PRIZE DAY AT ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE.
was
Euclosure 21
The annual distribution of prizes to the boys of the St. Joseph's College who had gained re- wards at the last examination took place on Saturday afternoon. The large room of the building was decorated with evergreens, paper chalus, kc., and at the western end a large daïs was erected. Proceedings commenced at thres o'clock, when H. E. the Governor entered the room accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Capt. Lewis. His Excellency
sonducted to: the chair, aud the National Anthem was i I played on the piano by two of the boys. Amongst the large assemblage present were Vice-Admiral Sir W. M. Dowell, Commodore Morani, the Very Rev. Bishop Raimondi, Hon. E. L. O'Malley (Attorney-General), Mr. L. De. jardin (Consul for France), Mr. A. G. Romano (Consul for Portugal and Brazil), Mr. Machida (Consul for Japan), Capt. T. C. Dempster (Ad- jutant of Police), Mr. A. Coxon, Mr. J. J. Francis. Mr. G. H. Bateson-Wright, M.A., Mr. Sallé, &c.
Bishop RAIMONDI opened the proceedings with the following address---Your Excellenci.s the Governor and Almind Dowall, ladies and gentlemen, it is with the most sincere feelings of gratiinde that the directors and pupils of St. Joseph's College greet your Excellency's coming here to distribute the prizes a second time to the pupils. Amidst rumours of war, hostilities, insurrections and disturbances, the pupils of St. Joseph's College enjoy the greatest, peace, and the pupils are pursuing their studies under the glorious British fig. St. Joseph's College and the Christian Brothers are, I sup pose, known to your Excellencies. With regard to the scholastic year nothing very extraordinary has been done, but something has been done in the right direction. The number of pupils is always on the inaasa. List your, when we opened this new bail lug thare were in all about 300 pupils; thi your wih vzà d nearly $10. The attendance, if good in the priceling yours, has becu very good this year, a fact which, considering the enervating tropical elimats we live in, is of no small importance. The examinatiou took: place this year a little earlier than asual. The pupils of the Chinese division obtained a higher percentage than last year-about 95 per cent in round numbers. It has been asserted that the standards cramp the development of the youths' intellects, while others contend they are necessary to test the progress of the boys. The Christian Brothers, desirous to satisfy the hollers of both views, have, while adhering to the subjects required by the standarda, opened some extra classes to facilitate the acquisition of more kuow- ; ledge by the students. This year, for instance, besides the extra subjects in the special class, such as algebra, geometry, mensuration, lan- guages, &c., the Christian Brothers opened a class for drawing. From the drawings which you probably noticed in passing through this hall, Your Excellency will see the great progross which has been made by the boys in this brunch. We regret that this year there was no pupil of St. Joseph's College who presented himself to compete for the Government scholarship. This was mainly due to the tender age of the boys, but in future years, as they grow older than they are now, I am sure they will take advantago of such a kind offer made to them, Several of the boys have as usual obtained situations during the year. But what I have been more pleased with, was to see the boys begin to relish study, to love knowledge. Every one who has been engaged in educating youths in this part of the world will concur with me that it is not a very easy task.
rule As a boys hero wish to study just enough to gain for themselves a situation and no more. They are true positivists. They don't believe in anything but that which they can see with their own eyes and feel with their own. hands, and they will not consent to study any subject unless they see an immediate advantage to be derived from it. This year, however, I am pleased to say, we have in St. Joseph's College more than twenty boys who have com- pleted the course of education prescribed by the grant-in-aid scheme, voluntarily remaining is a Baventh class to acquire more knowledge, and to thoroughly master the English lan- guage and English composition. Moreover, they have formed, with some ex-pupils of St. Joseph's College, a society, a kind of literary club, where they meet to practise the English language and English composition, and out of. their economy, assisted by some friends, they have
started a library, which already possesses some excellent works. I havo no hesitation in assert- ing that all this is mainly due to the kind words of encouragement which your Excellency address. od to the pupils last year, and to the interest your Excellency takes in educational matters, es- pecially in the founding of the Governmsut scholarships, which are entirely due to Your Ex- cellency. I can assure Your Excollency the pupils of St. Joseph's College, although belonging to different nationalities, are all unanimous in not only revering your Excellency as the worthy re- prosentative of our gracious Queen, but also in loving your Excellency as the patron and promoter of education. (Applause), Your Excellency has kindly consented to distribute the prizes. There are not quite so many this year as last year. According to your Excellency's advice they have been reduced by a good third. They are still numerous, however, and there will be room for further reduction next year. I hope your Excellency will not get fatigued by distri-i buting them.
H. E. the GOVERNOR-Monsignor Raimondi, lalies, and gentlemen, as I have said on similar occasions to the present, it is one of the first dutios of every "Governor to promote by all esas in his power, and to use every effort to advance the great and noble cause of education --that most splendid, and at the same time that most useful department in overy state. Accord- ingly I gladly accepted the invitation of my re- Forend friend, Monsignor Raimondi, to preside to-day on this interesting and important occasion. (Applause). I am sure you will all rejoice to see here to-day not only the Governor, but also the Admiral commanding Her Majesty's naval forces on this Station, and Commodore Morant. I be. lieve it is only by an accident that Lieut.-Gene- ral Sargent is not also here, because I ander. stood from the Bishop just now that he promised. to come. I am sure you are glad to see all the chief officers of the Imperial Govern- ment here in a gathering composed of every class of our mixed population. (Applanse.) It is e proof of their sympathy with the entire Community, Bishop Raimondi referred to the discourse I made last year, if I recollect aright I made rather a long speech thun. I certainly will not inflict such an oration upon you on this occasion, especially after the very interesting address of Monsignor Raimondi, which gave such a clear and accurate statement of the present conditions and prospects of this institution. I am sure you are all very pleased to bear the report of the pro- gress that has been made under the Christian Brothers. (Applause). Speaking of the efforts of the Christian Brothers, who principally manage this institution, I have met members of that Society at work in many parts of the world, and always with zeal and success. I am sure the College owes much to their en- ergy and abilities applied always under the active and enlightened supervision of Bishop Raimondi. Before proceeding to distribute the prizes. I pro- pose making a very few remarks to the students I now see ranged before me. In the first place Taho the regret expressed just now by the Bishop that no pupil of St. Joseph's College was noindidats for the Government Scholarship. I hope this omission will not occur in future years, My object in proposing and the object of the Colonial Legislatare in founding the Govorn mont Scholarships, was to promote education among every class in the colony, without dis- tinetion of race or creed; that all should have an opportunity givou them of being sent to Europe and there finishing their studies, 50 that they can come back here and practise in the professions of law, or medicine, or sivil engineering. (Applanso). As I have said on former occasions. I believe this will be an advant- are not only to Hongkong, but to all the neigh- bouring countries. I have soon the pupils of Hongkong schools holding high positions in Japan and China. This is a very legitimate way of extending British influence throughout the East. These young men who rise to high posi- tions in life in other countries will always recol- lect that they owe their education to the advan~ tagas that wors afforded them at Hongkong under the British flaz. (Applause). I would also ask you to remember the golden words which fell from the lips of Bishop Raimondi last year, which he has repeated again this year, namely, the exhortation to von to master the English language, which like the English race, is fast overspreading the earth. You should remen- ber, moreover, that every naturalised or uative born British subject here, from whatever race he may have sprung, is a son and hair of the British Empire equally with Englishmen them- valves, and is entitled to all those privileges
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