46 Timehri. 
LacytowN—another leasehold portion of Pin. Vlissengen, the lessee who gave 
it its name being related to the family of General Sir de Lacy Evans, the hero 
of the defence of Kars during the Crimean War. 
The original proprietor of Pln. Vlissengen was the Hon. Joseph Bourda, M.C.P., 
whose son and heir, John, went to’sea and was never again heard of, in conse- 
quence of which the title to the property became complicated, and difficulty 
arose amongst a number of claimants, who played ducks and drakes with the 
estate as a sort of “no man’sland.”’ Eventually, the Government stepped in and 
took control of the property under the authority of the Vlissengen Ordinance of 
1876, vesting same in the Board of Vlissengen Commissioners, who arranged the 
claims of the several heirs, set about the general improvement of Lacytown, laid 
out the new district of Bourda, recouping themselves by the sale of building lots 
and land in the new district, the collection of back rents from the Lacytown 
proprietors and the imposition of a special rate on that district to cover the cost 
of street improvements, drainage, etc., all of which gave rise to a lot of opposition 
and heart-burning, now happily at an end. 
Through the Commissioners and the Town Council I was closely identified 
with all these improvements and alterations carried out from 1878 to 1885. 
New North street—a continuation of North street, Robbstown. This was 
formerly a narrow footpath known as Church Alley leading to the old Cathedral, 
and the houses were moved bodily back to make room for the wider street, many 
buildings having to be bought out where the lots were overcrowded. 
Robb street and Regent street are continuations of those of the same name in 
Robbstown. 
Charlotte street—named after Queen Charlotte, consort of George III. 
New South street—the southern street of the district, formerly known as Love 
Lane, a narrow thoroughfare or footpath, widened by the re-digging of the 
Vlissengen main drainage canal further to the south. 
King street—named after George III., died 1820. 
Wellington street—after Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, died 1852, 
and who was at the height of his military fame in 1815. 
Alexander street—after Alexander I. of Russia, died 1825: popular in 1813- 
1815, when he opposed Napoleon along with the other European powers allied 
with England. 
Bourda street—after the original proprietor. 
Sraproek : I have already dealt with the origin of the name of this district. 
Its streets are few, embracing : 
Brick Dam, a wide thoroughfare about a mile in length, formerly a brick 
paved promenade, hence the name, now a burnt earth roadway, with a mixed 
avenue of shade trees, finishing at the east end with a fine avenue of Royal 
palms, planted by the late Mr. Richard M. Jones, more familiarly known in 
old days as “ Dickie Jones,” grandfather of our friend the Hon. B. Howell 
Jones. He has left in many places landmarks of his occupation in avenues 
of these stately trees, the admiration of all visitors to the colony. 
