Medal, presented by His Lordship the Bishop, and for Book-keeping "Crabh's English Synonyms," presented by Honourable J. Russell; J. Gonsalves, for Arithmetic and Algebra, a Gold Medal, presented by J. H. dos Remedios, and for English, a Dictionary, presented by Rev. Father Sainz, Spanish Procuration; L. Figueiredo, for Book-keeping, a Silver Medal, presented by Doctor Stewart; F. Remedios, for Christian Doctrine, a Silver Medal, presented by His Lordship the Bish, and for Geography Worcester's Dictionary," presonted by Honourablo J. Russell.
4th Class, 1st Division--A Silva, for General Improvement, "Stories of Birds," presented by Honourable J. Russell; B. Vieira, for Good Conduct, "Webster's Dictionary," presented by Rev. Father Sainz, Spanish Procuration; C. Hynn for Religious Instruction, a Pon and Kaleidoscope, presented by Mr. Noronba; F. Aguir, for Arithmetic, a Dictionary, presented by Dr. Stewart; J. Vieira, for Religious Instruction, a Dictionary, presented by Father Sainz, and for Arithmetic, à Gold Pencil Case, prosented by Mr. Belilios; and for Home Work, a Book, "Mousters of the Deep," presented by Mr. Kwok Acheong; G. Ranciman, for Reading, a Penknife, prosented by Dr. Stewart; T. Masso, for Reading, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; G. Thomas, for Orthography, a Book, "Life Among the Indians," presented by Dr. Stewart; James Grimes, for Writing, & Book, "Life Among the Indians," presented by the Brothers; G. Gutierez, for Writing, a Book, "Talos of Kings and Queens," presented by the Director; W. Rose, for General Improvement, a Gold Pencil Case, prezented by Mr. Belilios.
1st Class, 2nd Division.-A Castro, for Mental Arithmetic, a Silver Medal, presented by Mr. Sharp; M. Souza, for Geography and Writing, a Silver Medal, presented by Mr. Coxon (Consul for Belgium); M. Pereira, Arithmetic, "Webster's Dictionary," presented by Doctor Stewart; C. Castro, for Analysis and Parsing, Chamber's Dictionary of English Language, presented by Deputy Inspector-General Breeu.
2nd Class, 1st Division.-F. Braga, for General Improvement, a Gold Medal, presented by Mr. Plichon, Consul for France; and a prize for Chinese, by Dr. Eitel; H. Rozario, for Grammar, a Silver Medal, presented by Dr. Gomes; C. Oemand, for Composition, "Ogilvie's English Dictionary," presented by Mr. Justice Francis; B. Remedios, for Arithmetic, a Silver Medal, presented by Honourable J. Russoll; F. Soares, for Grammar, "Webster's Dictionary," presented by Mr. Kwok Acheong; G. George, for Arithmetic, a Book, "Living Pages from many Agos," presented by Honourable P. Ryrie, and Book, "Longfellow's Proso Works," for Orthography, prescured by Mr. Fleming; P. Assis, for Religious Instruction, "History of America," presented by Rev. Father Borghignoli, and "The Sea and its Wonders," prescuted by Mr. Loureiro, Consul for Portugal; C. Ozerio, for Geography, a Pen Case, presented by Mr. Noronha; J. Braga, for Goography, an Ink- stand, presented by the Italian Consul; F. Britto, for Good Conduct, a Book, "Cruise of the Frolic." presented by Honour- able P. Ryrie.
2nd Class, 2nd Division.-G, da Costa, for Arithmetic, a Peucil and Kaleidoscope, presented by Mr. Noronha; A. Ribeiro, for Arithmetic, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; A. Adauns, for English, a Gold Medal, prosented by
H.E. the Governor.
3rd Class, 1st Division.-F. Jesus, for English, a Book, "Parlour Menagerie," presented by Mr. Justice Francis; P. Sonza, for Arithmetic, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; C. Barradas, for Arithmetic, a Book, "Tales of the Sea," presented by Mr. George; F. d'Almada, for Grammar, a Book, Little Folks Holiday Album," presented by Portu- guese Consul, and for Dictation, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by the Director; J. Prestage, for Reading, a Book, "The Manders and Customs of the World," presented by Mr. George; J. Brandão, for Good Conduct, a Book, "Stories for the Household," proscuted by Honourable P. Ryrie; J. Mesny, for General Improvement, a Silver Medal, presented by Mr. New- ton; A. Barradas, for Christian Doctrine, a Gold Pen, presented by Mr. Belilios; C. Carvalho, for Mental Arithmetic, a Book, "Three Years at Wolverhampton," presented by the Italian Consul; E. Sequeira, for Writing, an Inkstand, presented by the Honourable J. Russell; A. da Costa, for Regular Attendance, a Hook, "Nuge Syrico," presented by the Italian Con- sul; B. Braga, for Parsing, a Dictionary, presented by Rev. Father Sainz, Spanish Procuration; J. Leon, for Home-tasks, a Book, presented by Mr. A. G. Romano, Consul for Brazil.
