HONGKONG.
311
No 14
1901
REPORT OF THE ACTING HEAD MASTER OF QUEEN'S COLLEGE AND OF THE EXAMINERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNING BODY FOR THE YEAR 1900.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of
His Excellency the Governor.
1. The total number on Roll was 1,440 being nearly 100 more than last year; and this number could have been exceeded had the Roll been large enough to have admitted of more entries being made, and the class-rooms of a more expansive nature. This shews that an entrance into this Insti- tution is eagerly sought after, in spite of the fees being, in the higher part of the school, $36 per annum, and in addition to which each boy has to provide himself with all books used in the school, which in some classes means an extra expenditure of about $10 on the part of each scholar in the upper classes.
The average daily attendance was 990 as against 887 last year. The highest monthly attend- ance was reached in April, when there were 1,126 pupils in attendance. The highest average daily attendance was also in April, viz., 1,049. The largest number of boys present on one day was 1,079, on 25th July.
2. The revenue from fees was $29,037 being an increase of $1,792 on last year.
The gross expenditure has been increased owing to the increase of salaries, granted under C.Ö.D. 280 of Ï899, and also by an increase of compensation on the same, and the adjustment of exchange in England; yet owing to the great increase in the average daily attendance the expense of each scholar has been decreased by $1.28.
3. On my return to duty, from leave of absence, I took over charge on the 1st May from Dr. WRIGHT, the Head Master, who then went on leave. I found the staff weakened by Messrs. JONES and WOODCOCK (seconded for duty at the Supreme Court and Sanitary Board respectively), and Messrs. BARLOW and MACHELL, away sick-the former detained in Singapore Hospital, and the latter in Colombo Hospital.
Fortunately the services of Messrs. JAMES CHEUNG and J. HATMER were still available, and they were very good substitutes for two of the absentees, and thus the College has not suffered as much us it otherwise would have done. Unfortunately, just at that time Mr. DEALY, the Acting Second Master, was away also on sick leave for about a week, so that with the great increase in the number of boys, it was no easy task to arrange for the work of the school, and I had personally to give all my attention for some time to one individual class, and the general supervision had, for the time, to be greatly relaxed.
Messrs. BARLOW and MacHELL returned to the Colony on 15th May, but neither was in a fit condition to resume duty in full, and the result was that Mr. BARLOW after a few days on half duty, was ordered to the Hospital where he practically remained till 13th July, when he was recommended to go home for a period on medical certificate.
Mr. MACHELL was far less fit for work than even Mr. BARLOW, and within a few days, he too had to be admitted into the Hospital where his disease became so acute that it was found necessary to retire him from the service, and he was sent home in August.
The continued absence of these two Masters was totally unlooked for, and thus the staff was further reduced. So great then were the difficulties I had to contend with, that I had it seriously under my consideration to apply for permission to temporarily decrease the number of pupils. How- ever, as Messrs. CHEUNG and HATMER gave me to understand that, under certain conditions, they would continue to act till the end of the year, and I had permission to employ some of the 1st class students as Acting Pupil-teachers, I was able to struggle on.
Relief from England in the shape of a successor to Mr. MACHELL has been anxiously looked for, but up to the present no one has been appointed; but I am expecting a new Master before long.
Thus throughout the year the school has been seriously understaffed, and had it not been that Messrs. CHEUNG and HATMER were able to remain, a reduction in the number of pupils would certainly have been necessary, and that would have meant a greater expense to the College. My thanks are also due to the whole staff for their assistance in these trying circumstances.
Page 315Page 316
312