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THE DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 30cm, 1975.
PUBLIC EXAMINATION AT THE
CENTRAL SCHOOL,
The annual public examination of the scholars at the Government Schools took place yester. day. The classes asembled about ten o'clock as usual, for the purposes of being examined by any visitor who might choose to do so; but, as was the case last year, only a very few availed themselves of the opportunity of testing the proficiency of the boye in any of their studies. We saw several of the classes examined, and the pupils all acquitted themselves very satis.. factorily. We do not know how it is ibat so little practical interest seenis to be taken by the residents of Hongkong in an in- stitution like the Central School. The boya are there to be examined by any one who wishes to do so, and that only one or two should go there year after year for this purpose
is neither creditable to the community, nor encouraging to Mr. Stewart und bis assistants. If the same facility be afforded on the next occasion, about which there is some doubt, we hope it will be taken advantage of. Ai noon H.E. the Governor and Capt. O'Callagban arrived. The classes were then filed into the lecture Hall, or at least as many of the classes as it coald accommodate; and when we say that the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and touth had to remain in their own rooms, and that barely half the number of boys in attendance could be present when the prizes wera distributed, we think we have said enough to show that the Government ought to provide adequate school accommodation, and set about doing so at once, Among the visitors present, besides a num- ber of ladies, were Hon. J. G. Austin, Hon. C. C. Smith, Hon. P. Ryrie, Hon. J. Bramston, Captain Deane, Mr. Tonnochy, Mr. Russell, Rev. Dr. Eitel, Rev. J. O. Edge, Rev. Lechler, &c. His Excellency then distributed
the various prizes, with a few kindly and encou raging words to each of the successful scholars. The list is as follows:-
ENGLISH CLASSES,
SPECIAL PRIZES.
Best Scholar-Lau Ast.-Morrison Scbblar- ship; Translation-Fang Ashüi, watch, by Hon. C. C. Smith; Chemistry-Wong Kam Mün, watch, by Hon. P. Ryrie; Drawing Oban Ati, two books, by Mr. I. P. Pereira.
ORDINARY PRIZES,
1ST CLASS.-1, Ubap Ufai, watch, by Mr. Kwok Achnug; 2, Lo Ming Kan, Dictionary of Information, by Mr. F. Remedios; 3, F. Haze. land, Dictionary of Geography, by Mr. E. ite medios.
2ND CLASS.-1, Cheung Abo, watch, by Mr. Russell; 2, Ho Usbang, pencil case, by Mr. Kwok Achung; 3, H. Sampson, Christian Year by Mr. Romano.
3RD CLASS.-1, Kwok Hung Kwai, water by Government; 2, Oban Ain, magnifying glass, by Mr. Kwok Acheng; 3, R. Nowrojee, Pierrot's Life, by Mr. Roman.
4TH CLASS-1, U Ting Fan, watch, by Go. vernment; 2, Tae Yun Tak, pencil case, by Dr. Dods; 3, Young Aun, pencil caso, by Third Master; 4. Midene, pencil case, by Government. 5TH CLASS.-1, Tam Inam, watch, by Go- vernment; 2, Wong Lan Su, clock, by Goveru ment; 3, Cawasjee pencil case, by Government. 6TH CLASS.-1, Yeung Hing Tsing, watch, by Government; 2, Cheng Akan, clock, by Gro- vernment.
7TH CLASS.-1, Cheung Taun Yuk, pencil case, by Government; 2. Li Shin Hang, pencil case, by Government.
8TH CLASS-1, Pau Tin Chi, pencil case, by Government; 2, Ho Afak, mathematical instru- ments, by Government.
9TH CLASS.-1, Wong Tai Fong, mathematical instruments, by Mr. Gerrard; 2, Lau Chiu Leang, peu and knife, by Mr. Romano.
10TH CLASS-1, Li Kam Man, pen and knife, by Mr. Romano; 2, Yeang Ikam, pen, by Mr. Romano.
CHINESE CLASSES. FORTNIGHTLY EXAMINATIONS.
1ST CLASS-Wong Tin Leung, watch, by Head Master.
2ND CLASS-Püs Tsz Obaog, Dennys's Handbook, by Head Master.
ORDINARY PRIZES.
Iar Class-1, Le'ung Shin Kong, watch, by Mr. Wong Tao Leung; 2, Tong Lit Kưởng, Deunys's Handbook.
2ND CLASS 1, Tang Man Sham, pencil case, by Government; 2, Cheng Wing Shao, magni- fying glass, by Government,
3RD CLASS, Obau Amui, pencil case, by Government; 2, Hung Kam Shing, pencil case, by Government.
4TH CLASS.-1, Ho Kam Obi, pencil case, by Government; 2, Cheung Akau, pencil case, by Government,
CHINESE CLASS FOR EUROPEANS, &o. 1ST DIVISION,-1, B. Pereira, binocular, by Government; 2, A. Pereira, Dictionary of Quotatione, by Mr. Hyndman.
2ND DIVISION.-1, Ram Sammy, thermome- ter, by Second Master; 2. Verbab Curreem, i dial, by Government.
3RD DIVISION.-1, T. Namiki, "Cabinet of Gems," by Mr. Romano; 2, L. S. Aionco, dial, by Government.
His Excellency the GOVERNOR then said: 1 find on reference to the returns before me that, there were 529 pupils present in all during last year. There are actually in school this day 325, and the total that ought to be bere, but are prevented by sickness and other causes, is 855. That I think is really a very large number of boys to be educated in one school; and to show the advantages which they derive from it, it appears that during the past year 165 boys bave left the school. Some of these are engaged in various Government and mercau- tile offices in Hoogkong, others have entered the Chinese Customs service, while many have been engaged by Chinese firms, or obtained situa- tions and gone to other countries. This fact ought to show all the boys present the very great benefita which have been and are con- tinually derived from attendance at the school. None of those boys I have referred to would probably have been able to obtain situations or en er any of these employments but for the efficient training they have bad here.
I am very sure that all those who have left the school even now are thankful that early in life they begun to appreciate the very great benefits to be derived from their attendance here. This fast ought to encourage those who are now here, and I am sure that in after years they will feel grateful for the great attention bestowed upon them. I would beg all the boys bere not to judge of the interest--the very deep interest that I tako in the welfare of the school in any measure by the number of visits I make to it. I am content to leave well alone.! I know that all your masters do their duty, I have entire confidence in the discretion of your able Superintendent, and therefore I med- Idle with it as little as possible. But I know by results, by common report, and from those who are capable of forming an opinion, that the school is making very respectable progress, There is one matter which has been mentioned to me by persons whose opinion I respect. It is a matter which I am unwilling to tonob upon, but I have been asked to say some thing to clear up the misunderstandings that 1 believe are abroad-not very widely I am happy to say-on the subject of the absence of religious instruction at this school. I think it must appear to anybody of common sense, with the great number of nationalities that we have represented here, that it would be impossible to carry out such a thing with any good results. I can say for myself, and I think I may eay the same for the Superintendent hore, Mr. Stewart, although I bave not con- sulted with him on the subject, that it is a great error to suppose that we are in any way opposed to religious instruction by itself.
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