CO129-174 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [4-8] — Page 516

514

LIST OF APARTMENTS PROPOSED IN THE NEW DESIGN FOR A CENTRAL SCHOOL.

Accommodation for 500 Scholars to include:~~~

(1.) Examination hall capable of holding 500.

(2.) Five class rooms for 100 each.

(3.) Connecting with these 5 class rooms for 40 each.

(1.) Lecture room for 60, with 2 adjoining rooms, one for practical chemistry,

and one for teachers' laboratory.

(5.) Room to be used as school-library, and office for junior masters,

(W.C. attached.)

(6.) Head Master's office and residence.

(7.) Store room for school materials.

(8.) Cloak room for umbrellas, shoes, &c., &c., in rainy weather.

MEMORANDUM.

Being unable to decide upon the important questions involved in the Surveyor General's Report without further information, I desire, as a preliminary step, that this matter be referred for enquiry to a Board consisting of the Honourable P. RYRIE, the Honourable H. Lowcock, the Honourable the Acting Treasurer, the Surveyor General, and the Inspector of Schools.

The Board will consider firstly, the accommodation to be provided, and the possibility, without impairing the efficiency of the new school, of reducing the number of rooms in the list appended to the Surveyor General's Report. The question of quarters for the Assistant Masters need not occupy the attention of the Board, as on this point the Government has already come to a decision.

Secondly, the attention of the Board will be directed to the investigation, and selection of the most favourable site as regards:—

1. Salubrity.

2. Economy of cost.

3. Neighbourhood.

These considerations rank in the order in which they are here given. The heavy outlays which the Colony will have to meet during this and the forth- coming year in the execution of works of greater importance than the new school, render it imperative that the cost of the latter should be restricted to the very lowest possible figure, consistent with its public utility.

As regards neighbourhood, and especially the possible effect which its distance from the homes of the scholars may have in reducing the attendance, it will be for the Board to weigh, with the greatest circumspection, the merit of the objections which may come under consideration under this head, and which may interpose to prevent the acquisition of the least expensive site. It will also be the duty of the Board to investigate the importance of such loss of attendance (if any) as compared with the advantage of the enormous saving by the selection of a site somewhat less central than that of the present school, and the adoption of which may set free and render available additional funds for the proposed new buildings themselves.

I shall be glad to receive from the Board any suggestions which it may deem desirable to submit bearing generally upon the matter, and I rely upon the energy and public spirit of its members, to be placed in possession of their Report at as early a date as possible.

A. E. KENNEDY.

Government House, Victoria,

Hongkong, 3rd May, 1876.

1

To the Honourable J. G. AUSTIN, C.M.G.,

SIR,

Colonial Secretary.

HONGKONG, 30th May, 1876.

I have now the honour to enclose, for transmission to His Excellency the Governor, the Report of the Board which, at His Excellency's request, sat to consider a site for the Central School.

I also beg to return the Surveyor General's Report and the Memorandum attached to the same by the Governor, which was forwarded to the Board for its information.

I have the hounor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

REPORT.

H. LowCock, Chairman.

His Excellency Sir A. E. KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.5., having directed that a Board should sit to take into consideration the selection of a site for the Government new Central School, consisting of the Honourable C. MAY, the Honourable H. Lowcock, the Surveyor General, and the Inspector of Schools, these gentlemen accordingly formed a Committee of Enquiry, and now beg to report as follows:-

Firstly. The Board took into consideration, as directed, the accommodation necessary to he provided, with the view, if possible, of reducing the number of The Board is of rooms in the list appended to the Surveyor General's Report. opinion, looking at the number of scholars now in the school, 420, and the constant applications on the part of a much larger number than can be at present accommo- dated, that no reduction in the number of rooms required is practicable, though a different arrangement of some might be made without reducing the amount of accommodation; for instance, it is suggested that the room to be used as an Examination Hall might be so constructed as to admit of its subdivision by moveable partitions into three rooms, thus reducing to two the number of separate class rooms.

Secondly. The Board directed its attention to the selection of a site for the school, giving due weight and careful consideration to the matter as regard salu- brity, economy and neighbourhood, and with these points before them, took the best evidence obtainable from those connected with, or interested in, the school, European, Portuguese and Chinese, in regard to the sites detailed in the Surveyor General's Report.

1st.

The Bonham Road site, or the picce of ground near the Berlin Mission, belonging to Messrs. A. Heard & Co.'s estate.-All the evidence adduced showed, that this site, though admirably adapted for building purposes and well situated as far as salubrity is concerned, was too far distant from the homes of most of the scholars, and for that reason was considered very undesirable. It would take too long a time for them to go to and from home for their meals, and the exposed position of the road would render it necessary for many of thein to use chairs during the the hot season, an expense few could afford, and it was therefore thought probable should this site be chosen, that the falling off in the attendance at the school would be considerable. [Evidence attached.]