December 24, 1909.)
ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE.
ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.
The annual distribution of prizes took place on the 22nd inst. and was largely attended by parents and others interested. His Excel- lency the Governor, who was accompanied by Captain Taylor, A.D.C., and Captain Simson, private secretary, presided, and was supported by Bishop Pozzoni, Mr E. A. Irving, Director of Education, Father de Maria, man- ager of the School, Father Noval, Father Spada, members of the Dominican Mission, and the Mission Etrangére, and Mr. T. Funatsu.
After an opening overture and the rendering of the chorus "Moonlight on the Lake,"
Ex and
The Brother Director said-Your cellency, my Lord Bishop, Ladies Gentlemen,-I have the honour to
sub- mit to you the report of the work done in the College during the past year. The total number of pupils on the roll was 450, while the average daily attendance was 40, as against 366 the previous year. At present we have a total enrolment of 488. The increase in num- bers has necessitated the erection of two new classrooms, which we hope to have ready for occupation towards the end of January. While the attendance on the whole has been fairly good, still I must say that many of our boys are kept at home for very trifling causes. I would again remind the parents of
the absolute necessity of regular attendance for progress in studies. The monthly examina- | tions and weekly testimonials are still very efficient in securing constant and steady work. Such work enables the boys to cultivate industrious habits. The conduct of our boys. has been very good, and on the whole they always seek to please their teachers. Our boarding department continues to give much satisfaction. We have as many boarders as we can accommodate. The health of the boys has been excellent, thanks to the unremitting care of Doctors Muller, Justi and Hoch. Our Oxford results this year were very satisfactory. We presented 36 boys and all passed, viz., 7 Seniors, 14 Juniors, and 15 Preliminaries. J. B. Xuyen obtained Second Class Honours and Distinction in French in the Senior, while H. Ozorio secured Third Class Honours in the Preliminary. Six of our Chinese boys figured prominently among the successful students. A noticeable feature of the examination judging from the private results was the excellent pass which nearly all our boys obtained in English Composition. We are very much pleased to see that many of our boys are working hard to fit themselves for the Hongkong University with which your Excellency's name will be for ever associated. Our Shorthand and Typewriting classes continue to do good work. Thirty-seven boys sat for shorthand certificates during the year. Twenty obtained Third Class certificates. Thirteen entered for Second Class, and four for First Class certificates, but the results have not yet come to hand. Our thanks are due to the members of the Shorthand Committee of Hongkong, especially to Mr. A, Ramsay, of the Daily Press, for the facilities they have afforded in connection with the examinations. Twenty-eight boys follow the Typewriting Class. We have arranged with the National Shorthand Association of London for the holding of periodical examinations for Typewriting certifi- cates. Eight boys have entered for the first examination, which we expect will take place in about a fortnight. Hygiene has been taught successfully during the year. We presented ten boys for the Shield competition, but the results are not yet known. Our boys drill regularly in the College yard and take as much outdoor exer- cise as our limited playground accommodation permits. Football is still the favourite game of the Hongkong schools. Our boys take very great interest in it. For the first time we won both trophies; our First team won the Schools Football Shield, and our Junior team won the beautiful cup presented by your Excellency to the schools of the olony.
The library in connection with our Oxford Class is still a source of pleasure and profit to our boys. We have considerably enlarged it during the year, and it numbers at present close on five hundred volumes.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
In the month of June Mr. Irving made his annual examination and reported the school to be thoroughly efficient,
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examination, but also in carrying one or more of the King Edward scholarships. I would remind you that the test in English It now remains for me, sir, to thank you for will probably be a severe one, for it will be having so kindly consented to give away the absolutely necessary for the boys who pass into prizes to the successful pupils. I also thank the University to have a thoroughly sound grasp his Lordship the Bishop for once more honour- of the English language in which the lectures ing us by his presence here to-day, and for the will be delivered. Last year I congratulated you valuable prize he has presented to the most specially on the fact that you make an deserving boy in the Oxford Class. I have also especial study of shorthand writing. I am the pleasure of thanking Admiral Sir Hedworth glad to see that that is being kept up and that Lambton for the honour he has conferred on us progress is being maintained. I would impress by permitting us to include his name in our list upon you that shorthand is a most useful ac- of prize donors. Mr. H. N. Mody, the well-quisition. it is most useful to the public man known gentleman whose name is connected with when listening to speeches to which he has to so many benevolent works in the Colony, and reply, and it is most useful to the students when who has recently crowned his munificence by the listening to lectures to be able to make a few princely gift which has assured to Hongkong notes upon them. I have always regretted that for all time the benefits of a University educa- I was not taught it when a boy. I think you all tion, has also accorded as the honour of being agree that you owe a great debt to the Press and the recipients of his bounty. This gentle to Mr. Ramsay, who are busy men and have man has generously founded a Gold Medal to little leisure, for the assistance they have given be given annually to the student who shows you in this subject. I congratulate you all on the greatest merit English Literature. your success in sport. I know you have very I beg to offer him my sincerest thanks for this limited ground here for practising football, and valuable