1887-1903
269
experienced. He thinks this is due to the employment of Chinese coolies, but there can be no doubt that the issue of the Chinese notice, to which reference has been made, has also had a good effect.
The commencement of the survey has already induced many waverers to register their claims to land. The sight of the surveyors at work has convinced them that the Government is determined to ascertain the exact amount of land under cultivation, and that any further attempts to conceal the extent of their holdings will be useless.
# EDUCATION.
For the purpose of ascertaining the general state of education in the New Territory, forms have been distributed throughout the villages in the various districts and sub-districts which the school teachers have been requested to fill up.
In reply to the request, 314 forms have been filled up and handed in. Out of this total, 121 are from Hakka schools, 97 from Punti schools, 15 from mixed Hakka and Punti schools, and 1 from Lamma Island, where Hakka, Punti and Hok-lo are taught in one school. Eighty of the forms have not been properly filled up, so will have to be re-written. The lowest number of pupils in any school is 3 and the highest 56, but from 15 to 20 pupils seem to be the average. Holidays are frequent but long holidays are rare, the longest being the winter or New Year holidays, which last for a month or two. The spring holidays are next in length, which continue for about 20 days or a month, and which are generally spent in worshipping the graves of ancestors. Schools in the New Territory are all adventure schools.
The teachers are generally natives of the sub-district in which the school is situated. Few hold any literary degree. The salary is small, from $5 (say 10s.) to $10 (£1) a month being the average pay. In many cases the salary is paid in grain. Tea and fuel are supplied gratis to the teachers by the parents of the pupils.
In a few instances teachers are hired by wealthy families, as for example in Ts'oi Hang, which seems to be the only place in the New Territory where girls are educated. The buildings used for schools are private houses, ancestral halls, or temples.
In no case has any building been specially erected as a school-house. The books used are the usual Chinese school books. The subjects taught are the Chinese classics. The school hours commence in the morning before breakfast, which is taken about 9 or 10 a.m. After breakfast lessons are continued, and school does not break up till about an hour before sunset, whatever the season may be.
The schools are mostly elementary and even the most pretentious are only secondary.
The Chinese Government has never paid anything towards the maintenance of these schools. The teachers are always paid by the parents of the pupils.
It is important to note that the greatest number of holidays and the shortest hours of study occur in the cold weather, whilst in the hot and trying weather the pupils have the shortest holidays and the hardest work.
Many of the inhabitants seem anxious to learn English, and it is hoped that arrangements may be made for encouraging the study of English. I am of opinion that it might be well to establish a school for the teaching of English at Ün Loug, in the District, which is the most central and populous of all the sub-districts. It is suggested that the present village schools should be retained, but that steps should be taken by the Government to encourage the teachers.
# MEDICAL.
I attach a Report (see Appendix No. XVII) drawn up by Dr. Atkinson, the Principal Civil Medical Officer, showing the work done by his Department in the New Territory during the past year.
From this Report it will be seen that the officers of the executive staff and of the police suffered much from malaria. Dr. Atkinson is of opinion that much of the fever