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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
emigrants muster on the ship. We do Mr. E. A. IRVING, Inspector of Schools, not think there can be the remotest pos-in forwarding the report to the Government sibility of this kind of fraud being on behalf of the Governing Body, said it. np- perpetrated in the shipment of indentured peared to them that the teaching of the labour to South Africa, so admirable and College should be so organised that a boy complete are the arrangements, and we are far! who has succeeded in reaching the upper from thinking that if Hongkong is the centre classes " ought with reasonable diligence of a kidnapping traffic of this nature now and ability to have acquired a fair know to other places abroad it must necessarily ledge of Chinese, a reasonably good know continue to be so for ever. When such abuses | ledge of English, as it is spoken and written are brought to light it is the duty of the and printed, and ought to be able with Government to see that measures are considerable facility to translate from one adopted which will effectually prevent their language to the other." The Examiners repetition, and though we are uninformed as found that Colloquial English was certainly to what action, if any, has been taken in not then, ng it should be, the most important this matter as a result of the revelations in instrument for teaching. English, and they the Supreme Court, we should be greatly found the system of reading adopted "quite surprised to learn that the shipment of indefensible.” coolies to places abroad without their full consent and comprehension of the nature of their service is still possible in the Co ony.
STREET COOLIE-HIRE IN HONGKONG.
(Daily Press, 20th October.) Our correspondent" Victim" called atten- tion, in our issue of the 10th inst., to a matter that well, deserves the attention of the Government. We allude to the charges made by wharf and street coolies for carry- ing merchandise and burdens. These coolies are, at present, 80 far as their charges go and their behaviour is concerned a law unto themselves. They have latterly taken to make obarges entirely out of all proportion to the work they undertake, and if their terms are not agreed to they make a noise, become troublesome and insolent, and presently go away and render it impos- sible for their would-be employers to obtain coolie labour at any price. There used to be a scale of hire for street coolies, and as it has never been revoked, it is still published in the" Directory," but it is expressly s ated in a footnote that "nothing in the above scale is to affect private agreements," and, as a matter of fact, the rates laid down arə seldom if ever accepted. What is required is that the carrying coolies should be re- gistered just as cargo-boats, jiuricksha nud chair cookies are regis ered, and that they should be furnished with a number and a copy of the tariff, to which they would have to adhere. There is no reason why these carry- ing coolies should not come under the same regulations as other coulies, and it would put an end to an ever-recurring trouble, which is felt not only by new arrivals but by all engaged in business, including even the comprad res, who frequently complain of the difficulty of dealing with the clamo- We fail to see any reason why the carrying coolies should not be registered and licensed, and we hope that this suggestion will meet with prompt at- tention at the hands of the Government, who would recoup the cost of registration by the fee charged for the licence.
rous carriei.
EXAMINATION REPORT ON
HONGKONG
[October 22, 1904.
JOTTINGS.
(17th October).
I noted remarks on gambling, and though agreeing with them in the main I cannot help feeling regret that our laws in their incidence are responsible for so much of what may be termed "State created-crime." In China they neither regulate the hawkers nor. as a rule, prohibit a gamble; whilst in this Colony the Police (who look the other way when an awkward row is in progress) descend like an avalanche upon the small boy hawking ground indulging in a little gamble on the quiet with nuts without a licence, or upon the coolie some chums. I do not question that our way is the right one, but it seems a pity to fill a big gaol with persons guilty of what they have been brought up to regard as no offence. All the while those Europeans who should set them an example, spend half the night in gambling and even ladies, who should be at "Bridge
looking after their little ones, waste the shining hours in playing this game for points.
