HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1930.
KOWLOON'S MILLION DOLLAR SCHOOL
GOVERNOR LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF LA SALLE COLLEGE.
TRIBUTE TO WORLD-WIDE WORTH OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS,
His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Poel, K.B.E., C.3.0., yesterday laid the foundation stone te La Ballo Collège a new and by far the biggest enterprise of the Christian Brothers in Hong Kong. The new college is now in process of erection at Kowloon Tong. The scheme, it is estimated, will coat' almost a million dollars, and when completed will be ons of the finest educational edificos in the Far East
Among those present at the ceremony were Lady Peel, Hon. Bir. E. R. Hallifax, Hon. Mr. H. T. Creasy, Hon. Mr. J. P. Brago, His Grace the Apostolic Delegato, Mgr. Costantini, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Valtorta and Mr. A, E, de Martin......
Prior to the speeches, Hie Grace the Apostolie Delegate offered a dedicatory prayer after which he addressed the meeting in Latin. His speech was' translated by Bishop Valtorta and the text of it will be found below.
The growth and development of Christian Brothers' Schools in Hong Kong was traced by H.F. the Governor who mentioned that he could testify to the excellence and loyalty of their efforts in Malaya.
APOSTOLIC DELEGATE'S GREAT VISION.
After the Governor had laid the foundation stone tea was served to the large gathering present, while the band of the St. Louis Industrial School played a pleasing selection of music.
White a bill 179 It. high was being brought low, the foundations of the front block were laid nad construc- tion was proceeded, with. But the site formation for the rear block was completed only recently.
Buildings Described.
The
His Grive the Apostolic Delegate, in the course of his speech, said To this brief retrospect of the that the laying of the foundation enterprise since its inception I beg stone by His Excellency the Gover leave to add a general description nor reminded him of the dream of of the plans here on view. Jacob described in the 28th Chaptertiildings are designed' on the U in the book of Genesis. His Grace phin. The base, facing the west, saw, a great vision in connection will be occupied by the boarding with the future of La Salle 'department. College. It was a pleasant duty each 300 ft. in length, are 60 ft. The parallel blocks, for him to bless the foundation apart but connected on the cast stone, and he was pleased with the and centre by covered ways which enterprise,
divide the vacant apuce into three Not only was the, material con-inner" courts. Within the central sidoration in his mind but also the spiritual odification which will be found in La Salle College, because the, educaton of boys there will be by means of the Benuity and health of literary studies and by discipline of the mind and virtues. Not only will boya bo instructed but their souls will be trained to right prin
"Boya are not like empty cipala vessels to be filled," said his Grace, "but like fires to be laid."
Catholic educatiou stood for free dom but a froodon ruled by ordor
auch order that sota into Jarmony the good of society with the good of the individual.
His Grace wished the Christian Brothura in Hong Kong overy suu ceas, a wish in which the Bishop joined.
REV. BRO, AIMAR,
gradual and a Matriculation Class will not be formed before 1933.
To build and furnish La Salle without our incurring such a heavy debt we need the assistance and rely upon the generosity of high- ninded benofactors and friends of
education.. Donations will be grate fully received and recorded on tablets placed in this entrance hall.
The Pope's Encyclical.
the cause of education, permit me In connection with our work in to quote from an encyclical issued
February. by His Holiness Pope Pius XI. last
|
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA,
HLE. THE GOVERNOR,
His Excellency the Governor. addressing the gathering said:
The Hon. Mr. J. P. Bragu said: Your Excellency, My Lords and Gentlemen,--As a boy of ton I Your Excellency, Brother Aimar,' happened to be one of a guard of Ladies and Gentlemen:-It has honour to receive one of Your day to lay the foundation stone of given me the greatest pleasuro to- Excellency's predecessors when Sir the new La Salle College, which, John Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G., onto the many schools that have been when completed, will add one more the 3rd November, 1891, Inid the erected by the Brothers of the Chris foundation stone of St. Joaophy'stian Schools. Their influence and College. In obedience to the wish work is world-wide. They have of the Director of my old School. live centinonta and in these schools, | built no less than 800 schoolì in the
at the age of sixty, I have to-day I understand, they afford education the honour of welcoming Your Ex- for over 200,000 pupils... cellency, on behalf of the past and prosent pupils of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, on the oc casion of the laying of the founda. tlan stone of La Salle College.
