I have only to add that on my arrival in the Colony in 1871, I set on foot a Sunday School in connection with St. John's Cathedral, which has proved very successful. The two Schools combined will, as I hope, be of lasting benefit to the English boys whose lot is cast in this Colony.
In the hope that the establishment of the Chaplaincy School will receive the hearty approval, as I feel sure it will, of His Excellency the Governor,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant.
R. HAYWARD KIDD. Colonial Chaplain.
The Honourable W. H. MARSIL.
Colonial Secretary,
8. MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 28th March, 1879.
Having placed in Mr. STEWART's hands the despatch of Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, No. 15 of the 6th of February, 1879, he has read the decision of the Secretary of State on the various points respecting education in Hongkong raised in my despatches and Mr. STEWART's reports upon them.
2. Having thus before him the views of the Secretary of State on the resolutions of the Education Conference, and on the question of raising the fees at the Central School, he will be able to let the Surveyor General know the probable number of pupils the new School should be built to accommodate, and, thereupon, Mr. PRICE can, at once, prepare the final plans and estimates for approval.
3. As to the future fees payable at the Central School, the Secretary of State thinks it might be sufficient to commence by raising the fifty cents fee to a dollar; but if Mr. STEWART should be of opinion that this increase is too much to begin with, I shall sanction (subject to the Secretary of State's approval) any other arrangement Mr. STEWART might prefer, so as not to materially diminish the number of his pupils.
4. Any other modification in the future arrangements of the School that Mr. STEWART might desire, shall also receive my most favourable consideration, as I believe the success of the School will mainly depend on leaving so able and experienced a Head Master as unfettered as possible in the arrangements and management of the institution.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
II.—ADDRESS OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR AT THE CENTRAL SCHOOL, 30TH JANUARY, 1880.
The annual public examination of the scholars attending the Central School was to have been held yesterday morning, but none of the public attended to question the boys. At noon His Excellency Governor HENNESSY, C.M.G., arrived, attended by Major PALMER, R.E., A.D.C., and proceeded to distribute the prizes; having done so, His Excellency said-
Ladies and gentlemen, it is the usual custom on these occasions for the Governor of the Colony to briefly review any changes that may have occurred respecting the public instruction of the Colony during the previous year. When I distributed the prizes in the Central School in January, 1879, Dr. STEWART was absent in Great Britain, and on his return important changes were made. During his absence in his own country, the head master of this school obtained from the University where as a youth he had studied a high recognition of his ability, character and learning, for he then received from the ancient University of Aberdeen the ad eundem degree of Doctor of Laws. It is fitting on this occasion, when he has returned to the Colony and is presiding over this flourishing institution, that you and I should congratulate him on the honour he thus received. Dr. STEWART received, I think I may call it, another honour, though it was in the practical way of official business, in the Colony itself, soon after his return. He has been for many years one of the most eminent officials in the Government of Hongkong. But, last summer, for the first time in his career, he was placed upon the Executive Council of the Colony, and for three months filled the responsible post of Acting Colonial Secretary,