This year the Examiners-the Mr. E. A. IRVING, Major J. W. ORMISTON, B.A., and Mr. S. B. C. Ross-in form- ing their opinions on the work of the school, paid particular attention to the general recommendations made last year,
I see that the " Woodcutter" as Mr. Shewan and they state that no more general recom- sportively called him, is continuing his career mendations are made this year upon the of vandalism in the woods at Aberdeen, and the teaching of Colloquial English, Rending and spoils of the crusade, in heaps of split fir, lie on Chinese, because those made last year have the bare hillside. I had hoped-as I am sure been adopted in a most complete and the public had generally--that the adverse satisfactory manner." The Examiners criticism would have stayed his ruthless hand. found that the work of the Lower and Pre-But no, the pursuit of dollars would seem to render both the Woodcutter and his friend the paratore. Schools and immensely im-
Colonial Secretary, blind alike to the ravages proved," and is, broadly speaking, very their sordid scheme is causing among the satisfactory. They further express the beauties of the island and insensible to the ill belief that a correspondingly increased effect it will have on the health and the rain- value might be given to the Upper School fall of the Colony. If the Chief Gardener if certain improvements which they specify wants some further scope for his energies than is are adopted. The success which has attended afforded by the care of the Public Gardens, the adoption of the recommendations made let him set to work to plant the miles of bare by the Examiners last year will doubtless slopes which still exist on the hills both on this island, on Lantao, Chung-chow, Lamma, and encourage ready acquiescence on the part of the New Territory. If he will but look around the College authorities in the few recom- he will find that it is not at all necessary to fell mendations made in the present report. in order to plant. He can plant without
destroying.
It is probable that our Sanitary Board is ready acquainted with the suggestion of rat- .88 "a pastime for gilded youth"; put hunting. forward by Sir James Crichton Browne in his presidential address at the Sanitary Inspectors' Association Congress last month, but I have pleasure in bringing the suggestion to the notice of the gilded youth of Hongkong and that far more numerous class who sigh for a little shoot- ing and are unable in a day's tramp to observe anything tempting enough to expend powder and shot on. Sir James was discoursing on the necessity of exterminating rats in plague and other disease-ridden districts, and expressed a desire to see the sporting instincts of the nation enlisted in the process. Rat-batching, Sir James ventured to remark, must be quite as exciting and elevating as pigeon-shooting. "If the sporting he said, "gave a description of papers the battues and reports on the bags, with the odds on the favourite rat catchers, and portraits of the record breakers, these pernicious little rodents would soon become scarce— unless, indeed, enthusiasts should take to breeding and laying them down as we do Great things may be expected pheasants. when sport, fashion, and sani at on join hands in rat catching.”
It is of the highest importance to the Colony that the work of its leading school should he laid upon the soundest pos-, sible lines. To say the lenst, it has in the past has been rather disappointing to observe the imperfections which so many Chinese boys who have passed through Queen's College exhibit alike in speaking and writing the English language. The change in methods of instruction in the school are certain to result in great improve- ment in this respect. The improvement that has been effected in the Preparatory School the Ex-miners state is most striking and a matter for sincere congratulation. With regard to the teaching of English composition (including grammar), the Examiners, mentioning the importauce of teaching a clear and grammatical style of English composition, observe:
"Correct writing follows naturally on correct speak ing; and therefore when the boys who are now beginning their studies reach the higher classes, a great improvement in the standard of composition may reasonably be hoped for. Boys in Class III have presumably been learning English for five years, which is ample time to master a foreign language. No lower iden should satisfy Queen's College than this,
In Hongkong, our Sanitary Board spends I don't know how many dollars a year on that in the Upper School gross grammatical rat-catching, and as economy is supposed to mistakes should be rare or unknown." The be the constant watchword of the spending report, as our summary sufficiently makes departments of the administration, this sugges clear, is of a very encouraging nature, and tion coming as it does from the President of there is abundant promise in the results the Sanitary Inspectors' Association, will no the doubt receive a due share of that most earnest of this year's examination · that changes made in the organisation and in and careful consideration which the Board the methoda of teaching will greatly promises to everything. It would greatly Increase the public interest in the monthly enhance the reputation of the College.
rat-catching returns submitted to the Board if the "bar" of each European sportsman was duly tabulated, and I feel sure the news- papers would gladly give that publicity to the records which always adds sest to sport of all
QUEEN'S COLLEG. (Daily Press, 21st October.) The examiners of Queen's College have this year presented to the Government a report which will be perused with more satis faction than could be derived from their report last year. A new method of con- ducting the examinations was adopted last year; the former attempts to draw up a graduated order of merit were abandoned and the examiners set them-elves to enquire whether the work of the school was laid upon the soundest possible lines. The general recommendations they made con- stituted a distinctly negative answer. ' respectively.
An Osaka paper learns that the Japanese Government Railway Bureau has decided to lease its Maidzuru and Kurs lines to the Hankaku and the Sanyo Railway Companies,
kinds.