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9
No. 90.
HONGKONG.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HEAD MASTER OF THE VICTORIA COLLEGE FOR 1889.
Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.
No. 4.
VICTORIA COLLEGE,
10th January, 1890.
SIR, I have the honour to forward the Annual Report on this College for 1889.
1. The total number of boys on the Roll during the past year was 919. The number of School- days, 233, is still below the average, though better than the previous year. The College was closed on the four following extraordinary occasions, two days during the storm in May, one day on the transfer from the Central School, and one day for a Public Funeral.
2. To illustrate the condition of the Schools during the last five years the following table is annexed :---
1885,
1886,
1887,
1888,
1889,
1885,
1886,
1887,
1888,
1889,
YEAR.
Total Number of Scholars.
Number of School Days.
Monthly Enrolment.
Average
Daily Attendance.
Maximum.
Minimum.
596
238
499
382
437
610
238
507
419
446
601
234
525
417
449
634
229
536
384
467
919
233
789
466
597
Number
Percentage
YEAR.
of School Boys Examined.
School
Actual Nett
of
Fees.
Passes.
Expenditure.
Average
Expense of each Scholar per Average Daily Attendance.
412
95.38
5,273
12,885.00
29.45
405
94.81
5,422
11,680.41
26.17
384
97.65
5,547
11,872.70
26.40
445
94.15
6,899
12,384.14
26.48
676
95.41
9,338
15,018.20
25.11
3. Victoria College was occupied 10th July, 1889, the foundation stone having been laid by Sir George Bowen 26th April, 1884, on a site selected by a Commission some fourteen years ago. The College is undoubtedly a fine spacious building occupying a good central position, and is sufficiently elevated to ensure a free admission of light, and of whatever cool breezes may be expected in the summer weather. The class rooms are arranged with the strictest economy of space and easily provide accommodation for 960 boys. Besides its annual use for the prize distribution, the hall is of great service in the monthly collection of fees, and is absolutely indispensable for the midsummer and annual examinations, when 132 boys can be examined at one time, while ample space is provided as a pre- caution against the possibility of copying or any communication whatever. The large covered play- ground in the basement is an incomparable boon during the rainy and hot seasons.
4. The erection of Victoria College is entirely due to the foresight and unremitting zeal of the late Dr. STEWART, who by a sad fatality can scarcely be said to have seen the fruition of his labours, as he was removed by death before the College was in full working order. The extent to which he bore up against the depressing effect of delay and opposition may be conceived when we read the following passage from his Report so far back as '77; As a remedy for all this (stationary condition) cannot be far distant now, although it cannot arrive in time to affect the current year, further notice of the School, its working, its aim, and its success, may therefore be deferred until the new building is occu- pied." Dr. STEWART will ever be famous as the Founder of Education in the Colony. Apart too from