China Mail, 21.12.1888, p.3)

Egmont Findlay Smith born in The Hague, Vivian Findlay Smith born, possibly in The Hague, between this year and 1896 

1889

Conversion of ‘Dunheved’ into a three-storey hotel begins. It seems that Alexander Findlay Smith may have sold ‘Dunheved’ to The Peak Hotel & Trading Co. Ltd.

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 6 West Terrace.

Alexander Findlay Smith not in 1889 Jury List and in annual meeting stated as away.

Alexander Findlay Smith listed in The Peak Directory as resident at ‘Craigieburn’ (N.J. Ede at ‘Treverbyn’ (Jury List, Robinson Road), J.S. Anderson (Jury List, Storekeeper McEwen, Frickel & Co. The Peak), Alexander Findlay Smith and J. de Sonnaville at ‘Craigieburn’ (Jury List, J. de Sonnaville at The Peak)

27^th April: 1^st Annual General Meeting of The Peak Hotel & Trading Co. Ltd., chairman Phineas Ryrie, also attending James Anderson, W.H. Ray, E.W. Maitland, W. Parlane, George Murray Bain, Johan de Sonnaville, W.K. Wyllie, W. Thomas (Manager), C. Mooney (Secretary) – note here both Johan de Sonnaville and the speculator who later got him into trouble, Charles Mooney (this refers to a court case on 12th March 1890, when a contractor, Tang Kit, working for Charles Mooney (who had gone bankrupt in 1889) sued Johan de Sonnaville to try to get money back for a house he had been building on the Peak for Mooney, for Sonnaville to buy (China Mail, 12.3.1890, p.3). Mooney (born in HK in 1859, father Captain Mooney, buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery), who had been an assistant for McEwen, Frickel & Co earning $175 a month, had been living on The Peak (in a fully mortgaged house), with total assets of $33,467.75, but had been speculating in shares to the tune of indebtedness of $72,868.17. In 1892 the courts had refused to discharge him from bankruptcy. Yet by the early 1900s Mooney was company secretary of the Hong Kong Hotel Co and a respected businessman, his obituary in the SCMP (23.8.1913 - he left a wife and 9 children) making no mention of his period of errancy 1889-c.1893.

May: severe weather caused landslip that damaged the permanent way resulting in cessation of service for some period.

16^th June: long retrospective ‘history’ of the Peak Tram with details is first mention of Alexander Findlay Smith “travelling on several separate occasions in America, as well as part of two winters in Europe, during which time he visited and made himself conversant with nearly every existing method of railway employed for mountain ascent.” The story goes on to mention San Francisco, Scarborough, Rigi, Monterey, Lucerne, the Rhine, and Mt Vesuvius. Here also is sketched the history of the 1881 petition and effective takeover of Smith’s proposals by the Hongkong & China Tramways Co. Ltd. (see those years) (Hong Kong Telegraph, 16^th June, 1889, p.2)

16^th December: HK Government Gazette, Notification No. 522, regulations for the tramway operated by The Hongkong High Level Tramways Company Limited.

17^th December: 5^th annual meeting of The Hongkong High Level Tramway Co. Alexander Findlay Smith and J.B. Coughtrie away, replaced by James Anderson, B. Layton. More specific accounts on liabilities reveal that $29,874.98 are owed to the General Managers and that the General Manager’s fee for 1889 on a gross ticket income of $20,930.35 was $1,046.52. Salaries and wages @ $10,758.30 are 51.4% of gross receipts.

20^th December: meeting of shareholders suggested that debt to General Manager should be met by issue of new shares, since additional expenditure will also be required for a new tow rope to replace the one damaged by the landslip. J. de Sonnaville no longer on the board/consulting committee perhaps because he had become a partner in McEwen, Frickel & Co and therefore one of the Generalk Managers (see Dec. 1893).

1890

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 6 West Terrace

Alexander Findlay Smith not in Jury List but JAF de Sonnaville is resident on The Peak. James Anderson resident at ‘Craigieburn’

The Peak Hotel opens, proprietor The Peak Hotel & Trading Co. Ltd., Alexander Findlay Smith NOT chairman or a member of the board, manager William Thomas. AFS may probably have sold his interest in the hotel (see 1892 below). 

