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with Class V. As a compensation for the time spent in Chinese by other classes, these two take Latin. To remove any misconception, and as an act of justice to the masters concerned, I have, this year, kept the four sections of the non-Chinese classes separate, distinguishing them as N1, N2, N3, N4. I must not omit to mention, that His Excellency the Governor has shown his sympathy with this movement, by relieving the Master in charge of the Senior Non-Chinese Class, Mr. MACHELL, of further study of Chinese, that he may devote himself more completely to developing this branch of the College, and continue without overstrain to himself to superintend the athletics of these boys.
11. OXFORD LOCAL EXAMINATIONS.-We paid 18 fees, but only 15 boys presented themselves, of whom eight obtained certificates, viz: three Seniors under 19 years of age, and five Juniors over 16 years of age.
Of Special Subjects, 1 boy passed in Bookkeeping, 2 in Drawing, 2 in Physiography and 1 in Trigonometry. U HANG-KAM, who headed the Senior List in this place, was marked Good in Arithmetic, Shakespeare and Algebra; and Fox CHI-YAN, who took the same position amongst the Juniors, obtained the same mark in Arithmetic and Shakespeare. Of the eight boys who obtained Certificates, 4 were marked Good in Arithmetic, 4 in Shakespeare, 2 in Geography and 1 in Algebra. Taken as a whole the result is very satisfactory, the percentage of passes as compared with last year being 53: 58. There is a marked improvement in the work of the non-Chinese boys, though the Chinese still lead.
12. ANGLO-CHINESE CLASS.-The number of boys examined in these divisions dwindled from 58 in 1889 to 12 in 1893. When then in March last I found only two boys presenting themselves to form a class, I first enquired of the parents the cause of their sons' absence, and then reported to the Government the extinction of the Anglo-Chinese Class. The reasons alleged by the parents appeared to be valid, and may be classified in the following manner, (1) several boys are under ten years of age, and it is objected that the study of Chinese, in addition to English is too severe a strain; (2) others profess to attend classes for improvement in their own languages, Portuguese, Arabic &c; (3) others live out at East Point, and find it impossible or unhealthy to remain from 8 A.M. till 5 P.M. without a solid meal. Of the 103 non-Chinese boys on the Roll, 71 are in the Upper School and therefore exempted by Government Order, there remain then 32 to form the Anglo-Chinese Class, but 20 of these are about 8 or 9 years of age.
13. THE STAFF. I am happy to report an exceptionally good Bill of Health. Mr. MAY, the Second Master, went on leave in April, after the completion of six years' service, and Mr. DEALY is acting for him, proving a very energetic and satisfactory substitute. Mr. BARLOW also went on leave, on a plea of urgent private affairs. Mr. JONES was temporarily transferred to the Magistracy, as Acting First Clerk. We were therefore, for eight months, short of the services of three masters. The consequent necessary changes put the First Chinese Assistant in charge of the Preparatory School, Mr. WAN of Class IIB, the highest Upper School Class yet entrusted to a Chinese Assistant, and deprived one of the Lower School Classes of the advantage of an English Master, a luxury we can only afford when the complete English Staff is on duty. Of the Chinese Assistants, four were employed in the Upper School, instead of two, as last year. Messrs. LUK, WAN, NG and LEUNG were in charge of Classes IIIA, IIB, IIIc, and IIIB, respectively, and their percentages, 89, 88, 92 and 92, compare very favourably with the average results of this year. My recommendation of increased salaries for Chinese Assistants is thus strongly supported by further experience.
14. HALF-YEARLY EXAMINATIONS.-In 1894, for the second year running this important factor in the general success of the year was forcibly held in abeyance, on account of the general exodus from the Colony. A considerable proportion of the failures among boys educationally weak, is due to the absence of this check and its attendant advice.
15. Recreation.-Drill still continues, but unless it can be put in charge of a duly qualified instructor, it not only entails waste of time and money, but as conducted last year is positively prejudicial to the maintenance of discipline. The following report from Mr. MACHELL on Recreation may prove of interest.
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"The sports have developed an organisation, that bids fair to stand. Boys now play regularly and heartily, who looked askance at athletics two years ago. The Cricket "team of masters and boys is thus far undefeated. Football as played in the College 'grounds is an expensive amusement; three balls are used up monthly, though diligently "repaired and well kept. For a month prior to commencement of Annual Examination, "the verandahs of Hollywood Crescent and the space outside the lower West Gate were "thronged with spectators of the 4 to 5 P.M. games. Lost balls were kicked back with "a zest which produced great merriment when a too zealous coolie unwisely kicked squarely at the ball with his bare toes. There are two or three privately owned "cricket sets and at least three independent football owners. These occupy the lower "ground during the longer periods of recess &c. No accident has marred play, though "keen rivalry exists between the first and second teams. The drill has been very "unsatisfactory. A broken succession of tactless and incompetent instructors wearied "the boys beyond measure, and they were only kept from openly resenting the tiresome "bungling by my frequent presence at and personal conduct of the drill. The Cadet "Section is kept up.
Their uniform is only fitted for summer wear. Five of the "Queen's College Cadets are now Volunteers. The formation of a Chinese Cadet Corps "was, owing to the Plague and the resulting lee-way in class-work, out of the question.