This college in to be called "after" the founder of 'the Institution of Christian Brothers who started this society na long ago as 1723, over 200 years ago. The Hong Kong brauch 1 may claim to be a contemporary of my own as it was started in the The honour of participation in year 1875 when I happened to be this important ceremony is the born. A college with a modest be greater to a past pupil when the ginning of 100 Portuguese pupils. Governor of the Colony graciously was started, and in those days their consents to Ing the corner-stone af accommodation did not permit them the Brothers' principal school build- to tako Chiness pupils. The num ing on this side of the harbour. her soon grow and in 1878 Chiness Comfort and encouragement are pupils were admitted. In 1882 the derived from the support accorded school on Robinson Road wie ng- by Your Excellency to the school's cupied and the number of pupila greater efforts at development and was 190. That number by 1884 had advancement.
grown to 369. which included 00 Successful as had been the early Chinese. Progress still went on, days of St. Joseph's College, for and in 1910, owing to the number the four years following its estab-aving grown to 425, it was neces lishment in 1876, the College pros--sary to seek further accommodation, pered to a greater extent since it The grant-in-aid scheme was in- received Government grant in 1870. augurated by Government in 1872.
Bro, àímar's Fino Record,
A
In 1914, Bro. Aimar, who is now with us in Hong Kong to-day, first We have it on the authority of came here to begin his work. children of the poor, the late Bishop Road on this side to act as n sort that stalwart of education for the malt school was started in Chatham Raimondi, that it was only in of feeder to the main college, and 1870 that St. Joseph's College was later the premises now occupied by received under the grant-in-aid St. Joseph's College in Kennedy scheme. St. Joseph's College, under Road were acquired. Bro. Aimar's Government inspection, prospered work was interrupted by his trans even more than it did before." It fer to Singapore, but he returned that the success of St. Joseph's good work which he had begun. can therefore be truthfully and here in 1922 and carried on the College, for over fifty years, hins By this time the number of pupils largely depended upon the good had grown to 620 and it was necce will, and the material assistance sary to make large extensions in the of the Government of Hong Kong, now premises in Kennedy Road. the traditions of which Tour Ex Bro, Aimar succeeded in his task, cellency to-day worthily upholds as and St. Joseph's College stands its distinguished head.
to-day pa a monument of his energy and organisation,
Tribute to the Governor.
"Men realise to-day more than. over amid the host exuberant material progress the insufficiency of earthly goods to produce trie happiness either for the in- four-storied portion of the front dividuant or for the nations, And
The demand, however, on the block, provision has been made for hence they feel more keenly in. It was only last week that the college is still going on and it is the staff, the chapel and the ad-
themselves the impulse towards a Rev. Bro. James, O.B.E., our now necessary for the Brothers to perfection that ministrative ofhoes. The wings, of
higher, which visitor, paased through Hong Kong this college, when completed, will be three storeys, will contain 20.class-
make an effort on this side, aud impulse is implanted in their
on one of his periodical inspections rooms and also physical and chomi
rational nature by the Creator of the schools. Bro. James takes result of this effort. It is, as cal laboratories: In the middle of Himoslf. This perfection they keen interest in every develop Bro. Aimar has said, a large and wium with the assembly hall over the rear block will be the gymna- seek to acquire by means of ment. Before he left Bro. James ambitious project but the Brothers:
education. In the present order said to me how painfully sorry he have taken a long and compre it measuring 105 ft. by to it. The of Providonce there can be no felt that he could not be present hensive view, and I feel sure that. hill to the north of the building ideally perfect education which is at this function, the more so as the their hopes are well-founded and of the playing fields which will
not Christian education, † will be levelled for the laying ont
For foundation stone would be Inid by that they will be able to find the young people unaccustomed to re- cover an area of about eight acres.
dear friend of his, Sir Willian necessary funds, The Government spect God will be unable to bear Peel, K.B.E.. who appreciates the has contributed 850,000 towards this This open space should afford every the restraint of a virtuous life, work of the Brothers. In any part school and would willingly have cutdoor sports which are rightly
and never having learned to dens of Malaya where Sir Williatn, and Riven more had its own financial re- convenience for all those healthy
themselves anything, they will been brought into touch with the sources heon groator, but there are considered indisposable in every sasily be incited to disturb the schools under the direction of the always very large demands on the
establishment, educational
and publis order."
Brothers, they had learnt to receive public purse, which I can assure sympathetic.consideration,
you, are sometimes difficult to meet
700 Pupils.
We hope that a ten-acre site and buildings providing room for 700 pupils will meet the increasing de-
ends for admission to our schools. Over 300 boys actually attending
Hav, Bro. Jamos, O.B.E.
