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On February 1862 the Board reported unfavourably of the Schools for the year 1861 in consequence of the resig- nation of the Rev. Mr. Irwin and of the departure of the Rev. Mr. Beach, there remaining only the Rev. Dr. Legge to exercise an efficient inspection of the schools. Sanguine hopes were entertained of a success on the looked for arrival of a Head Master for the Central School.
We read in the Government Gazette of the 4th March 1862; "His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Francis Stewart Esq. A. M. to be Head Master of the Central School in Victoria until Her Majesty's plea- sure be known."
During this period the other schools also were pro- gressing, except St. Andrew's school which had been closed in 1860.
St. Pauls College for the education of those who belonged to the Anglican Church, was going on well and the R. Catholic Schools had taken a very good start.
In 1860, in the month of May, schools for European and Chinese girls were opened in Caine Road under the tuition of the good Italian Sisters who had just arrived from Italy. They were joined immediately by Miss Bow. ring the daughter of Sir John Bowring, a very great acqui- sition indeed.
In September of the same year was opened the first R. Catholic School for European hoys in a very small house in Staunton Street, with two teachers.
Gradually these two schools developed themselves and became, the first, the large Italian Convent in Caine Road, the second turned first into St. Saviour's College and then into the present St Joseph's College.
The little school for Chinese Catholic boys had the number of its pupils increased and a small Seminary for Chinese pursuing the ecclesiastical career was also open at the R. Catholic Mission House.
We do not know exactly the surn which was expended by the Roman Catholic Mission. However the first and more important part of the large building which comes under the name of Italian Convent was built at that time and no less that $80,000 have been expended in its con- struction To this sum one must add what was expended for the passage of the Sisters, six in number, from Europe and the total expenses might be calculated at not less than
$39,000. No grant whatever was ever made by the Go- vernment to the R. Catholic Mission towards all these ex- penses.
Some private schools for Chinese were ably conducted by Protestant Missionaries besides the great many kept by Chinese.
THIRD PERIOD.
From 1863 to 1866.
During this time Mr. Stewart was Head Master and acted as Inspector under the general direction of the Board which bad to report annually on the state of the schools. On the 11th February, 1868, in their report for the pre- cecding year, the Board mentions the good effect resulting from the opportune arrival of the English Head Master, and they ask for an English Assistant Master. The schools from twenty have been reduced to sixteen, four having been con- centrated in the Central school.
The number of scholars enrolled amounted to a total of 889, including 84 female scholars. The attendance was irregular.
The Board were not satisfied with the village schools and would consider it a desirable arrangement, that the existing school-houses in the four villages of Sai-wan, Show-ki-wan, Shek-o, and Little Hongkong be handed over, under certain conditious, free of rent, to the inhabitants and that the villages themselves be left at liberty(if so dis- posed) to elect and support their own school-masters; they being led to suppose that this scheme will promote the cause of education among Chinese. The result proved the Board were not mistaken, as in their next Report for the year 1863 they say :---
The School houses in the four villages, from which the Government aid was withdrawn, were handed over un- der certain conditions, free of rent and for Educational pur- poses only, to the inhabitants, by whom they were gladly recei- ved. In the late Government School-house at Show-ki-wan a school is self supported and carried on independently of Government aid. The three other villages also engaged to elect and support a master in their respective schools; but the Board are not in possession of facts sufficient to enable them to report on the efficiency of their present management. In the same report the Board also say that they are happy to learn from the reports of the English
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