August 15, 1895.}
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from here and went to lunch at Laichikok. I am not prepared to say that they lunched "not wisely but too well." (Laughter.) But extraordinary occurrence happened on that occasion. After luncheon these four gentlemen Mr. Stopani, Mr. Humphreys, Mr. Stephens, and Mr. Sutton-re-embarked, and went out sailing towards Capsuimoon Pass. The boat was struck by a sudden squall, and Mr. Stopani, who does not seem to be a very good sailor- (laughter)-got stuck in the ropes, and was very. nearly suspended from office. They then put about, but were suddenly struck by another squall coming from the opposite direction. Again Mr. Stopani got the main sheet round his neck and felt very nearly as if he was in the hands of Calcraft. (Laughter.) At all events these four gentlemen were precipitated into the water. The story, so far as I know, goes on in this way. Two of them could swim very fairly and the third, Mr. Sutton, who was not a very good swimmer and was very much frightened, in addition to being encumbered with his trousers-Mr. Stopani was able to rid him. self of his trousers-was in great danger of meeting a watery grave. They were in the water about twenty minutes, and if it bad not been for the exertions of Mr. Stopani, who was standing by-if I may use such a term -and supporting Mr. Sutton, it is more than possible that this community would have been deprived of the services and companionship of a very worthy member. I brought these facts to the notice of the Royal Humane Society, and although this roll does not contain a grant of a tract of laud-which before I go I hope to be able to give you nevertheless-(loud applause)-it does contain a certificate from the Royal Humane Society in recognition of Mr. Stopani's services. (Continued applause.) Not only that, but I have up my sleeve something more gratifying, and that is the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society. (Renewed applause.) I felt in coming down here to-night and asking you to meet me, that I should be signalising a very meritorious action on the part of one of your most popular members. (Applause.) Mr. Stopani, if you step forward, I will explain the medal to you.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
rescue of life from drowning-I trust they will not be found wanting. ́ (Applause.)
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We are also in great want of a school piano, the present one having entirely collapsed and His FXCELLENCY-I ought to have mentioned the funds for school apparatus leave that if it had not been for the assistance rendered margin for extras of any kind. As this by a Chinese dinghy probably there would have study is much appreciated by parents and been worse results. I am doing my best to find children and is of an elevating nature it is ent who those men who manned the dinghy only right that provision should be made for were, and the Government will present them the teaching thereof. The present system of with a substantial pecuniary reward for their hiring is far too expensive to be continued. services. (Applause).
The interesting proceedings then terminated.
TOTAL LOSS OF THE
CATTERTHUN.”
Messrs. Gibb, Livingston & Co. inform us that they have received a telegram from their agents at Sydney to the effect that the E. & A. steamer Catterthun, bound for Hongkong via usual ports, struck on the Seal Rocks about 100 miles from Sydney and is a total wreck. She left Sydney on the evening of the 7th inst.
The Catterthun was built in 1881 by Messrs. W. Doxford and Sons, of Sunderland, and was due in Hongkong about the 30th inst. Captain Shannon was in charge of her and she carried three officers, four engineers, and a crew of 50 or 60 Lascars and Chinese.
Messrs. Gibb, Livingston & Co., inform us they have received the following telegram from the Managing Agents in Sydney :- "Catterthun. The following are saved:-Second mate, passengers Fawkes, Crane, Copeman, and twenty-two Chinese. We very much fear re- mainder drowned."
The following telegram was received later :- Catterthun. The following are missing :-
Captain Shannon. Chief officer Pinney. Third officer Leffer. First engineer Harper. Second engineer Wilkon. Third engineer Adams.
Fourth engineer Wolstenholm. Surgeon Anderson.
Steward Mauning.
Passengers:
The staff is unchanged with two exceptions. We have to deplore the loss of the teacher of Chinese embroidery, whose death last year from plague caused great regret to both teachers and children. Her gentle disposition and skill as theacher had endered her to all. We have, how- over, been fortunate in securing the services of Mrs. Tsang Lai-shi, a very capable teacher.
The second Chinese master, Mr. Leung King- him, having retired on a pension, his place was filled by the appointment of an additional matron."
ལྭ
The work of the School is greatly facilitated by the light and airy building in which it is now established, and the deepest gratitude is felt. towards the liberal founder. The Inspector of Schools has just concluded his annual examina- tion and expressed his satisfaction with the result -I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant.
E. A. BATEMAN, Headmistress, The Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart.
Colonial Secretary.
Dr. EITEL said that thanks were due to the kind liberality of the following gentlemen for prizes-Hon. E. R. Belilios, C.M.G., Hon. C. P. Chater, Hon, J. J. Bell-Irving, Hon. A. McConachie, Hon. H. E. Wodehouse, Messrs. Armstrong, Anderson, Burnie, Cooke, Deacon, Eitel, J. D. Humphreys, Ho Tung, Ho Fook, Ho Amei, T. Jackson, King, Li Shing, Les Wan, J. Mody, Poon Pong. Quincey, R. Shewan, Capt. J. Smith, D. Sassoon, „A. K. Travers, A. Wise, H. Wicking, Mrs. Hatherly.
