February 13, 1896.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
doing this remenber that you will assist the best interests of China. Where are your railways about which Sir George. Bowen
131
animal physiology." Later on, two years ago only, one of our great promoters of educa. tion here, the greatest in fact, Mr. Belilios, C.M.G., said "Let Hongkong bespoke fifteen years ago; where are your coalculated amongst you, circulated in the
the Oxford and Cambridge of China. Let her mines, your gold and silver mines.? Why, you be the seat of learning for that vast Empire can count them upon your fingers. But we have upon whose fringe she stands." A very noble them in our colonies and in England and have idea, ladies and gentlemen, but is it so Have had them for many years past. Your undeni any practical steps been taken in that direction?able sources of wealth are all closed and are still None that I am aware of. Now, ladies and waiting the incoming of European infinence and gentlemen, what have we here? A fine, not to say English instructors and English instruction. magnificent building; most able head master. You boys may say you have nothing to do with distinguished in scholarship and in literature- this. But I say you have. You can learn Eng. (applause) a large number of most capable|lish; you can study our history; you can strive and efficient assistant masters-(applause) to read and to understand England's progress and all of these maintained by fees paid in railways, telegraphs, steamers, manufactures, by the scholars and by a subsidy of some and other things; you can tell your parents at $17,000 or 818,000 a year paid by the home all about these and urge upon them to Government. What I say is this. that I give you greater facilities for hearing and and the taxpayers want to have our money's learning about them yourselves. If by such worth. We want to see some palpable and bene- means we could tarn out 100 dr 200 ficial results from this large expenditure of boys a year from this College who would money. Let us admit that the Chinese parents spread the good tidings amongst other boys, are indifferent, and that they pay two-thirds of we might then expect the opening of China the $18,000 a year. What becomes of the other within a reasonable time. (Loud applause). one-third Say there are 500 boys educated here The fore, with every regard for Dr. Wright a very low estimate; what becomes of the 150 and every respect for his great ability and or 160 boys paid for by the English or European learning, I say it is only my own opinion and taxpayer After an existence of twelve or I give it you quantum valeat—I say that as fifteen years there should be at least 1,00or 1,200 far as I can judge Queen's College has not boys or men speaking English pretty fluently, fulfilled the high expectations which were knowing something about. Western science. cherished of it. The question therefore to be something about Great Britain, something out- settled now by the Government and the com- side of China. Where are they? In justice to munity and the examiners is whether tho Queen's College I will say this, that nearly all curriculum of this College can be so altered and the English-speaking residents in Hongkong and reformed as to bring about the desirable re- certainly those who speak English most fluently, sults for which it was established. I believe were educated in this College-(applause);-but it can be. I believe the curriculam is too their numbers are very few. Does the College ambitious, and I therefore most earnestly therefore exercise through its pupils any appre-recommend the subject to the anxious con- ciable influence on China? I do not believe sideration of the Governing Body and to Dr. that it does. It furnishes, certainly, some Wright. I would ask, looking at the exami clerks to the hongs in the colony, it provides ners' report, what is the use of boys learning some for the Customs in China, it provides Latin and Euclid? It takes their time from the others for the hongs in coast ports. But study of a far more profitable and useful language where are the boys or the men who are passing English; and surely it must only vex and con- or who have passed through this College, who fuse them rather than assist them in their studies. are imbued, in the least degree, with Anglo-I hope the Governing Body and Dr. Wright Saxon ideas, who realise the magnitude of the will believe me when I say my only desire is to British Empire, the enormous power and strength leave Queen's College in a better and more in- and wealth of England, which led Lord Salis fluential position and to make it a better and bury to say the other day, We do not care more influential institution than I found it. I how isolated England is so long as we are united." have no desire in any way to cripple it or in (Loud applause). Now, do yon boys suppose any way to diminish its influence. My whole that was an empty boast Do you suppose it desire, is to extend that influence. I will not is not the absolute truth? Several of you boys say how far the Government is responsible for have received very handsome books for your pro- the existing state of things. but I do say this- ficiency in history, English subjects, literature, it is the duty of the Government, as the ruling science, composition, &c., do you know, for power. to endeavour to make the Chinese instance, that during the Queen's reign her see the value of an English education, and Colonial subjects of European descent have I would further state that I will most un. increased from two millions to upwards of nine hesitatingly give my support to Dr. Wright millions? Do you know that during the samo and the Governing Body in that direction. period her Asiatic subjects have increased from Ladies and gentlemen, in your reading of Indian ninety-six millions to upwards of two hundred history you may remember that when English and fifty-five millions; and that other races in was first introduced into India the children her colonies have increased from two millions to were induced to go to school by the present of a more than seven millions?