14^th June: “a portion of the New Building” is opened for business

15^th June: Second call to shareholders in The Peak Hotel & Trading Company to pay $15 a share with a 12% interest penalty if not paid by 17^th July (it seems most did not respond)

1891

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 6 West Terrace

19^th Feb: 2^nd AGM of The Peak Hotel & Trading Co. Ltd., Chairman Phineas Ryrie, directors: N.J. Ede, C. Ewens, J.B. Coughtrie, W. Judd, J.A.F. de Sonnaville. Company in difficulties and clearly burdened by cost of rent for ‘Craigieburn’ leased from Alexander Findlay Smith

5^th July: HK High Level Tramway company meeting with J de Sonnaville Chairman, where proposed to replace McEwen, Frickel & Co as General Manager by James Anderson, at this time also Secretary to The Peak Hotel & Trading Co., so that both companies would be run by a common management and savings achieved.  J. de Sonnaville clearly against, but prepared to accede to majority view. Question of takeover of The Hong Kong High Level Tramway Co by the Hongkong Land Investment Co. Letter from HKLI Co’s Mr Hooper read out – 5% of gross earnings and a minimum of $2500 p.a. and 25% of net profits after net profits exceed 7% of gross earnings and 50% of net profits after net profits exceed 10% plus full and complete control of whole operation. If terms accepted, HKLI Co will advance loan of $30,000 @ 8% (later increased to $35,000) on security, subject to HKLI Co solicitor’s approval. So Anderson or HKLI Co?

22 August 1891 New South Wales Australia  Government Gazette he is listed for "improvements in brakes for cars worked by cable haulage on inclined railways and tramways". His address is given as 17 Surinamestraat  The Hague

28^th November: The Peak Hotel & Trading Co. Ltd., main shareholders Henry Crawford and John Macallum (Lane Crawford), present winding up petition to courts because of inability to pay bill of Hong Kong & China Gas Co. Ltd. If Anderson dispenses with services of engineer W.C. Wylie @ $250-300 a month would be saved. Meeting ended without decision because not sufficient shareholders present (only 523 shares) to make binding resolution.

9^th December: McEwen, Frickel cease being General Managers of HK High Level Tramway Co

18^th December: meeting of HK High Level Tramway Co., gross receipts $27,920.90, net profit just $787.32 – new wire rope cost $2,401.20

24^th December: Company meeting, Creasy Ewens in chair, J. de Sonnaville (a partner of McEwen, Frickel & Co., General Managers – see Dec. 1893) present and answering questions about the replacement tow rope which had only lasted 3 months as a result of wrong design (electric wire on outside, not inside of cable) – compensation being sought. Not clear who new general managers are (China Mail, 24.12.1891, p.3) but it turns out to be J.D. Humphreys & Co (see below)

26^th December: winding up proceeding for Peak Hotel (Henry Crawford and John MacCallum of Lane Crawford and the Hongkong & China Gas Co.) but liquidator James Anderson removed and in place Frederick Thomas Pearce Foster (James Anderson involved in Hongkong High Level Tramway Co.). The answer as to why the hotel went toes up is complex. Space constraints with ‘Dunheved’ as an hotel had resulted in the decision to expand. Additional space had in the meantime been gained by the renting of ‘Craigieburn’ from Alexander Findlay Smith (who was to go on to work the same trick a few years later in renting ‘Craigieburn’ to the government as the Governor’s summer residence after ‘Mountain Lodge’ was wrecked by a typhoon), which, an 1891 meeting was told, was for an “excessive rent”. The expansion project obviously required extensive investment and the 1890 general economic downturn meant that calls on shareholders had gone significantly unanswered. Worse, a “void” agreement made by AFS to provide the hotel with water via the tramway’s peak station (AFS, not being on the tramway board, had acted ultra vires), meant that over several months in 1890 no water was supplied. Yet at this time the General Manager (and as far as I can see also Chairman) of the HK High Level Peak Tramway was Johan de Sonnaville, Alexander Findlay Smith’s brother-in-law…who was also on the board of The Peak Hotel & Trading Co. A later history of the Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels (which ended up taking over the Peak Tram) suggests that Alexander Findlay Smith contrived this bankruptcy, enabling him to buy the hotel back in 1892 for less than half its value.

30^th December: Meeting of The HK High Level Tramway Co. to alter articles of association. Alexander Findlay Smith present, J. de Sonnaville not so.

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town until end of December this year.

1892

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, Merchant, McEwen, Frickel & Co, residence at The Peak Hotel.

