30.
STAFF.
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Mr. T. A. HOWE, Royal Irish Constabulary, left the Colony on the 21st September, and Chief Inspector MACKIE acted as Deputy Superintendent of Police until the return of Mr. BADELEY on the 25th of November.
From the 1st March to the end of the year Mr. DUGGAN, Paymaster, was seconded to the Magis- tracy as First Clerk, and each of the clerks acted during that period in the post next above him, while a Sergeant Interpreter acted as fourth clerk.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
F. H. MAY,
Captain Superintendent of Police.
POLICE SCHOOL, 31st December, 1898.
SIR,-I have the honour to lay before you the following Report on the Police School during the year 1898.
1. Mr. ARTHUR went home on leave, on the 1st March, since which date I have been in charge. This is the only change that has taken place in the Staff.
2. The School is divided into three sections :
European ; Chinese, and Indian:
each section is allotted three hours every week on the Time Table. When the regular holidays which coincide with those given at Queen's College, and the forced holidays which occur when duty inter- feres with school hours, are taken into consideration, it will at once be seen that individual men can- not possibly have many hours schooling in the year. Yet the progress made by some of them, especially by the Assistant Warders whose duties allow of a comparatively regular attendance, is most satisfactory, and speaks highly for their industry and application.
3. An examination of European Constables was held during August. Of the twelve men who presented themselves, eight passed: three others were sent to Hospital during the course of the examination, and one failed. This may be considered very creditable. The results and report thereon were forwarded on the 17th of August. The successful men afterwards received certificates.
4. I had a test examination of certain unsatisfactory Chinese Constables, in March, and it was eventually deemed advisable to strike their names off the roll, on account of irregularity and idleness.
5. With one slight alteration in the Time Table, school work has been carried on the same as before. The alteration referred to was made in connection with the Indians who come under my own particular care. These men, varying in number from fifteen to seven, I had to split up into no less than four divisions, owing to their different capabilities. The fourth or lowest lot read and had dictation from the 1st Reader--a most apt and useful compilation; the third used the Regulation Book; the second the Fourth Royal Reader; and the first division has read from the Fifth Royal Reader. Reading, Dictation, Writing and Colloquial based on the matter read, and on details connected with their duties, were the four subjects to which I limited my teaching with these men. I found that their knowledge of Notation and Numeration was, without exception, equal to the simple requirements laid down for them; I accordingly concluded that the little time they are in school would be best given to the four subjects named.
6. It was my intention to hold an examination for Chinese and Indians, as well as a supplement- ary one for those European Constables who fell ill in August, at the end of January or the beginning of February. As Mr. ARTHUR will be back by that time, he will doubtless do so.
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7. Notes of the Geography of China," a small book in use at Queen's College, was introduced as the Text-book of Geography for European Constables.
8. The highest attendance during the year was on June 20th, when sixty-two were present: the average for the year is forty-three. I have no statistics for former years; but I believe this is an im- provement on the immediate past: it is explained by the fact that men from the Gaol come regularly, and in somewhat bigger numbers than previously.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
T. K. DEALY, Inter. Arts (Lond.) Master-in-Charge.
The Honourable F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,
Captain Superintendent of Police.