502
Site.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 17TH NOVEMBER, 1877.
Locality.
Cost of Ac- quisition.
$ 3,000 29,000 Nil.
After deducting $40,000 proceeds of Sale of present School.
COMPARATIVE TABLE.
Cost of levelling Site.
Plus $50,000
for New School
and Play-ground.
Heard's Lot on Bonham Road,
Possession Point and adjoining Houses,
$ 3,000
Nil.
$ 56,000
79,000
Present School Site,
Rangel's Property,
50,000
18,000 3,000
68,000
$16,000 39,000 (1) 68,000
103,000
Queen's Road West,..
12,000
Nil.
62,000
Heard's Property opposite City Hall,
(*) 20,000
Nil.
(') 70,000
123456
(2) 63,000 22,000
30,000
(1.) This sum would be increased to about $70,000 in preparing accommodation for the scholars during progress of
new building.
(2.) This sum may be reduced to $60,000 by sale of old materials.
(3.) This valuation is rather high.
(4.) No play-ground feasible.
LIST OF APARTMENTS PROPOSED IN THE NEW DESIGN FOR A CENTRAL SCHOOL
Accommodation for 500 Scholars to include :-
(1.) Examination hall capable of holding 500.
(2.) Five class rooms for 100 each.
(3.) Connecting with these 5 class rooms for 40 each.
(4.) Lecture room for 60, with 2 adjoining rooms, one for practical chemistry, and one for
teachers' laboratory.
(5.) Room to be used as school-library, and office for junior masters.
(6.) Head Master's office and residence.
(7.) Store room for school materials.
(8.) Cloak room for umbrellas, shoes, &c., &c., in rainy weather.
MEMORANDUM.
Being unable to decide upon the important questions involved in the Surveyor General's Report without further information, I desire, as a preliminary step, that this matter be referred for enquiry to a Board consisting of the Honourable P. RYRIE, the Honourable H. Lowcock, the Honouole the Acting Treasurer, the Surveyor General, and the Inspector of Schools.
The Board will consider firstly, the accommodation to be provided, and the possibility, without impairing the efficiency of the new school, of reducing the number of rooms in the list appended to the Surveyor General's Report. The question of quarters for the Assistant Masters need not occupy the attention of the Board, as on this point the Government has already come to a decision.
Secondly, the attention of the Board will be directed to the investigation, and selection of the most favourable site as regards:
1. Salubritry.
2. Economy of cost.
3. Neighbourhood.
These considerations rank in the order in which they are here given. The heavy outlays which the Colony will have to meet during this and the forthcoming year in the execution of works of greater importance than the new school, render it imperative that the cost of the latter should be restricted to the very lowest possible figure, consistent with its public utility.
As regards neighbourhood, and especially the possible effect which its distance from the homes of the scholars may have in reducing the attendance, it will be for the Board to weigh, with the greatest circumspection, the merit of the objections which may come under consideration under this head, and which may interpose to prevent the acquisition of the least expensive site. It will also be the duty of the Board to investigate the importance of such loss of attendance (if any) as compared with the advantage of the enormous saving by the selection of a site somewhat less central than that of the present school, and the adoption of which may set free and render available additional funds for the proposed new buildings themselves.
I shall be glad to receive from the Board any suggestions which it may deem desirable to submit bearing generally upon the matter, and I rely upon the energy and public spirit of its members, to be placed in possession of their Report at as early a date as possible.
Government House, Victoria, Hongkong, 3rd May, 1876.
A. E. KENNEDY.