was,
class from which pupils are drawn, For very many years, a predilection for studies arranged or taught by foreigners even in Hongkong, deemed a scarcely amiable weakness, which on the main land would receive a rough check. So long as this feeling was that of the majority it was, of course, hopeless to expect anything like sympathy on the part of the more well-to-do natives. Time, however, worked the usual change, and hostility gave way to indifference, which in turn devoloped into a desire to have native boys taught those acquire ments which would better enable them to make their way in the world. The Chinese of Hongkong are now in what we may term this second stage as regards education. Knowledge is valued not for its own sake but for the power it confers of earning more money, They have yet to learn that there is a higher object yet to be attained in study, and that the acquisition of dollars is not the only end and object for which they are born. Nevertheless a great step has been gained. Indiffer ence, that no arguments could move, has been replaced by an eagerness to have children taught, highly to be commended, and we must not too curiously eaquira into motives. Suffice it to say that some knowledge of at least the elements of a foreign education is now deemed a des sideratum by the principal natives in Hougkong, and that Mr Stewart's efforts now have their sympathy instead of their antagonism.
Sir Arthur Kennedy's remarks after the distribution of the prizes may of course be taken to explain the policy which the government intends to pursue in the matter of school grants, and as such deserve attention. Sir Arthur has always been strongly in favour of payments by results and he did not fail to expatiate upon the benefits of that course of action. From the general proposition that it pro- vides the best security the government can obtain for its grants being properly applied, few will dissent. But with every deference to H. E's experience we would ask whether there is not some danger of over-impressing upon the na- tive mind the beauties of a scheme of! which the principal feature is that it is eminently utilitarian. Most men who favour education concede that there is a duty devolving upon all governments to provide education of some sort for the people; and this fact is, we well enough know, kept in view here. But in actual fact it is very doubtful whether pay- ments by results from the commence- ment would have ever allowed the Central School to attain its present satis- factory state. Nor, in strict truth, is the system even now applied to the govern- ment schools, inasmuch as what most people consider the primary object of the scheme that of affecting the renumera- tion of the masters, and so inducing zeal on thoir part-does not in the least touch them. Another evil also may be caused by too great an insistance on the benefits of the new plan. The Chinese to whom payment by results has long been familiar-may be apt to regard it as a weapon put into their hands where- with to punish the government masters if at any time they act in a way that displeases them. The absurdity of the idea is no reason why it should not be entertained, and as it is highly desirable that no such idea should prevail, it may perhaps be well not to say too much to people who do not clearly understand the distinctions observed between schools whose masters are salaried by the State,
and those in which the latter affords only outside and independent aid.
As regards H. E's remarks on the subject of secular education, we can (though strongly in favour of it where European boys alone are in question) but reiterate our former remark that it falls dead in this Colony. It is a dis advantage to the very few Protestant boys who attend the schools; it does not in the faintest degree conciliate the Catholics; and, lastly, it is a matter of such complete indifference to the natives, that were Catholicism, Protestantism and Mahomeduniam especially taught, month and month about, no Chinese parent would entertain the least objection to bis child attending each class in turn, We quite agree with His Excellency that it is impossible to conciliate members of all creeds. But we urge that the pre- sent system conciliates nobody, while pos- sessing certain disadvantages peculiaronly to a system of education carried on in the uidst of a pagan population. With all this too great praise cannot be given to the manner in which the secular system under Mr Stewart's superintendence is carried out. It is undoubtedly most successful, and the only question is whe- ther similar success would not, in his hands, attend a denominational scheme also.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, PROBOARY 11TH, 1874.
PUBLIC EXAMINATION AT THE GO.
xre
VERNMENT SCHOOLS. Yesterday the annual public examination of the scholars at the Government Schools took place. The classes assembled shortly after 10 (oʻlock, and the scholars were then examined, The fourth, fifth, and sixth classes were examined fully by a visitor present, and showed a very good knowledge of the various sub- jects on which they were questioned. The boys could read with ilneney passages well op to the average of English books in difficulty; could do sums in practice and proportion, and were able to take down fairly from dietation. The time taken in arithmetic was we think less than would be required by boys in a similar class at homo-that is, of course, taking the younger ones as the standard, as there many who have only come to school late, and are a great deal older than any youth who would be found so low down in a school at bome. The first and second cluszes were put through a very stiff examination in geography, arithmetic, reading, &c., by the second Master, and sequitted themselves very satisfactorily, and the proficiency generally shown came up to a very good standard. At noon H.E. the Governor, and Capt. O'Callag- ham, arrived-and the classes were filed into the lecture Hall, where H.. proceeded to dis- tribute the prizes. Among the visitors present were the Hon. Mr. Austin, Hou. C Smith, Hon. P. Ryrie, Mr. Rosano, Portuguese Vice- Consul, &c., &c. H. . then distributed the various prizes, with a few kindly and encour- aging words to each of the successful scholars.
The List is as follows:-
ENGLISH OASSES. SPECIAL PRIZES,
Best Scholar-U Lai-ün, field glass, present- ed by Government; Translation-Sin A-sin, watch, by Hon. C. C. Swith; Chemistry-Lo A-laeung, watch, by Hou. F. yrie; Drawing- F. Reme, ios, book, by Mr. Hyndman; Arith-
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