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work, it would not be fit for me to speak, for reasons which you understand, but I think I shall be echoing the sentiments of everyone here when I say that these institut ons established, supported and maintained with
lofty and high aims to benefit mankind are to the glory of God (applause).
Dr. Mitchell then presented His Excellency with a silver key, which he turned in the lock and said—I now, on this 20th day of July, 1906, declare the Ho Miu Ling Hospital open (applause).
The company then proceeded to inspect the building, and were afterwards entertained to refreshments, generously supplied by Mr. Weissmann as a contribution to the hospital.
ITALIAN CONVENT PRIZE
DISTRIBUTION.
H.E. the Governor presided at the annua distribution of prizes at the Italian Convent on the 19th July, when the large gathering present were entertained at one of the concerts given by the pupils. The time and attention which the Sisters must bare bestowed on their charges to produce such an excellent programme as was witnessed yesterday has been commented on before in these columns, and certainly it has not been lacking since last prize-giving.
Miss M. Santos delivered the follow ing address :-Your Excellency, Your Lord ship, Reverend Fathers, Ladies and Gentle- ment, I am honoured by the Reverend Mother Superior in being asked to tender you her genuine thanks for your great goodness in sacrificing your time, this treasure of matchless value, in order to honour this occasion with your benevol- ent presence so that we, children deprived of experience, may see by your action that you want to encourage us to love study, to become useful to our families, our country and our neighbours. Your goodness shall always be re- membered by the Reverend Mother Superior, by the Sisters, by our parents and by us. In
bors good friends of youth who deed, have procured for us a solid Christian education will certainly receive many blessings from the Almighty God. Your Excellency, Your Lordship, Reverend Fathers, Ladies and Gen- tlemen, we are going to sing, play, etc., and your indulgence we beg because we are well aware of our inability. Renewing our thanks I beg to withdraw.
The programme, which was as under, was then proceeded with :-
Action song (5 children), a companied, by Miss M. Osete; song "L'Fen di Napoleone Miss R. Elizage; recitation The Endless Story", Miss C Peterson; song I'd like to be a Soldier", Master A. Hyndman: Hamorons song "Here is the School, etc.". Miss E Angell; bat la drill (18 children), accompanied by Miss
"La Festa del Villagio E. Felices; duet Miss B. Brewster and Miss M. E. Gutierrez ; song "La Marinaresos by 14 children, accompanied by Miss E. Felices; recitation The Land of my Birth", Miss B. Gutierreze, Gran Coro "Le Vacanze by the pupils, accom- panied by Miss E. Angell and Miss I. Sison.
"
2
The Rev. Father do Maria, before reading the report of the Inspector of Schools, on the year's work at the Italian Convent, thanked
[July 23, 1906.
KOWLOON GRAMMAR SCHOOL
PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.
distributed the prizes won by papils of the On the 21th July Commodore Williams Kowloon Grammar School. Notwithstanding
the wet weather there was a fair number of
visitors, and the school was decorated for the
occasion.
4
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
1 Gentlemen,- I am sure you will join with me in expressing the pleasure we feel that the Rev. Mother Superior has enabled us to be present to-day. I think you will also wish to thank with me the Sisters and girls for the very pleasing performance which we with ssed this afternoon, I congratulate the school on the vary favourable report furnished by the Inspector of Schools. In addition to saying that the schoo was recommended for the highest grant, he said the interest displayed in the study of hygiene was very great, and with regard to arithmetic the Mr. H. W. Ray, the principal, read the papers sent in by the senior blasses were annual report. He said-Commodore Williams, excellent. These are beautiful subjects, and
Ladies and Gentlemen,—I have great plessure according to one of the songs that the girls in presenting to you my first suausi report of sang, will make life sweet. The Inspector of the progress of the Kowloon Grammar School, Schools pointed out, as it was his duty to, but before I do so I should like to thank the various weak points. He mentioned that the friends who have braved the weather, and small girls helped each other at the examination Commodora Williams for the honour he has con- (laughter). They must not do that again. ferred on us in attending to distribute the He said more importance should be given to prizes. This school was opened on September the details of geography, and I am sure the 1st with 20 papils. Before the end of the Sisters will bear that in mind. He also pointed month this number had increased to 30, sad by out that the spelling of the small girls was not the half-year there were 49 nam is on the books. as good as it might be. That is hot perhaps There are now 42. This god result I attribute surprising seeing how small they are.
to two main cinseɛ. First, the hearty support more serious fault mentioned by Mr. Irving I have received from the scholars and their is the tendency he noticed in several sub-
parents in recommending the school to their jects to learn the lessons by heart without friends, and, sconlly, the loyal and unstinted. fully understanding
their mesuing
Un co-operation of my assistant teachers. Through- doubtedly the training of the memory is a very ont the year my right-hand supporter has been important part of education, but it should Fran Reimers, in whose cipible hands the rather be stored with facts than with words
German and kiudergarten classes have made facts to be understood as well as memorised, very great progress. In the early put of the It is no doubt easier to learn words than facts, year [hud also the help of Miss A. LR binson, especially if the words are placed in rhymic of Melbourne University; who left in January sequence. A good idea of teaching history to our great regret to take up a more lucrative and various other subjects was by putting the position. For the past nine mon hs the into rhyme. It is now nud r-tool that where
lower chases have been under the chirga facts are remembered by the co dition and of Me. R. C. Barlow, who both in and sound of words describing them, rather thịn
out of school his rendered excellent service. by the meaning of those words those fas
Under the circumstances it is not urprising that I are not very likely to be understood, and fa
have to report excellent sil-round not understood are not worth rememberfug.