Some weeks ago, when. I visited A distinguished visitor to Hong Kung once said: Once a Bro St. Joseph's College, Bro. Aimar thera hoy, always a Brothers showed me the plans of this build- of your kindly interest in our school his colleagues and the architects on hay" We are; therefore, sensible ing and 1 congratulated him and and an assure Your Excellency the excellence of their plans. I that wo are, deeply,grateful.
especially congratulatod them an
Work In Malaya.
ro
which appeal so much to hoys. To their enquiries as to where the ciples, the Brothers of the Chris
In accordance with these prin- swimming pool will be. I point to tian Schools, which is the name our the sea clase by hut this does not founder, St John Baptist de la sider it a serious omission which but for one and: to help parents seem to satisfy them and they con- Salle, gavo to our Society work the architects will have to examine. to obtain for their children that Picturesque is the setting of the knowledge which is power and the College as it commands a fine view priceless benefits of a good educa.
At every stage of the develop having made such adequate pro- of the Kowloon hills on the north tion. We are sure that God-fearing ment of the programme, of the vision in the science laboratory and and cast. of Lymoon Pass and children will take their places in
Brothers' schools in Hong Kong, playing grounds. All such even of Hong Kong Peak on the society as upright and honourable
from its modest beginning in aquisites are essential to a well- The Rev. Bru. Aimur, Head of horizon. All over the neighbour citizens. It is our pleasant duty to
house in Caine Rond to the ac equipped school. St. Joseph's College, addressing the hood nid along both sides of the express our thanks to those who are
quisition of the Glenealy site on great thoroughfare which Prince helpful to us in the erection of this
Robinson Road, later, to the pur- gathering, said:-
Edward Road now is, handsome edice. 1am glad to testify to the
cbase of the building on Kennedy In my long residence in Malaya, Your Excellenviea, My Lords, villas are being erected. It is great trouble that Messrs, Little. Road, and, subsequently, to the con. I came in contact in more than one Ladies and Gentlemen-To-day's evident that. La Salle College is Adams & Wood have taken in pre-struction, of the science classes and place of the work done by the Christ ceremony could not take place situated among surroundinge that paring the plans which I am sure public hall on the Kennedy Road in Brothers and I can testify to earlier as nocess to the site was are conducive to good education. will be admired. I am particularly site, and, still more recently, to the its excellence. In particular I had almost impossible throughout the
thankful to Mr. C. H. Basto for bold and enterprising conception of expérience of their work in a school wet summer mouths, but now that
seeing personally to their execution.
the million-dollar La Salla project, in Penang known as St. Xavier's the approaches to the building have
Messrs. Lum Dore & Son are taking successive Directors of the Brothers School, and I can testify very been improved, we are extremely
a keen interest in the construction schools in Hong Kong have had strongly to the good work that is grateful to Your Excellency for
and I thank them for it.
invariably to turn in the direction done in that school both in sport having graciously consented to lay
of the Government for encourage- and in scholarship, and I can also the foundation stone of La Salle
mont and support, without which testify to their loyalty and good. College, and we extend to you and the classes Kennedy Road and Early this year Rev. Bro, An- they raight not have been able to citizenship. NON : Lady Pes a hearty welcome. We Chathasa Road will furnish from theneletus, Assistant Superior General carry out their humble but exalted are also very happy that by an un- start a sufficient contingent for La of our Society, visited our schools insiún enicined on them by their six months ago, I feel I can say Coming to Hong Kong, as I did; anticipated coincidence, His Excel-Sallo. Judging from the number of in the Far East, and when in Honghody founder. That is, the mission truthfully that these qualities aro lency the Apostolic Delegate to applicants, we expect that the Kong, expressed his satisfaction to provide a good education for the at least equally prominent in the Chim has been able to honour us vacancies at St. Joseph's will be with the site we had selected for Layoung.so as to equip them, mentally Christian Brothers' Schools in this with his preseige, and we tender immediately filled,,
Salle College... Rev. Bro. James, and morally, to combat the powers Colony. I should like to refer to him the expression of our profound I must now confess that when I.B.E., who came here last month of darkness which are doing their the excellence and loyalty of the respect and gratitude.