At some point here ‘Craigieburn’, owned by Alexander Findlay Smith, is leased to the HK Government as a summer home for the Governor, whilst a decision on repairs and reconstruction at Mountain Lodge is made after major typhoon damage

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 6 West Terrace

6^th February: all creditors of The Peak Hotel to apply to liquidator by 11^th March

March: Alexander Findlay Smith buys The Peak Hotel (according to the history of the HK & Shanghai Hotels)

24^th March: Antonio Fonseca applies for liquor licence for Peak Hotel backed by Alexander Findlay Smith

22^nd April: Fonseca’s licence transferred to Ardeshir Bejanjee

8^th August: Lady Robinson holds At Home at ‘Craigieburn’

13^th & 14^th Dec: 8^th AGM of company, H. Humphrey’s (of Humphrey’s Land & Investment Co) in chair. General Managers are John D. Humphreys & Co (HH was JDH’s son!). Phineas Ryrie had died and James Anderson had retired. No Smith or de Sonnaville representation. Receipts were $34,651.28 and a $2 dividend was paid to the 1250 $100 shares – first dividend since 1889.

1893

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 12, Caine Road

Pun Chu-ying incoming director of Po Leung Kuk listed as comprador of J.G. Smith & Co.

19^th June: At meeting of Legislative Council the cost of ‘Craigieburn’ as the temporary summer residence of the Governor pending decision on works on Mountain Lodge deemed high. The decision seems to have been to demolish and rebuild with the new Mountain Lodge not being completed until 1897.

14^th & 21^st Dec, 9^th AGM of HK High Level Tramway Co., $4 dividend paid on receipts of HK$38,240.74. First Chinese board member, Mr Poon Pong appointed in absence of Mr George Fenwick. At meeting on 21.12.1893 revealed that in 1891 J. de Sonnaville was a partner of McEwen, Frickel Co when the management was shifted to J.D. Humphreys. At this meeting, if obliquely, it was suggested that Alexander Findlay Smith had used the first year of the company to enrich himself (and friends) with a 16% dividend, leaving the company with no reserves to meet the costs of an ongoing operation.

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1894

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 12, Caine Road

27^th Dec: 12^th AGM of HK High Level Tramway Co. 5% dividend declared. No mention of gross receipts. Business much affected by the plague.

1895

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 12, Caine Road

No report in newspapers for 1895, 11^th AGM delayed until early 1896.

1896

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 12, Caine Road

16^th Jan: report of 11^th AGM of HK High Level Tramway Co. giving gross receipts of $43,226.80. Declared a dividend for 1895 of 6%. Mr Poon Pong, member of the Consulting Committee (Board) died.

29^th Dec: 12^th AGM of HK High Level Tramways Co, Hart Beck now chairman, best year yet with gross receipts of $44,461.22, on which net profits were $10,136.01, so a 6% dividend declared.

Yvonne Eulalie Findlay Smith born in The Hague

1897

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 12, Caine Road

Mountain Lodge demolished and work on new Mountain Lodge begins. Not known whether Governor used ‘Craigieburn’ 1892-1897, but probable

1898

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 12, Caine Road

5^th April, John Grant Smith becomes temporary Peruvian Consul-General

1899

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, 12, Caine Road

1900

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, Rose Villa East, Bonham Road

1901

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, Rose Villa East, Bonham Road

3^rd August: Proposal to float new company Hotel Craigieburn Ltd, principal shareholders James Anderson, A. Dennison and John Farrow, proposed capital $200,000 in 4,000 $50 shares.

1902

John Grant Smith, J.G. Smith & Co., Special Juror, Rose Villa East, Bonham Road

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1903

HK High Level Tramway Co pays 20% dividend.

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

1904

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

At some point in this year AFS "conceived the idea of an opposition line to the Peak, and promoted a bill to that purpose in the Legislative Council of the Colony".

September: Bill gazetted for creating a second Peak Tram running from Battery Path to Victoria Gap, which would have been almost duplicating existing service.

13 December: HKHLTC petitions Legislative Council, in the event of the new tramways bill being passed, to impose certain conditions on the new company (one of which was the possibility of ending the new line at Conduit Rd, thereby anticipating the present escalator!) 

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

1905

5th June (SCMP, 5.6.1905, p.2): Very lively meeting of the HK High Level Tramways Co. Sensing a collapse in their business, because as far as they could see, despite their objection and suggestion that the new service run to Goodman's Gap (which was deemed impracticable), the government would pass the new Peak Tram Bill, the board of the HKHLTC had decided to bid for the new concession. This would cost $35,000 "of which $25,000 will go to Mr Findlay Smith" (to buy the concession which seems to have been granted to AFS, thus giving him a neat speculative windfall in effect by a form of competitive blackmail!). It was though it would also be best to wind up the HKHLTC and the form of a new company, the Peak Tramways Company Limited, with $750,000 capital of 75,000 shares at $10 each. 

