1841-1886
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 271
Enclosure 10.
SIR,
Victoria, Hong Kong, December 24, 1851. We have the honour to make the following report of Government Schools for the past year.
An additional school was established at the village of Hong Kong in July, which now contains more pupils than any of the other schools, excepting that at Victoria. Since June the total number of pupils under instruction has averaged 113; 28 of these being at Victoria, 14 at Stanley, 24 at Aberdeen, 20 at Wongneichung, and 27 at Hong Kong.
At Aberdeen and Stanley the schools, owing to the commencement of the fishing season, are almost deserted. At the latter place on the last occasion on which the school was visited, supposing that the small number of scholars might arise from the remissness of the teacher, one of us visited all the private schools established there, and found only one (a missionary school) better attended, one or two being about to shut up till the close of the fishing season.
We have used our discretion in conformity with the plan recommended in deducting from the salary of the teachers, where we deemed it necessary, a certain sum for each scholar less than 30 that the school has contained; by this means some money has been saved and partly expended in the purchase of books and maps; a good map of China having the places noted in the Chinese character has been furnished to each school, and a work on Astronomy has been introduced (we are afraid, however, with very little benefit), to be followed by one on geography and another elementary work on physics.
We should expect much more benefit from these schools if they were placed under more effectual supervision than we are able to afford, and if suitable schoolhouses were erected by Government, the present schoolrooms hired by the teachers themselves being very confined and very dirty.
The Hon. Major W. Caine, Colonial Secretary.
We are, &c.
(Signed)
C. B. HILLIER,
E. P. R. MONCRIEFF, LLD, Committee for Superintending Chinese Schools.
Enclosure 11.
EXPORT of TREASURE by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's Steamers, during the Years 1845 to 1851 both inclusive.
1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 Value in Dollars. Value in Dollars. Value in Dollars. Value in Dollars. Value in Dollars. Value in Dollars. Value in Dollars. 44,173 951,807 786,602 5,652,827 8,823,753 5,793,446 7,381,238IMPORTS of OPIUM by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's Steamers, during the Years 1845 to 1851 both inclusive.
1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 No. of Chests. No. of Chests. No. of Chests. No. of Chests. No. of Chests. No. of Chests. No. of Chests. 325 1,284 2,622 10,163 11,175 11,530 19,061 No. of Half Chests. 27 No. of Cases. 534Victoria, Hong Kong,
30th January 1852.
(Signed)
C. R. MICHELL. Acting Harbour Master.
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