came to count the total cost of the on his annual visit, was pleased utmost to ruin youth
work which they did in Hong Kong On this occasion my mind goes enterprise it was found that I had with the plans and progress of the nk to the year 1994 when Rev. been rash far beyond our means this function very much and I know Sir, past and present pupils of ing period, worked in the Post Office
work. We regret his absence from
in 1025, when, I understand, both masters and pupils, during the try- Father Spada and myself were aur Where will funds amount to veying the hills and lowlands of $850,000 come from is a question that on this memorable day. Rev. the Brothers owe much to the Gov-and so enabled the Government to Kowloon in search of sites for which I cannot answer yet; never-
Bró, James would have recalled.
ernment of this Colony. In Your carry out work which they would church nad o school. The develop thaless I feel confident that for with joy and pride that for over Excellency'e presence here to-dos, otherwise have boor inable to do. iment of the Peninsula was going on education money will be found. By thirty years, it had been his happy you have graciously provided fur The Government and the Colony space and we were thinking of the the end of 1931 all our available lot to co-operate with Your Excel ther testimony of the interest of are grateful to those helpers. I can days when both a church and funds will be exhausted and to meet laney in promoting the welfare and
the executive head of the Adminis only add that the Brothers of the school larger than those in Chatham the builders' final account and to prosperity of Malaya, m
tration in this great project which Christian Schools are upholding Rond would be urgent neade. I pay the cost of the initial equip I am sure that the parents of in about to receive alheial blessing their traditions in Hong Kong. niso`remember that our inte Gover
We interpret from Your Excellency's nor, Sir Cecil Clementi, together sent, shall have to horrew the our pupils and Old Boys are in with the Director of Education and why we are building on such a large keep abreast with the rapidly in of our kind teachers to persevere sum of $350,000. It may be asked sympathy with our endeavours to presence a generous encouragement the Director of Public Works, visit scale. I shall answer that tho...
in the proper in crossing-demand-for-educational
z_instruction and moral, ed this site, in February 1028 and commodation in Chatham Road is facilition May I suggest that on upbringing of the, youths of this that his Excellency zanmiked: that utterly inadequate and that the this occasion they join us in con-
Colony, For Your Excellency'a it was a beautiful location.
school suffers much from the lack veying to the.. Superiors of our
great personal interest and for the On the 23rd of April of the same of a playground. Forty Kowloon Society the expression of our
good-will which is manifested by year, the Directar ia llongong Corred annually to St. Joseph's, on
boys, on passing Class 4 are trans- work in Kowloon.
your distinguished presence at, and of St. Joseph's College was the only
I must now conclude by acknow- ant function, I have the honour to
your leading part in this import abnormal increase which hampers bidder. at a Innd sale held in the offices of the Public Works. An the work in the secondary classes of ledging the very great debt of tender to Your Excellency on betion service will be held in St. upset figure of $120,000 for the meant there Providing Delegate, the Vory Rev. Father Christian Brothers Schools, our standing owing to the fact that the area of 10 acres was acquired at the this college. Erecting a new school gratitude we use to His Lordship half of my former schoolmates, past John's Cathedral at 9.45 a.m., on
Bishop Valtorts and to the Vicar nepils and present, scholars of the November 11 erection of a school in Kowloon medation for 30 Portugueso
There seems to be some misunder- Plans were drawn up by the col now residing in Kowloon Spada for their unfailing kindness grateful and heartfelt thanks. Joge Architects, Messrs Little, thought it only right to make pro- und eucontagemont. It is also my
It is our fervent hope that Your service at the Cenotaph is to be of Adams, and Wood. These having vision, as in St. Joseph's, for an privilege to express our thanks to Excellency, Lady Peel and your a more religious character than been approved by the Shotton qual number of applicants all guests wombled bath 1133sed by the Building Authority ing department The Kowloon boys Your Excellency and to Lady Peal. in September, 1990, the contract for actually attending the higher classes their execution was given to Messrs. yill completo their course in St. Lam Dore, and what you see today Joseph's. To bo efficient the deve in the result of 13 months' work,lopment of La Salle must be
•hose
Government's Assistance.
ARMISTICE DAY,
BERVICE AT ST. JOHN'S.
CATHEDRAL..
The Armistico Day Commemora
monalamThe-Deprivo, ni the Gethodsäkr
Excellence we earnestly hope HE the Governor will be present, our grateful thanks for the honour long period of successful and and the order of service will be. of your presence and we earnestly boneficent administration in the approximately the samo na last pray Almighty God to grant you service of His Majesty's Govern-year. It will be finished by 10.20
is choicest gifta.
mént.
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