66
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
fever were prevalent, it must be admitted that | July. Twenty certificates were obtained by
steady attendance under these conditions is highly commendable.
3. The fear were short of $30,000 by only $121. The cost of th- College is enhanced by the fact that the fees of free scholars are not credited to this Department, though $216 is the annual cost of educatiog student interpreters for the Registrar-General's Department, and $180 for the charitable education of children of public servants, which does not include the four free scholarships granted annually to encourage education in the Government District Schools of Saiyingpun, Wanchai, &c., &c. It appears to me that this last is the only item fairly chargeable to education; the cost of the other two items should, if possible, be defrayed else where as a matter of account.
4. It is just five years since the services of Mr. J. W. Jones were first loaned to the Supreme Court for twelve months. It was, therefore, quite as much a matter of congratulation to the College as to Mr. Jones, when in October last the news of his permanent transfer to be Deputy Registrar as from 7th June, 1901 reached the Colony. No surprise' can be excited at the decision of the Secretary of State that in the future educational officers are not to hold acting appointments in other departments. I venture, however, to express a hope that this does not mean an absolute negation of the possi. bility of permanent transfer elsewhere. The experience of the Government in the cases of Messrs. Arthur, Jones, and Woodcock would appear to justify the conclusion that assistant masters are capable of performing excellent service elsewhere; and I maintain that the effect of such transfer on Queen's College is & salutary one; there being the stimulus to exertion with a view to the recognition of the Government and the infusion of new blood into the English staff from time to time.
5. Once again we have at last ten English masters. Mr. Tanner has been promoted to the senior grade. To fill the three vacancies amongst the Junior Assistant Masters, Mr. Bird was appointed in October, Mr. Crook arrived a few days ago, and Mr. Hollis is shortly expected. In addition to being University men of marked careers (Oxford and Dublia respec tively), Messrs. Bird and Crook have had the advantage of practical experience as school- masters, and will doubtless prove valuable acquisitions. Mr. Dealy, last May, went on leave for the second time in nineteen years'
service.
6. The report of the Education Committee recommends the appointment of an eleventh English master, which appears necessary, there being now 200 more boys daily receiving instruc tion than when ten English masters' were deemed necessary.
in
Queen's College boys; 3 senior, 8 junior, and 11 preliminary. The mark "G," next in order in distinction, was obtained no less than 16 times, chiefly in arithmetic and history. I am glad to note that Chinese boys are again coming to the fore, both in position and number of passes.
19. The good results at the half-yearly exami- nation (a practice instituted by myself in 1882) led me to anticipate satisfactory improvement at the close of the year, and I fel justified in saying that I have not been disappointed.
11. Messrs. Ross and Kitto, appointed inde pendent examiners of the Upper School, make a separate report. I would beg leave, on behalf of masters and boys, to express our sense of the kindness and consideration shown by the
examiners.
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(Fandary 98, 1903.
behalf of the interests of the Senior non-Chinese Class. In spite of the handsome allowancs for prises from the Government, we should be poorly off to provide recognit on for our sixty scholars deserving of distinction, were it not-for the generous beneficence of the public. The following is a list of the present contributors :- The Consul General for Portugal, Messrs. Arculli and Dorabjee Nowrójes, Messrs. Cban Heisin, Chan Pakcheung, Fung Wa Chun, Ho Fook, Ho Kom-tong, Ho Tang, Ip Shiu Kam, Ko Yik Kuo, Lau Chak Min, Loung Yau-po, Lo Cheung Shiu, Lo Tat, Luk King-fo, Mok Man cheang, Ng Kwok-ching. Sin Tak- fan, Tsoi Laptoy, U Hang Kam, Wong Kam- fuk. Yung Hing-pong, Yung Shin-po, the Directors of the Tang Wa Hospital, and others.
16. The school magazine Yellow Dragon, the Reading, Cricket and Football Clubs, continue to flourish. A novelty in 1902 was a boys' pair- osred race introduced into the Regatta by the kindness of the Victoria and Hongkong Row- ing Cluts. Our crew, consisting of the bro:bers Bunje, coxswain Sayer, were coached by Mr. Bird, and won a well-contested rio.
12. The examination of the Lower and Preparatory Schools was conducted by myself under Standing Orders from the Gverning B.dy. The whole tone of the examination is bigher than that of the previous year, the im- provement being chiefly attributable to greater regularity in attendance as reported above. With the exception of the grammar paper in the three sections of Class IV, there was absolutely none of the provoking practice of inserting silly or irrelevant information. No further comment upon the summary below is needed than the statement that the Lower School has distinguished itself by marked general improve-year ment; and the Preparatory School, taught by acting pupil teachers under the charge of a senior pupil teacher, has maintained its usual high level.
Lower School .. Preparatory School...
422
257 679
་་
..
l'assed Boys examined
383 or 92 %
245 95
11 To:al
633 93 13. Observations on individual subjec!s : Reading-Though few failures occurred, it was raie to be able to assign marks higher than S0 per cent. I make a point of treating most severely the mispronunciation of common words Conversation. As usul, the percentage of passes is low. I applied a slightly higher standard of intelligence.
17. For the gymnasium, first mooted throg years ago by Hon. J. Stewart Lookhart and mentioned in my last annual report, we have to wait indefinitely. The applianc a ló bé used 'temporarily in the basement of the College at a cost of about $4 0, we may expect to get in the
1904.
