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in the Vernacular Schools especially, consider it desirable to change their schools with great frequency; and consequently a considerable pro- portion of them appear on the rolls of two or more schools in the same year. The greater regularity in the curves of the Government and Grant schools during the past few years must be ascribed in some degree to the greater strict- ness of the method of checking the attendances. The slight decrease in the number of scholars in Government and Grant Vernacular schools is mainly due to the closing of Government Vornac- ular schools at Saiyingpun and Wantsai. As however, the Chinese written language is now taught in all the Anglo-Chinese Govern-
ment and Grant schools, the number of
scholars receiving instruction in it has really increased. The curves shewing the numbers of scholars in English and Vernacular schools not in receipt of aid from Government, are based on enquiries made by the attendance officer, and cannot be considered as at all accu- rate. The Vernacular private schools are in. creasing in numbers, and some of them are now much more efficient than were the Government
and Grant Vernacular schools of a few years
ago, so rapidly is reform in education spreading. The private English Schools are in some cases also very efficient. They includo school under the Church Missionary Society for the wealthier Chinese students, as well as one for European children, with an enrolment of over 40, recently opened on the Peak.
Reckoning the average attendance to bs 80 per cent. of the total enrolment, it may be
estimated that about6,200 scholars have attended Government and Grant schools during the year.
Thus the total number of scholars in receipt of education in the Colony may be reckoned as between 9,500 and 10,000. of whom about two- thirds are in schools supported in one way or another by the Government.
If the figures for 1895 are accurate, it appears that 10 years ago there were 5,000 scholars in average attendance at Government and Grant schools, and that the numbers now are about the same with this difference, how ever, then 2/5ths but now 3/5ths of the scholars are learning English The value of the education given has very greatly increased, both in English and Vernacular schools.
on
Victoria British School. In the spring of the year, it was made known that if the European community cousidered the time were ripe to open a British School on the Hongkong side, corresponding to the Kowloon School. it would be well to petition the Government, and shew the existence of a general feeling in that direction. The formation of such a school had been recommended by the Committee Education. No steps were taken at that time by the parents concerned; and I. therefore, asked for no increase in the Estimates under this heading. I was, therefore. pleasantly surprised, when towards the end of August a petition was sent in, pointing out the urgent need of such a school. His Excellency the Governor approved the scheme. Sanction from home was obtained. The existing school on Caroline Hill was evicted. Furniture was ordered, and a staff engaged. On completion of the structural improvements, the school will be opened on March 20th, within seven months of the receipt of the petition.
THE CANTON-KOWLOON RAILWAY.
The explanation of the dissatisfaction amongst the Chinese in Canton at the intention of a British Company to construct a railway between Kowloon and Canton, is that they think, since the line will auter Chinese territory, it should be built by a joint association of British and Chinese capitalists. In view of this a memorial was presented to the Waiwupu claiming these rights for Chinese, with the reault that that Ministry has been having a correspondence with the British Minister on the suject. The N.-U. Daily News now understands that Sir Ernest Satow has informed the Waiwupu that he is willing that the proposed joint company shall construct as a continuation of the line from Kowloon a distance of at most twenty-fire statute miles from Canton oíty, the remainder' of the line to Kowloon to be constructed and owned solely by the British Company.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CORRESPONDENCE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,
SHANGHAI V. HONGKONG.
Hongkong, 3rd July. 1905.
SIR,--Britons whose lot is cast in the treaty ports often wish that their Government had taken over the ports instead of accepting only extraterritorial rights. This is especially the case with those resident in Shanghai. They, thinking that Hongkong being a free port, free from the five per cent. duty and all the inciden. tal troubles that passing carzo through the customs entails, well known to those who have done so. imagine that the cost of living must be cheaper here. Great is their surprise to find that such is not the case. In fact, articles may be purchased cheaper in Shanghai, where the five per cent. has to be paid, than in duty free Hongkong. A case of a well known brand of whisky is $13 in Shanghai and $14 in Hongkong. Gas is 81.75 for ligh'ing in Shanghai and $1.50 for heating or power; in Hongkong it is 82.75. At both places the service is in the hands of a
public company. Electricity under Municipal management is supplied at 14 tael cents. or roughly 18 to 19 dollar coats.. a unit for lighting; for power it is 7 Tls, cents. $10 cents. In Hongkong under a public company the prices are 30 and 25 cents. respectively.
