Seth's Corner [????- ] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Seth's Corner [????- ]

Known as Seth's corner because of Mr. Arathoon Seth and his family living for many years at the house called "Norman Cottage" on that corner.

 

 

Photos that show this place

1901
2010

Comments

The Hong Kong Telegraph, 1930-12-08

Fatal Car Crash at Seth's Corner

a wreak of a Ford motor lorry ... which was being used to convey loads of bricks from excavation work near Norman Cottage, Peak Road...

An Indian constable was on point duty at Seth's Corner, where Peak and Garden Roads meet, and gave the "proceed" signal to the driver.

Arathoon Seth was Armenian by birth with family connections with the Armenians of Calcutta that Sir Paul Chater was connected to.

Extract of my research from Twentieth Century Impressions of HK and Shanghai:

"Arathoon Seth is the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hongkong.  He was born in 1852 [in Canton].  When only sixteen years of age he was appointed Hindustani interpreter to the Magistracy, Hongkong, having acquired a knowledge of the language in Hongkong, and, except for a comparatively short interval when he was attached to the Peninsular and Oriental Company, he has been in the Civil Service ever since.  He re-entered the Magistracy as third clerk in September 1872, and received steady promotion, becoming the first clerk in 1875, and Clerk of Councils and chief clerk in the Colonial Secretary’s office six years later.  He was created a Justice of the Peace in 1882, and was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1893.  After serving as Superintendent of the Opium Revenue and of Imports and Exports was appointed Secretary to the Board, under the “Taipingshan Resumption Ordinance,”  and subsequently received the thanks of the Government for his services.  He has held a variety of other posts from time to time, including those of Acting Assistant Registrar-General, Official Receiver in Bankruptcy, Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court, Acting Land Officer, Acting Registrar of Companies, Official Administrator and Official Trustee; was appointed to his present position in October 1903.  Mr. Seth is a member of the Hongkong Club and lives at Norman Cottage, Peak Road."

He married Catherine Seth (a cousin) and they had 5 children.  Some of whom are buried at Happy Valley.

Liz