His EXCELLENCY, after distributing the prizes, said. Ladies and gentlemen, I need hardly tell you that the giving away of these prizes to the school children affords me a great deal of plea- sure. This school, as you are aware, was
Females-Mathias, Loring, and daughter, opened about 16 or 18 months ago; it was Males-Fraser and Smith.
BELILIOS PUBLIC SCHOOL.
PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.
Mr. Stopani went up to the table, and his
erected by one to whom the cause of education Excellency said-In the middle of the medal is
in Hongkong owes a great deal, Mr. Belilios : a little boy like Cupid who is trying to blow
(applause and it was erected on ground given into life again a torch which is supposed to be
by the Governinent. I recollect that when I extinguished. This was regarded both by the
signed away this piec. of land there was con- ancients and moderns as an emblem of life, and
sidorable difference of opinion as to whether it is expressed by the motto "Lateat scintillula
On Wednesday afternoon His Excellency the was a wise step or not. It was said that this forsan. Peradventure a little spark is still being hid." Round the other side is a Latin inscription Governor, Sir William Robinson, distributed the was a very valuable site, too good a site for such showing when the Royal Humane Society was prizes to pupils attending the Belilios Publica school. It is therefore the more gratifying instituted, and for what purpose it was instituted. School for Girls. There was a large attendance I do not think, as I said before, that any Pre-of parents and friends, sident of this club has had the pleasure of forming a similar duly. I can only hope that you will live to gain the silver medal.
per-
During the loud applause which followed, his Excellency pinned the medal on Mr. Stopani's breast.
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Dr. E. J. EITEL opened the proceedings by reading the following report of the head mistress, Mrs. Bateman:
most satisfactory. The average attendance of scholars under instruction in the English division was very materially affected by the plague of last year, but since the last few mouths the number of scholars has been rapidly increasing, The average attendance of the whole school has been 270 for some months past.
not only to Mr. Belilios, but to the Govern meut to know that the ground has not been thrown away on the foundation of this school, which gives every promise of success, and in fact has up to the present time bon a vary great success indeed. (Applause). The school is divided into two parts, the upper school English and the lower entirely for Chinese children. From Dr. Eitel's report I am glad to see that the order and discipline maintained here and the cheerful aspect of the children shoy aù affec tionate connection between the pupils and their teachers.
I have been in the other room just now, and I saw with surprise the excellent map- ping and the embroidery, which is superior to anything I have seen in this colony. A great deal, I am told, is due to the wall maps presented by the Government and always available for the children's use.
Belilios Public School, Hongkong, 30th July, 1895. Sir, I have the honour to forward you the fifth annual report of the Belilios Public School. Hon. H. E. WODEHOUSE-Your Excellency, During the past school year (counting from as you have intimated in your remarks, there September, 1894, to the end of July, 1895) the have been numerous speculations as to the causes numbers, specially among English children, have of this mysteriously convened meeting. One of steadily increased, and the regularity of attend- the best explanations offered was that asance since the cessation of the plagne has been H.M. troopship Tamur had arrived, and as therefore the services of the Victor Emanuel would be no longer required, your Excellency had decided to purchase the Victor Emanuel out of your private purse-(laughter)—and present the boat to this club as a fit bathing place. (Laughter) Now that the secret has been divulged, on behalf of the members I would like to say that we ap- preciate and recognise and feel honoured by that nice perception of the fitness of things which has induced your Excellency to choose this club, of which you are the honoured President, and of which Mr. Stopaui is one of the most active members, as the arena in which to make the presentation to-day, and it will be hailed with satisfaction by the whole community. (Applause). In the achievement which won this well earned distinction Mr. Stopani showed the highest merits, both of physical endurance and acquaintance with the art of swimming, an | above all the presence of mind which he displayed while he was in the water. (Applause.) I hope his ex. ample will induce others who are members of this A school library in which the girls could club to perfect themselves in the art of swimming.procure books for home reading would teachers, and the centre of the life of the school Should an opportunity occur, as it may at any supply a long felt need. as at present in the is its head mistress. The bringing-up of chil- in these days is increasing in diffic time, for them to apply their powers to the majority of cases their study of English litera-dren noblest use to which they could be put-the ture is almost exclusively confined to lesson-books, culty every year, on account of the increas
In addition to the ordinary Euglish subjects, singing, instrumental music, and physical "drili are taught, and copy book writing. The girls in the upper forms show great aptitude in map drawing, the maps drawn from memory being specially good. Needlework, both English and Chinese, is most creditabloj:
The younger children jare most carefully trained by Mrs. Tutcher, who, by her pains taking and clever management, groatly facin. tates their progress when removed to the upper standards.
A consignment of wall-maps and natural history pictures, etc, procured from England last year, has proved of great assistance.
The reading, according to Dr. Eitel's report, is very fluent and accurate, and there has been special progress in elocution. I believe it is the practice for the girls to recite before the whole school once or twice a week, and this, of course. facilitates and improves their elocution. History has been taught orally, instead of from books, and the results have boon romarkably good. The arithmetic papers, Dr. Eitel says, on the whole have been very well and very neatly done; and he concludes his roport by stating that, on the whole, the school has made solid progress. The organisation and the methods of the school and the bright spirit which animates the chil dren are dus mainly to the head mistress and her excellent assistants, of whom I am sorry to say there are too few. It is hardly necessary to say that, in the opinion of all people connected with education, the success of a school is due to its
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