18. The usual tables of statistics are attached. I have the honour to be, Sir, your must obedient servant,
GRO, H. BAT 80N WRIGHT,
D.D. (Oxos.),
Head Master.
After reading the report the HEADMASTER offer 8 word went on to say he mast of apology for inviting the company to a building in the untimely condition in which the College was (the structure being under repair). His first impulse had been to make the function perfectly private and to hand over the prizes himself; but as that would have been to rob the pria winners and their parents of much of the enjoyment resulting from publicity Dictation.-Very gool, especially the writing, and to deprive them all of the benefit of the Arithematic. A very marked improvement annual address, be ventured to ignore the some- on the results of recent years. A large number what chaotic conditions produced by repairs to of boys successfully solved the usual sort of the roof. His Excellency the Governor would not have been deterred by the state of the problems. The work was neat and less crowded into out-of-the-way corners.
hall from coming, but other important en- tion of one class. The masters of the three Though that was naturally a disappointment Grammar. Very satisfactory, with the excep-gagements prevented his being present. sections of Class IV admitted the questions to they desired to express a very hearty welcome to Mr. May. (Applause.) Not only did Mr. be fair, if not actually easy; yet the fact remains that the great bulk of the boys failed May's high position as Colon al Secretary and to get 50 per e nt. marks. Knowing from
Chairman of the Governing Body render him personal observation that these masters taught specially fitted to preside on that occasion, but this subject very carefully, I can only conclude his long and successful career in the Colony that they bad ben paying more particular almost entitled him to look upon it as a claim. attention to other details.
Before his recent popular promotion, he had as Assistant and Acting Colonial Secretary ben intimately acquainted with the history both of that College and of education in the Colony generally. Few men too had a better knowledge of the character of the Chiness raos and of the Map-drawing from Memory. Excellent difficulties and beauty of the Chinese language The maps of Hongkong, Africa, and the land literature. (Applause) With these few Provinces of China, that obtained over 80
Geography-Good. I expected that more boys would have been acquainted in Class IV with the draining operations of the Emperor and in Class V with the diurnal and annual
iu,
motions of the earth.
percent marks, were wonderful specimens of handiwork and feats of memory.
Composition.-Very good indeed. The em- ployment of uitable phrases, not dictated by me, was very successful and praiseworthy.
Chinese to English.-Satisfactory. More boys made laudable attempts to translate the unseen piece that formed the fifth question in each paper. English to Chinese.-This subject was, as usual, marked by the second master (Mr. A. J. May), who found himself able to award a very large proportion of bigh marks.
words he would ask Mr. May to distribute the pris and afterwards favour them with an address. (Applause.)
7. Mr. James Cheong, graduate of Melbourne University, who for more than three years did excellent and successful work as acting English assistant master, resigned at the end of August last, on proceeding to Oxford. In April, Mr. Wong Ming, 3rd Chinese assistant, was loaned to the Magistracy for twelve months. October, Mr. Un Kam Wa, 4th Chinese Assistant, an useful and energetic master, resigned to act as interpreter and transla- tor to a local legal firm. The restitution of the fall complement on the English staff will terminate the excessive strain thrown, during the las few years, on the Chinese staff by temporary promotions and appointments: I ca not, however, withhold from these young mn, especially the acting pupil teachers, the. well-deserved meed of praise for their cheerful energy in the discharge of their difficult duties. 8. I he desire of the Government to promote and encourage greater attention to the study of Chinese amongst natives and English alike has not been without its effect on this College.extraordinary statement in the Colonial Officekong, he for one, and he was sure Fere:al Chinese assistants formed themselves into a class, and at their own cost engaged a native teacher, chiefly for improvement in style. Mr. Bird has begun the study of Chinese. Though I do not think that the knowledge of Chinese, written and spoken, should, as former ly, be obligatory on all masters, there can be no doubt that even a small acquaintance with the language of the boys is desirable, to maintain the proper officioucy and discipline of the College. 9. Mesirs Ralphs, Grant, and Tanner deserve warm-congratulations upon the excellent results at the Oxford Local Examinations held last
14. I do not know who is responsible for the List that several valuable Government scholar- ships are attached to Queen's College. The following is a complete list of the scholarships, all locally promoted and maintained without any assistance from the Government:-Morrison Senior and Junior Scholarships, each tenable for three years; Stewart Scholarship for one year; Belilios 3 nior and Junior Scholarship3, each tenable for two years.
15. The nou-Chinese boys, past and present, assisted by the friends of the late Mr. W. Machell, have raised a small .um to eidow a special prize in memory of his devoted seal in
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of the
After the ceremony of pres-ating the prizes, Hon. F. H. MAY, who was received with applause, said that referring first to the last part of Dr. Wright's remarks, be might say at once that it bad afforded him a great deal of pleasure to have hal the privilege of coming there to present the prizes. He might add that he did not think there was any necessity on Dr. Wright's part to make any excuses on account of the condi ́ion of the hall. From reccnt ex- perience in connection with buildings in Hong-
miny others present, felt much happier under a roof which they could see was well supported that under one which might be under the least taint of suspicion. (Applause and laughter.) The report which De. Wright hud ba n good enough to read, taken in onjunction with the report of the independent examiners which he had had the privilege of seeing, was, he thought, extremely good. (Applause) Perhaps the most satisfactory feature in Dr. Wright's report was the statement that the sitendances had begus much better than in the previous year; that was to say, the boys had been more regular in their
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