suggestion as to a Normal School. The Legislature has granted a sum of $5,000 a year for that object, and in another despatch the details of the new School will be submitted for Your Lordship's approval, from which it will be seen that its actual cost will not exceed for the first year $4,330; that is $670 less than the sum now voted. In thus providing for at once starting a Normal school the Legislature were influenced to a great extent by the conviction that it was a practical step in the direction of having English properly taught to the Chinese youths of Hongkong. Your Lordship's decision that the Central School is, in future, to be placed, like all the other Government Schools, under Dr Eitel's inspection is a further guarantee for the efficient teaching of English in that institution.
12. I have ventured to increase the vote for tree-planting to $12,000 for next year, and the Legislature have also raised it to that figure for the current year. The Members of Council have constantly before them the evidence of the admirable way in which Mr. Ford lays out this money, and its beneficial result as a sanitary measure is beginning to be felt. In reply to Mr. Johnson I am able to read a memorandum of the Superintendent showing that he was not neglecting the raising...
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