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scabies, 4 for small-pox; consumption, pneumonia, fever and dysentery account for 5 others; 12 cases of mild trachoma were gratuitously treated at the Government Civil and Tung Wa Hospitals, the boys, according to regulation, being allowed to come to school while undergoing treatment: 2 virulent cases of this disease were off the roll for 5 and 6 months respectively. Two new classrooms have been added to our accommodation: a large room capable of seating 50 pupils, at the back of the Hall Gallery, and a small room for 30 pupils, in the East wing. These additional classrooms are both fitted with dual desks, similar in pattern to those with which it has been decided to reseat, during 1910, the whole of the classrooms on the first floor. Our maximum seating space, inclusive of three 50-classes in the Hall, is now 996.
The total examination results over the whole school are a slight improvement over those of last year. English subjects show marked improvement. This is especially evident in the composition exhibited in the Upper School. Mathematics in IA and IB, in IIB and in IIIA and IIIB were good; in IIA very good. In the difficult but highly useful subject of Book-keeping, taken entirely by Mr. Grant, excellent results were got in IA, IB, and IC, and very fair results in IIA, IIB and IIC. In the Lower School, Elementary Algebra was well tackled by IVA, IVB and IVC: Geometrical Drawing was also well done in IVA2, IVB and IVD: in the other sections of this Class, these subjects were but fair. The General Intelligence paper, given only to the three sections in Class I, was exceedingly well answered by the top section. Non-Chinese boys, in the Upper School only, take Physiology and Science in place of translation from and into Chinese. They are divided into Seniors and Juniors. The results were better than those of last year. Of 11 Seniors, all passed in each subject; and of 9 Juniors, 1 failed in Physiology and 2 in Science. Optional Classes are taken in Model and Freehand Drawing, and also in Trigonometry. These classes are voluntary, and extra to the Time Table. The results in both Drawings were very poor. The Trigonometry Class, in charge of Mr. Grant, was divided into Seniors and Juniors. Of the 6 Seniors, 5 passed on a fairly difficult paper and of 11 Juniors, 9 passed: these results give 83 per cent. and 82 per cent. respectively.
In the coming school year, an attempt will be made to instil into our boys a sound liking for good literature, by providing, in higher Classes, more than a single reader for the year's work. Boys will be encouraged in what has been happily termed silent reading which, under suitable guidance, should create a wholesome capacity for organised study, and a healthy taste for good books. The system is now being tried at home; and there is much to be advanced in its favour.