Are any
of you boys little piece of money daily. I have no doubt aware that the area governed by Her Majesty în the Chinese would like a similar present. The India is 1,383,000 square miles, and in the co- fees now in India are readily and cheerfully lonies it is upwards of 7,000,000 square miles. paid. I have no doubt Dr. Wright; know's Do you know that Her Majesty's possessious all this. Many of the schools and colleges embrace one-fifth of the habitable globe, and are there are affiliated with the great University of three times greater than the Roman Empire Calcutta, and boys who go in for the B.A. at the height of its success and great examination pay 10, 15, or 20 rupees a mouth. ness ? (Applause). And
As I said, when English was first introduced in India boys were paid to go to school; now they go willingly. At one time, as I told you, English education was sneered at in India; it was excommunicated by the Hindoo priests, who looked upon it as an unclean thing. Cannot that which was done in India be done here? Certainly it can, with the assistance of you boys and the Chinese community. The Chinese, as a ráce, are far cleverer, far more astute, far more industrious than the Indian. Are you satisfied, boys, with being left in the lurch? I would say, Certainly not, when so many advantages are to be gained by the spread of English knowledge. At any rate, boys, I must say this, that Queen's College cannot any longer be treated as a school for the experimental learning of English. It must be transformed into a practical, useful institution, second to none in the colony, where a good, thorough, sound education in English will be given. I cannot expect you boys to understand
L
to
come much nearer home, boys--and it seems like descend- ing from the sublime to the ridiculous-do you realise what Hongkong was sixty years ago, and what it is to-day, owing to British influence ? Boys, if you knew this and a good deal more, you would be happier, better, and certainly wiser boys than you are now, and I am sure you would make ultimately better sub- jects of Her Most Gracious Majesty than you would be without that knowledge. I feel strongly on this point, and I have perhaps spoken strongly. Hongkong belongs and ever will belong to England. You boys will live to see England far stronger in the East than she is now. She is getting stronger day by day. You live under the protection of England in this colony, and in return for that protection you should not merely experiment with the English language, but should become worthy citizens and English speaking subjects of the greatest Empire in the world, and by
|
all I have said this morning, but I venture to hope some of these remarks will be printed in the Chinese language and will be cir-
neighbouring province, and perhaps oren in Peking. I speak to you as the Queen's re- presentative, as the Governor of this colony, as a true friend of China. What other object could I have in speaking to you as I have done? And now, gentlemen of the Governing Body and Dr. Wright, I will endeavour myself to create a personal interest in this matter. I will give 850 to any Chinese boy who will send me in be- fore the 30th June a good essay on the subject of "Great Britain and her progress during the last fifty years." (Applauso.) And I will give 825 to the boy who writes the second best essay on the same subject. (Applause). In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, and gentleman of the Governing Body. I can only thank you for listening to me so atten- tively. I must congratulate you boys who have gained prizes, and would urge upon you the advantage of studying more thoroughly than you have done and are doing those sub- jects which are most useful in making up what is called an English education. I must thank Dr. Wright for asking me to come here; I hope to come here again next year and that what I have so imperfectly said will be fruitful of very good results. (Loud applause). Now.. boys, give three cheers for Dr. Wright and the Governing Body. (Applause).
Cheers for the Queen, the Governor, the donors of the prizes, the visitors, and the houd. master concluded the proceedings.
HEAD MASTER'S REPORT.
The following is the Head Master's report.
Queen's College,
28th January, 1896. Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart,
Colonial Secretary. Sir, I have the honour to forward the annual report on Queen's College for the year 1895.
1-The total number on the roll for the year wae 1,024. As the attendance in January was 577, the admissions reached the high figure of 447; of these, 350 were new boys; there there. fore remain 97 names of boys who returned from the 1894 roll. In the last four months no fewer than 89 now boys were admitted, nearly double the usual unmber, for the same period After allowance has been made for the four days during which, with His Excellenty the Governor's approval, the College was closed for the Oxford Local Examinations, the number of school days, 233, is normal.
2. In the past year over 100 boys on baring this College obtained situations; 3 in the lorál Civil Service, 43 in local mercantile and pro- fessional offices, 38 in the Chinese service, and 33 at the coast ports and abroad generally
3-$12,667 fees were collected in the jcourse of the year. This is not only the largest amount thus paid into the Treasury as yet, but is so in spite of the facts that the monthly averiges in the first half of the year were nearly attend- ances less than in 1894, and that a loss of S162 was incurred by the departure in October of 35 boys for Tientsin. Expenditure is apparently larger than last year, but this is due to the appearance in 1895 accounts of arrears of ex- change compensation chargeable against 1894.
4. Three years ago. (Gazette, 1893, p. 165, par. 3) I pointed out that the normal conditions of the Central School were not ideal, and that the continuance of those in a building with twice the attendances: increases the difficulty fourfold; for it is evident that the consequences attendant upon the annual change of one-third of the total number of boys grow more serious in a ratio which rapidly increases out of pro- portion to the mere access of numbers. If ordinary principles of promotion are under these circumstances adhered to, the natural result would be an annual reduction of the at- tendanços in the Upper School, and a cor- responding expansion of the lower sections of the College, including the Preparatory School. The fees in the Upper School being highest, there would be entailed a serious re- duction in the revenue. Further, the number of boys leaving annually would be doubtless augmented, as the present method of rapid promotion is welcome to them, at their age, as curtailing the length of their school career.
?