Rents are equally as high* in Shanghai as in Hoogkong, but there the government is run on purely business lines, under the supervision of
the best business men that the Settlement con- tains. No one who has been in the East and has rubbed shoulders with the consular service, not only the British but of all other nations as
2
well, but has come to the conclusion that the British Government officials are without doubt the most honest in China and would not dream nor insinuate that they used their positions for their own aggrandisement. At the same time. I think, all will acknowledge that they, as a rule, are not gifted with an extra abundance of business acumen. The price of living has been forced up in Hongkong largely by the interference of junior government officials who have fads and do not consider the effects of enforcing these fads. With municipal council the surplus energy of these youngsters is kept within proper bounds. The Shanghai Municipal Council undertake practi- cally the same duties as the Hongkong Government, except the judiciary and postal. police, sanitary, road cleaning and extension, beside the erection of Municipal buildings being in their hands. The current expenses are defrayed from a leu per cent. tax on the ra of the house. The extraordinary expeuses arc met by loans at A rate of six per cent. Future generations will benefit by the improve mouts made, so that it is only fair that they should pay their share. It appears to me that the pressut residents of Hongkong are paying for those who will come after them. This is not only unjust but shows a lack of knowledge of Chinese character.. The prices are DOW forced up, and the Chinese guilds will take caro that they are never allowed to come down again. Apologising for encroaching on your valuable space. I am etc..
*This is not so.-
M. H. W. Shanghai-lander.;
ED.
dwww
THE PLAGUE.
to former dimensions.
If the rains do not come soon, the com- paratively low plague returns promise to swell For the week ending July 1st, there were 25 cases and 22 deaths. During the ensuing forty-eight hours (or up to noon on the 3rd) there were nine more cases, five of which are marked dead."'l hat brings the total to 212, with 194 recorded fatalities. Of the more recent cases, one was found in a fishing junk in the barbour, one in a matshed, and another lying in the street (apparently in a ricsha at Kowloon). As the number of the ricsha was taken, the vehicle has, no doubt, been subsequently cleaned and disinfected.
The return of communicable diseases other
than plague has little significance. There were (during the week) two deaths from enteric fever (one European); and a fatal (Chinese) case of small-pox.
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EUROPEAN OPIUM FINED.
(July 10, 1905,
SMUGGLER
Europeans landing from the river steamers may have to submit to the inconvenience of being searched by excise officers for illicit opium, now that a European has been caught and con- victed. It has been a common opinion with a certain class that the illicit opium traffic would pay Europeans, who were not so closely watched. They have not escaped observation, however. George Gray, who describes himself as an American merchant, has for some time been suspected of bringing opium into the Colony without the permission of the opium farmer, and as the result of a long surveillance Mr. G. Hogarth, Chief Excise Officer, on the 1st July accosted Gray and a Chinaman named Leung Yeo, compradore to the Tai Wo firm of No. 8 Queen's Road, at the foot of St. Francis Street, and told them that he wished them to accompany him to the Police Station, as they were pos essed of illicit opium. The Euro- pean indignantly denied the accusation, and stated that no person would arrest him with-
out a warrant, neither would he submit to being searched. Mr. Hogarth advised him to go quietly to the station, but as he refused, a con- stable was called, and accompanied by the Chinaman, he was taken to No. 2. It is
stated that on the way the native made several attempts to throw away the opium in his posses- sion. On arrival, a search was made, and Leung was found to have one tael 9 mace on his parson while Gray was possessed of two taely and seven mace.
The European, on being informed that he would be detained, and a warrant applied for to search his house at Sauwafong, at first stated that be had no opium on his premises, but on the Excise Officer's informing him that he knew for & fact there WBS a large quantity there he admitted that he had about 20 taels, and handed over his key to the police. who, accompanied by Mr. Hogarth, made search of the premises and found this amount. together with the paraphernalia for preparing.
The men were charged before Mr. G. N. Orme at the Police Court yesterday with being in possession of illicit opium
Gray informed His Worship that he was at opium smoker, and as he had an opportunity o buying it cheaply at Canton, he availed himse!! of it and brought the opium here preparatory to taking it to Foochow, at which port he was going to reside, and where it was difficult to buy the luxury.
Mr. Hogarth pointed out to His Worship the gravity of the charge, and stated that the European was in league with the native in this illicit traffic, through which the opium Farmer was losing heavily. He asked the Magistrate to inflict a heavy penalty.
His Worship considered the charge a very serious one and fined Gray $500, or the alter- native of three months' imprisonment. Leung, Yee was ordered to pay a fine of $75, the
alternative boing six weeks' hard labour.
ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF A PORT REGULATION.
SUMMONS AGAINST PILOT LAWLOR DISMISSED. Mr. F. A. Hazeland on the 6th July delivered judgment at the Police Court in the case wherein Pilot Lawlor was charged with the infringement of a harbour regulation while berthing the s.s. Slavonia alongside one of the wharves at Kowloon. His Worship said:
The Defendent as summoned before me for that he on the 19th day of March, 1905, in the waters of the Colony, being a licensed Pilot ander Ordinance No. 3 of 1904, and in charge of
the 8.3. Slavonia, unlawfully did infringe a Regulation made by the Harbour Master under section 4 of that Ordinance, and published in the Government Gazette of the 10th June, 1904. via: Regulation No. 5, in that he failed to use his utmost care and diligence when bringing the said ship up to the No. 1 wharf of the Go- down Company to avoid accident or damage to the said ship, whereby the said ship struck the No 2 wharf and became damaged thereby.
The first question for my decision is as to when the duties of a pilot under this Ordinance
are at an end.