recognition of the work done in the the large number of applications for the College. Our thanks are also due to Mr. J. M. recreation grounds at Wong-nei-cheong Alves, who has generously offered a scholarship makes it impossible to give St. Joseph's of 25 for the best essay on Co-operation," to ground on more than one or two o0- the Catholic Union for their scholarship of $25 casions a week. In spite of that you have for Religious Knowledge, and to Mr. Belilios for carried off both the senior and junior football his scholarship of $25 for English in the Oxford cups, which is a most creditable performance. Junior. To the following kind friends who I had great pleasure the other day in presenting have contributed to the prize fund I also the two cups to the winning teams at Govern- beg to extend my most grateful thanks: ment House. Among the successes on which I Consul-General J. J. Leiria, Mr. Gonzales de am able to congratulate you there is one especially, Bernedo, Consul for Chili; Mr. J. R. M. Smith, and yet my congratulations must be accom manager, Hongkong and Shanghai Bank panied with a word of warning. I refer to the Mr Perey Smith, Mr. D. Dorabjee, Mr large increase of the average attendance. Since Machado, Mr. Ho Tang, Mr. Ellis, Kadoorie; I have been in this olony the average attend- Mr. Ho Fook, Mr. F. Tse Yat, Messrs. Kelly ance at St. Joseph's has increased from 299 to & Walsh, and Mrs. E. V. Remedios, I'avail 4,0; as we just heard from the Director, an myself of the present occasion to offer my hearty increase of 50 per cent. This enormous expan- good wishes to one and all for a merry Christmas sion of all the schools in the Colony is mos and a bright and prosperous New Year.
striking and most encouraging, but the BISHOP POZZONI said :-On an auspicious Director of Education in his report calls attention occasion like the present, when the teachers and to the fact that there are an undue number of pupils with
their parents and friends are Chinese boys in the lower standards who help assembled under the presidency of the highest to swell the grant in aid, but it is not creditable official in the Colony, and when we hear to a school that there should be a congestion in the detailed account of the excellent work the lower standards. Numbers are important done during the past year, I consider it but, numbers are not everything. Quality is a duty and at the same time a pleasure even more important, I am not unaware that to address a few words to one and all. I there are many difficulties in connection, with thank your Excellency for your kindness in this subject. I know it is very difficult and condescending, to preside at this meeting and sometimes very disheartening to the staff that distribute the prizes to the successful students. your boys leave you just at the time when you I congratulate the Brother Director and all the are beginning to feel they are getting on and brothers and teachers on the success they have doing something. It is a matter which is full achieved during the year, and I congratulate the of difficulties. I mention it because I have boys also one successful issue of their endea- it under consideration myself, and hope, sir, that vours both in the mental and in the athletic field.
you will take it into consideration to see if you I would remind them that the development of can devise means by which to maintain a fairly the mind and of the body must go hand in hand, equal average in the different standards of the Mens sana in corpore sano, a sound mind school. I cannot forecast precisely what advice in a sound body, should always be their I shall receive on this subject, but I think it is. motto. In this way they will fit themselves possible the schools which have a congestion in for the
great struggle of
their lower standards, an undue proportion, become worthy and useful members of society cannot be considered thoroughly efficient, The Brother Director mentioned in his St. Joseph's has for many years past borne report that many of the boys were aspir- a high reputation for being thoroughly ing to higher education in the future efficient and of earning the maximum grant. I Hongkong University. I congratulate them am sure you will do your very best to maintain once more and I wish them all success.
that standard in the future. I must remind after years when these young men reap the bene you of one other point, that is, as the number fit of such. education they will not be unmind of your scholars increase so must your staff ful of their benefactor and they will associate increase if the standard is to be maintained and you Excellency's name with the priceless treasure the same amount of individual attention is to of higher education which they have enjoyed, be given to each boy. When the scholars (pplause.)
numbered 299 the number of European HIS EXCELLENCY-My Lord Bishop, Rever- teachers on the staff was 12, including end Fathers, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the Director, with one Chinese assistant. listened with very great interest to the very satis- To-day when the scholars number 400 the factory report from the Director of this School, staff is still 12, including the Director. If and I congratulate you, both the staff and the the staff proportionately increases pari passu, boys, on the continued success, prosperity, and it should number 16, that is to say, an average progress of St. Joseph's College. This year, as of one European teacher to every 27 boys which, we have just heard, you have obtained 36 passes I think is a very good proportion: I put these in the Oxford Local Exam ination as against points to you not in any spirit of hostile, a 31 last year, and I am glad to notice criticism, but because I think on this occasion - that
the increase is confined to the undiluted praise is not. always useful, and it is senior and junior and not to the preliminary just as well to point out one or two directions in examination. This is a good augury for success which possible improvement may take place, I in the matriculation examination for the Uni-
am glad to hear that you are able to increase versity which has been alluded to both by your the number of your boarders and, like every Lordship and the Brother Director. I hope other school of this standing you have been that the boys of St. Joseph's will be successful compelled to enlarge your premises to accom not only in passing the matriculationmodate increased attendance. I wish both the
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