AnnualReport-1879 — Page 71

7. With reference to the objections, recently transmitted, of the Reverend Mr. KIDD, the Colonial Chaplain, and of Pastor KLITZKE, of the Berlin Mission, to the Grant-in-Aid Scheme, I believe they will be effectually removed by the modifications you instruct me to make in the Scheme; and that those School Managers and the other Educationists in Hongkong, who, ou conscientious grounds, were unable to accept the Grants-in-Aid, will in future cordially cooperate with the Government in promoting public instruction in the Colony.

I have the honour to be,

Sir, ́

Your most obedient Servant,

J. POPE HENNESSY.

The Right Honourable Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, Bart., M.P.,

Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,

&c.,

sc.,

f'c.

SIR.

*

7. THE COLONIAL CHAPLAIN TO THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

THE CHAPLAINCY, HONGKONG, 4th March, 1879.

I have the honour to request that you will inform His Excellency tite Governor that I have opened a School for English boys.

This step was made almost necessary on my part, because, at the end of last year, the School hitherto carried on at S. Paul's College, the only School for Protestant boys in the Colony, was closed by the Bishop of Victoria.

For the sake of English boys, whose parents are, for the most part, members of my congregation, I felt bound to provide some means whereby they might receive an education bused on Church of England principles.

In taking this step I have received the cordial support of those for whom I made the provision. The number of English boys in the Colony is only limited, but I have now the names of 25 boys on the School list, and 19 are in attendance this morning. To show that the parents desire the kind of teaching for their children which I intend to give here, I may say that I was yesterday informed by the Acting Inspector of Schools that every English boy had left the Central School (where secular instruction only is given) to join my classes. From an experience of the Colony, dating from 1871, I am convinced that English parents here desire the establishment of a School, (1) where religion has its place, and (2) where their boys can receive instruction apart from the Chinese.

I am sorry to say that I am unable to put my school under Government Inspection, and thus claim the pecuniary support (under the Grants-in-Aid Scheme) which I really very much need. I cannot conscientiously give secular instruction only for the required number of hours per day, nor can I omit the Bible and the Prayer Book from my Time Table.

I have determined to charge each boy a fee of $2, but, of course, the sum total arising from such a charge will be quite inadequate to defray the expenses of the School. The School fees will probably amount to about $45 per mensem, but even under the present favourable circumstances, when I am giving my personal superintendence to the School, and helping considerably in the class work, I have been obliged to involve myself in a charge for masters of $88 per mensein. I calculate that the School will cost quite £300 per annum. I ought to say that the outlay, in commencing this School, for books, desks, forms, &c., has been great, falling but little short of $250. Of course, this accomut would be considerably increased but for the fact that I give three rooms in my house which is the Chaplaincy only in the sense that I live here, and not because it is a residence provided for the Chap- lain, wholly or in part, by either the Government or the Community-for the purposes of the School. Under these circumstances I need hardly say that I should have been glad if I could have received some substantial aid from the Government.

We are prepared to teach in the School the higher subjects of Greek and Latin, as well as advanced mathematics. Attendance at the School for Chinese is optional. Instruction is given in that language from 2 to 4 P.M. daily (except Saturdays). I have engaged for my Chinese master a teacher recommended by the Acting Inspector of Schools.

I annex the School Time Table, as well as the School prospectus.

Of course the Establishment of this School, which I propose to call the Chaplaincy School, has added considerably to my already sufficiently ardnous duties. Responsible for the Cathedral Services, and Chaplain to the Gaol, Hospital, and Cemetery, it is only a strong sense of duty which has caused me to take a step which involves so much labour, as well as moral and pecuniary responsibility.

7. With reference to the objections, recently transmitted, of the Reverend Mr. KIDD, the Colonial Chaplain, and of Pastor KLITZKE, of the Berlin Mission, to the Grant-in-Aid Scheme, I believe they will be effectually removed by the modifications you instruct me to make in the Scheme; and that those School Managers and the other Educationists in Hongkong, who, ou conscientious grounds, were unable to accept the Grants-in-Aid, will in future cordially cooperate with the Government in promoting public instruction in the Colony.

I have the honour to be,

Sir, ́

Your most obedient Servant,

J. POPE HENNESSY.

The Right Honourable Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, Bart., M.P.,

Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,

&c.,

sc.,

f'c.

SIR.

*

7. THE COLONIAL CHAPLAIN TO THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

THE CHAPLAINCY, HONGKONG, 4th March, 1879.

I have the honour to request that you will inform His Excellency tite Governor that I have opened a School for English boys.

This step was made almost necessary on my part, because, at the end of last year, the School hitherto carried on at S. Paul's College, the only School for Protestant boys in the Colony, was closed by the Bishop of Victoria.

For the sake of English boys, whose parents are, for the most part, members of my congregation, I felt bound to provide some means whereby they might receive an education bused on Church of England principles.

In taking this step I have received the cordial support of those for whom I made the provision. The number of English boys in the Colony is only limited, but I have now the names of 25 boys on the School list, and 19 are in attendance this morning. To show that the parents desire the kind of teaching for their children which I intend to give here, I may say that I was yesterday informed by the Acting Inspector of Schools that every English boy had left the Central School (where secular instruction only is given) to join my classes. From an experience of the Colony, dating from 1871, I am convinced that English parents here desire the establishment of a School, (1) where religion has its place, and (2) where their boys can receive instruction apart from the Chinese.

I am sorry to say that I am unable to put my school under Government Inspection, and thus claim the pecuniary support (under the Grants-in-Aid Scheme) which I really very much need. I cannot conscientiously give secular instruction only for the required number of hours per day, nor can I omit the Bible and the Prayer Book from my Time Table.

I have determined to charge each boy a fee of $2, but, of course, the sum total arising from such a charge will be quite inadequate to defray the expenses of the School. The School fees will probably amount to about $45 per mensem, but even under the present favourable circumstances, when I am giving my personal superintendence to the School, and helping considerably in the class work, I have been obliged to involve myself in a charge for masters of $88 per mensein. I calculate that the School will cost quite £300 per annum. I ought to say that the outlay, in commencing this School, for books, desks, forms, &c., has been great, falling but little short of $250. Of course, this accomut would be considerably increased but for the fact that I give three rooms in my house which is the Chaplaincy only in the sense that I live here, and not because it is a residence provided for the Chap- lain, wholly or in part, by either the Government or the Community-for the purposes of the School. Under these circumstances I need hardly say that I should have been glad if I could have received some substantial aid from the Government.

We are prepared to teach in the School the higher subjects of Greek and Latin, as well as advanced mathematics. Attendance at the School for Chinese is optional. Instruction is given in that language from 2 to 4 P.M. daily (except Saturdays). I have engaged for my Chinese master a teacher recommended by the Acting Inspector of Schools.

I annex the School Time Table, as well as the School prospectus.

Of course the Establishment of this School, which I propose to call the Chaplaincy School, has added considerably to my already sufficiently ardnous duties. Responsible for the Cathedral Services, and Chaplain to the Gaol, Hospital, and Cemetery, it is only a strong sense of duty which has caused me to take a step which involves so much labour, as well as moral and pecuniary responsibility.