362
FLAGRANT CASE OF INCENDI-
ARISM IN HONGKONG.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
VICTORIA ENGLISH SCHOOLS.
At twenty minutes past one on the morn- ing of the 22nd April the Fire Brigade were called to an outbreak at a rice shop at 48, Praya West, which is owned by three masters. There can be no doubt that the fire was the work of a gang of desperate incendiarists and fortunately the evidence pointing to this conclusion is abundant, so that it is to be hoped that the criminals will be speedily brought to justice. The building contains three storeys, and two of them were completely gutted, the remaining one, the top floor, sustaining very little damage. The firemen, who were under Mr. Lethbridge and Deputy Superintendent Corcoran, had considerable difficulty in coping with the flames, as the whole place had been practically studded with pots of kerosine and saturated wood and paper, the consequence being that it was not until four o'clock that the fire was
got under control. An examination of the premises by the police revealed a startling state of things, the act of incendiarism being the most glaring that one could imagine. The top storey consists of two rooms. In the back room, which was fastened, there was a small tub full of keraoine on the floor under a bed, and near it was a good-sized box containing a large num- ber of joss sticks and paper, all saturated with kerosine. From the appearance of this room the kerosine and paper had evidently been on fire, as the wood was charred, and it is thought that the flames from the first floor caused the ignition and that the fire was shortly afterward choked out by smoke and steam. Similar daring arrangements for the destruc. tion of the place had been made in the front room, where saturated firewood, joss sticks, and paper were found, in addition to a pail of kerosine; but these had not been touched by the fire. On the first floor, immediately underneath the second floor back room, the police came across a small pail con- taining kerosine, over which a large quantity of firewood was placed, and close by there was another tin of kerosine, which had been ablaze. Nothing suspicious was found on the ground floor, but it is very likely that this was furnished with kerosine tins and paper like the other two. The premises were insured, and two companies are interested, one of them being a company for which Messrs. Sander and Co. are
the agents, the amount being $3,500, and the other the Northern Assurance Com- pany (Messrs. Bradley and Co., agents), the insurance in this Company being for $2,000.
On the 23rd April Commander Hastings opened an inquiry respecting the fire and con- tinued it on the 25th Mr. H. L. Dennys appeared for the insurance agents, Messrs. Sander and Co. and Messrs. Bradley and Co., and Mr. Hastings represented the occupants of the house. Since the inquiry was opened five men had been arrested on a charge of arson and it was agreed to take the police evidence and then adjourn the inquiry sine die pending the trial of the men, Commander Hastings stating he had visited the premises and had no doubt that the fire was the result of arson. Inspector Witchell described the appearance of the premises, stating that he found joss paper, bags, bed boards, and mats, all saturated with oil, and B tab containing two pints of kerosine oil. There was also a tin of kerosine oil almost in the centre of the shop and a number of bamboo baskets near smelt of kerosine. Books had also been saturated with kerosine. P.C. 541 and Sergeant MacAulay gave evidence and the inquiry was adjourned sine die. The charge of arson against
the five men will be taken on the 30th.
On the night of the 11th April a gang of some thirty to forty ban lits made a raid on a large bank in Wuhu owned by H.E. Li Han-chang- so rumour puts it-and having overpowered the inmates of the bank made off with nearly Tls. 5,000 in silver and gold bars. Not a robber has, so far, been captured and the affair has caused a great stir amongst the official classes of Wuhu, many of whom will lose their buttons through this mishap.-N. C. Daily News,
ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.
On Saturday morning His Excellency the Governor distributed the prizes at the City Hall to the pupils attending the Victoris English Schools. There was a very large at- tendance of parents and friends, and before the presentations were made the scholars gave a short musical entertainment.
The HEADMASTER (Mr. W. D. BRAIDWOOD) read the following report-Your Excellency, ladies, and gentlemen-To-day I have the honour of laying before you the report of Victoria English Schools for the year ending 31st December, 1895. In the early part of the year the prospects of a good report were anything but encouraging, owing to the amount of sick- ness in the colony, but as time went on circum- stances improved and the facilities for doing good work increased.
The number of pupils enrolled during the year was 219, viz.-152 boys and 67 girls. The average attendance for the year was as nearly as possible, 134, which I find by com- parison is slightly above the average for 1893, but there is a marked difference in the nation- ality of the children. The number of English children is gradually increasing, while the Chinese are decreasing in a corresponding ratio. The school is steadily asserting its character as an English School.
At the annual examination in December 99 pupils were presented the others not having made the requisite number of attendances and the pass over all was 93 per cent. The girls as usual led the way with 100 per cent. in all the or- dinary subjects. In the Boys' school the papers in arithmetic were exceptionally difficult, and as a consequence a greater number than usual came to grief. A special word of praise is due to the boys of Standard VII. The pupils of this class were examined in eleven subjects- seven ordinary and four special. In ten of the subjects there were no failures and in the re- maining subject-Euclid-only two. Dr. Eitel says of this class that the algebra papers were very good. The papers on the special subjects science, Euclid, algebra, and physical geogra- phy-were very much ahead of anything that has been done in former years, the pass being over 92 per cent.