17th Oct: Alexander Findlay Smith assigns "all his right, title and interest" in the new Peak tramway bill to the China Commercial Co. Ltd. (which appears to be effectively controlled or owned by E.S. Kadoorie & Co.)

18th Oct: The Peak Tramway Co. Ltd. registered as a new company.

25th October: China Commercial Co assigns all its right, title, etc. to The Peak Tramway Co. Ltd for a consideration of $35,000.

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

1906

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

27 Feb 1906 (SCMP, p.2) - court action begins between D.E. Brown (an HKHLTC shareholder) and the HKHLTC and its managers J.D. Humphreys & Co.

29 Mar 1906 (SCMP, p.11) - plaintiffs win case against HKHLTC and J.D. Humphreys & Co. and injunction granted restraining HKHLTC from selling itself to the new Peak Tramway Co. This cost the company $14,718.60 in legal costs.

16 Jul - EGM of HKHLTC to pass new resolutions to meet the objections of the courts in finding in favour of D.E. Brown. Meeting's resolutions carried.

1907

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

4 Apr: Final meeting of the HKHLTC at the completion of liquidation. Books of the company handed over to the new Peak Tramway Co.

25 May: Ordinary annual meeting of the Peak Tramway Co. for the period 19.10.1905-30.4.1907. J.D. Humphrey's still General Manager, new line still in play as a possibility.

1908

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak Hotel

18 May: AGM of The Peak Tramway Co. New line completely surveyed and believed that all objections had been overcome

8^th January: Yvonne Eulalie Findlay Smith (12) dies in Scheveningen

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

1909

Alexander Findlay Smith, Special Juror, The Peak – this is his last entry in the Jury Lists

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

31 May: Peak Tramway Co AGM - problems with lower part of new tramway route. Cost of tunnelling under the Botanical Gardens prohibitive. Trestle bridge route down Glenealy objected to on noise grounds by Roman Catholic Cathedral. Government requires rethink and plans for a scaled down operation with cars carrying fewer than 70 pax being explored.

It seems possibly to have been at around this point that Alexander Findlay Smith bought Ligoniel/The Farm (RBL 101) on Barker Road.

1910

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?\

23 May: The Peak Tramway Co AGM. The alternative line proposed now abandoned on cost grounds, the estimated cost having come in at $942,677 and it being deemed impossible for this to allow a reasonable return to shareholders.

1911

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

Eulalie Smith living in a twelve roomed home at Myrtle Bank, Oaklands Drive, Walton on Thames with her two surviving sons Egmont and Vivyan both born in The Hague. Has resident staff of a butler born in Liege, a cook born in Brussels and a housemaid born in Sheffield.

Her husband is elsewhere.

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

1912

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

1913

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

John Grant Smith out of town perhaps retired?

1914

John Grant Smith (?) dies in Moffat, Dumfriesshire

28^th July: Craigieburn Hotel has Mrs John Grant Smith staying. Possibly she is with a son or, possibly, who is staying is the son and his wife since the record reads: Mr & Mrs Iron (John?) Grant Smith

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1915

10th May: Straits Times (Singapore) reports winding up order in bankruptcy for McEwen, Frickel & Co.

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1916

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1917

Alexander Findlay Smith not in Jury List

10^th January: Straits Times implies both that Alexander Findlay Smith is still owner of the Peak Hotel and that he celebrated his 50 years in Hong Kong by walking to the Peak flagstaff on 1^st January, claiming he had done so on his arrival in January 1867.

1918

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1919

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1920

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1921

January: Eulalie Findlay Smith (64) dies in London

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1922

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1923

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1924

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1925

Alexander Findlay Smith out of town?

1926

10^th January: Alexander Findlay Smith (81) dies in Ryde, Isle of Wight. Home addresses given as The Farm (ex-Ligoniel, built by Frederick Henry May’s family), The Peak, Hong Kong and Claveston House, Strand, Ryde, Isle of Wight. Probate in the will, dated 29^th March 1924, granted to William Edward Shenton, solicitor, Hong Kong. Estate in Hong Kong valued at $1,056,500. Not known when Alexander Findlay Smith bought The Farm but see above 1909 for a possibility.

1927

7^th March: Vivian Findlay Smith (39) dies in Funchal, Madeira