progress. Five pupils have been entered am told there is a girl here who knows the for the Oxford local examinations; one for whole of the text of the Government book on senior, one for junior and one for preliminary, bygiene by hear. I do not wish to discourage and I propose to send up at least two for London her zeal. as I think it is possible
matriculation in January. In 8 ptember a new might have spent some time in learning wing will have been added to our school premises, little and in addition to the present staff I bave this, but she mi have taken a more time in understand in the facts rather secured the services of two trained English masters, both of whom are graduates of London thau learning the words. Many is doubtedly a great gift of God, but st University. Thus with a staff of five English look upon reason, which is peculiar only to matasters it will be possible to give students the as a greater gift. Memory and reason are note of the classical or modern side of the antagonistic, but it is a notable fact that me. mory very often does not go with the greatest power of reasoning. I think it is possible to account for that in this way: if a person husa good memory, any facts he gets hold of he puts into his head, knowing that be will be able to draw them out one by one if he wants them. If he has not a
Food memory
be know it is necess∙ry before putting them away in the to extract lessons storehouse of the brain from them so as not to forget the facts perhaps lessons which
the
jessence of them. In other words, power of memory It lis often weakens power of renerlisation. the power of generalisation which I hips the big girls will remember so that in another year there will be no suggestion in the report of the Inspector of Schools that more facts are remembered than are understood. Trusting to my memory, which is not possibly a good one,
ou the subject of English composition. For that reason I propose to give my prize this year to the girl who has done best in this subject. There seems to be some doubt as to whom that girl is, but I am told if I give the prize to Miss Euriquetta Felicas I shall not be far wrong priz handed to winner amidst great applaus) Before I sit down I want to mention the pleasure it gives me to see how iu this school every effort is made to give affect to my wishes that hygiene should be thoroughly wellt ught
i
are
ub-
school as at home-have also to thank Messrs.
Matthaey. Logan, Ho Tung, Ho Kom-tong and Ab Wei for contributions to the prize fund.
The Commodore, after distributing the prizɔs, remarked that his task had given him great pleasure. He had not been long in the Colony and hardly know of the ex stence of any school at Kowloon but the one in Robinson Rad where his coolies took him, hence the reason of his late appearance. It was a pleasure to bim to present prizes to those who had won them, but he reminded the unsuccessful pupils that there were prizes other than those won at school. Hч remembered that Bome of those who in his own schooldays were not at top had also drawn prizes in life, Those boys who have come and some big oues, second, third or lower down, if they stick to their work will pick up some of the good things in life. They should not be down on their luck because they have not got prizas on this
His Excellency, lis Lordship Bishop Pozzoni, I think it was at this school last year I spoke occasion, as there were many things in store if
and the ladies and gentlemen present for the honour of their presence at the annual prize distribution. His Excellency bad shown such consistent support to all educational institutions in the Colony that it was sc reely necessary for him to enlarge on the fact. Such support was of the utmost value, and very highly appreciated by the responsible individuals in the successful management of the schools in Hongkong. Speaking on behalf of the pria- cipals of the schools under his charge, he wished to avail himself of this onclic occasion to record his sincere thanks for His Excelle ncy s help and encouragement towards the Catholic schools in Hongkong. He had no desire to unduly pro. long the proceed ngs, but wished to remark in connection with Mr. Irving's report that the Insector had classified the Italian Convent as thoroughly effici-nt", and recommended for it the highest graut of the coda.
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His Excellency then distributed the prizes. after which he said-My Lord Bishop. Ladies and
and learned.
they were diligent. He was pleased to see that a priz, had been awarded the best sportsman. Sport was a very good thing and necessary to health, as it kept boys "fit", and when the time cime for work they could really devote themselves to it. Those who worked hard were generally those who played hard. He found in his servic that a ship whose crew contained a number of sports was the reliable vessel when work was required. His advics to everybody was, if you are priz, don't work in school when you should be out taking exrois. Tae manly spirit and fe ling of fatigue was one of the most pleasurable things in this world. In conclusion, the Commodore expressed the hope that the scholars would have a good holiday, and that he would have the pleasure of meeting them again next year.
I should like to mark my apprecia-going to win a tion of this by giving a small library of hygiene works to the Sister whom I know has been very largely instrumental in the teaching of this subject.
t
Sister Melania was 1ndly cheered as she accepted His Excellency's gift. Then followed the National Anthem, which terminated the proceedings.
Light refreshments were dispensed: before the visitors departed.
A musical programme, containing some very plessing items, was then gone through, and closed the proceedings.