In the Oxford Local Examination our results were better than in any previous year. There were in all twelve passes-one senior, five junior, and six preliminary. Of these three were girls -one junior and two preliminary,
The last examination in connection with the Belilios Trust was held in December, 1894, and although no official report has been issued I understand that in the English division for girls the first three prizes have fallen to three of our girls, viz. :—(1) Laura Botelho, (2) Bella Henderson, (3) Laura Souza. Thus for the fifth year in succession the first prize in this competition has fallen to this school. It is to be regretted that owing to delay in publishing the returns this once popular examination has been robbed of much of its interest. Last year I proposed to start a circulating library for the use of the scholars. The teachers and pupils remember with gratitude that your Excellency was the first donor. The library has been a conspicuous success, and, managed by them- selves, has been a source of instruction and delight to many of the children. There are now about 200 volumes in the library, and we shall be pleased to receive others from any of our friends. The results of the examination testify to the good work done by the staff during the year. There are now five English teachers in all Pupils learning the pianoforte are now taught by a resident governess, Miss Lawrence, who holds the senior certificate for pianoforte play ing, Trinity College, London, and has taken honours in harmony. It is proposed to open a class for oil painting as soon as the necessary materials arrive from England.
Our warmest thanks are due to the following gentlemen who have generously contributed to the prize fund :—
Hon. E. R. Belilios, C.M.G., T. Jackson, Esq., N. A. Siebe, Esq., A. G. Romano, Esq., J. de Navaro, Esq., D. Musso, Esq., J. Mo. Callum, Esq., D. Warres Smith, Esq., A. Ross, Esq, D. Wood, Esq., J. M. Bass, Esq., W.
|
[April 29, 1896.
G. Humphreys, Esq., D. Haskell, Esq., and M. 8. Sassoon, Esq.
After distributing the prizes,
His EXCELLENCY said--Ladies and gentle- presenting the prizes to the successful candi- men, having performed the pleasant duty, of dates, it is now my duty to say a few words to the scholars on the subject of their studies and of the Victoria Schools. In the first place, however, let me say that I am very glad to séc. so large an attendance here this morning. It is a substantial testimony to the popularity of the school-(applause) and shows what very great interest dot only the general public but the relatives of the scholars take in their success. Strictly speaking, this Victoria Eng- lish School, or these Victoria English Schools, are what are called private venture schools, but as they are not conducted for private emoln- ment, they are officially recognised and come. under the grant-in-aid system. You have all heard Mr. Braidwood's report read he was kind enough to send me a copy of it--and it is a very satisfactory report(applause)-in fact it is so satisfactory and so full that it leaves me very little more to say than to congratulate the scholars and masters and mistresses for the great success which has attended the operations of this school within the last year. (Applause.) - I think that I am justified in stating that if there has been no undue "cramming" and if the weak girls have not been kept back from examination, the success which they have attained has been most remarkable, and I may say of Mrs. Braidwood that if what I have stated is correct she is certainly one of the most effective, if not the most effective teacher in the colony, and that her schools are apparently the best taught schools in Hongkong. (Applause). The boys also are entitled to a great deal of credit and so are their masters. In Mr. Braidwood's report you will see it stated that in mathematics, English composition, and algebra the boys' papers were excellent, very excellent indeed, and this is confirmed in a report which. I have had from Dr. Eitel upon the same subject. The total grant earned was over $1,600, and as remarked by Mr. Braidwood the scholars number 219. Mr. Braidwood states "that" as usual the girls led the way with 100 per cent. in all the ordinary subjects." I hope that this will not act as any discouragement to the beys, but will induce them to work all the harder. If they do they will overtake the girls in time I have no doubt; in fact I would recommend some of them to recollect what they sang just now-
We march through thick and thin, And when we fight we always win
44
Although we are made of tin. (Laughter.) am a great advocate for the higher education of women. There is nothing more pleasing in woman than variety and versatility of know- ledge and intellect. I say with Shakespeare when speaking of one of his heroines, I Say
of a well-read, versatile woman age cannot wither her nor custom stale her infinite variety." All young women ought to know that the most proper sphere for women to shine in is the domestic sphere. I regard the new woman as an abomination. The great object of girls' mabition should be to cultivate themselves or to becultivated so as to fulfil properly the duties of daughter, sister, wife, and mother, and these are not inconsistent with the acquisition of all kinds of useful learning. Now, I have no doubt that some of you boys and girls are naturally pleased and gratified at having carried away such handsome prizes, but I would caution you ill not to be proud or conceited about it. Recollect that "Wisdom is humble that he knows – no more." I have in my office exactly opposite to my desk where I am sitting half the day twenty. four volumes of the "Encyclopaedia Britan- nica" about a footsquare each, and when I look at them I always think that I should be a compara tively learned man if I could master the contents of one of these twenty-four volumes. There- fore, I would recommend to you humility. Boys and girls, I would advise you remember that there are two educations, the education which is given you all by others -ánd the education which you have in after life,” and a very much more important education, which you give yourselves. You will also recollect, boys and girls, that when you leave school
11
to
+
Page 10Page 11