5th Class.-E. Adams, for Reading, a Dictionary, presented by the Brothers; II. Campos, for Arithmetic, a Dictionary, presented by the Brothers; J. Remedios, for Writing, a Colour Box, presented by Mr. Belilios; W. Foley, for Reading, a Pen knife, presented by Mr. Noronha; M. Barradas, for Arithmetic, a Dictionary, presented by Father Sainz; L. Rosario, for Writing, a Gold Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; M. Dauenberg, for Orthography, a Colour Box, presented by Mr. Belilios; L. Rose, for Orthography, a Gold Pencil Case, presonted by Mr. Belilios; G. Tavares, for Arithmetic, an English and French Dictionary, presented by the Brothers; L. Assis, for General Improvement, a Dictionary; P. Gomes, for Good Conduct and Application, a Book, "Life among the Indians," presented by Honourable J. Russell; F. Sequeira, for Reading, a Book, "Narratives and Dialogues," presented by Dr. Stewart.
*
6th Class.-C. Gutierrez, for Writing, a Colour Box, presented by Mr. Belilios; S. Figueiredo, for Spelling, a Book, "Columbus and Laperouse," presented by the Brothers; D. da Costa, for Arithmetic, a Book, "Catholic Legions"; I. Placido, for Reading, Story of Christian Heroisin"; L. Brass, for Religious Instruction, "Tales of Enterprises"; V. Musso, for Good Conduct, a Goll Pencil Case, presented by Mr. Belilios; B. Fasso, for Reading, a Gold Pencil Case, prosented by Mr. Belilios. Chinese Class.--Leung Ah Mong, for General Improvement, "Worcester's Dictionary," an Ornamental Inkstand, a draw- ing Box, presented by the Honourable Ng Choy; Luy Chin Un, for Translation, a Drawing Box and a Box of Colours, presented by the Rev. Brother Leo; Hing Shang, for English Composition, a Book, "Pictures from Bible Lands," presented by Mr. A. G. Romano, the Brazilian Consul; Lam Shing Man, for English, a Silver Medal, presented by His Lordship the Bishop; Leung Aur, a Drawing Box, for English, presented by Brother Idinaelis, Visitor to the Christian Schools; Tuò Ab Sing, a Silver Medal for Arithmetic, presented by flis Lordship; Kan Shang, for English, a Book, "Stories of Animal Sa- gacity," presented by Kwok Acheong; Wong Wing Kwong, a Chinese atul English Dictionary, for Arithmetic, prosented by Mr. Noronha; He Kam Uu, a Chinese and English Dictionary, presented by Doctor Eitel; Ng Au, a Chinese and English Dictionary, for Arithmetic, presented by Mr. Noronha; Leung Chin Im, Silver Watch, presented by the Opium Farmer, for English; Acheung, a Silver Pencil Case, presented by the Opium Farmer, for Arithmetic; A Ngo, a Silver Pencil Caso, presented by the Opium Farmer, for Euglish; Wong Wing Kee, a Knife, presented by the Opium Farmer, for Arithmetic; A Foon, a Silver Pencil Case, presented by the Opium Farmer, for English; Tso Aching, a Book, "Parlour Menagerie," presented by the Opium Farmer, for Arithmetic; Ng Hing Shan, "Parlour Menagerie, and a Wateli, presented by the Opium Farmer, for English; Leung Aut, "Parlour Monagerie," prosented by the Opium Farmer, for Arithmetic; Lain Shang Nan, "Parlour Menagerie," presented by the Opium Farmer, for English; Fung Tio Sek, a Peu Knife, presented by the Opium Farmer, for English, Ma Wan Nek, a Penkuite, prosented by the Opium Farmer, for Good Conduct.
His EXCELLENCY then said-My lord, ladies and gentlemen,-I have now discharged the pleasing task of distributing the prizes which the pupils have obtained upon the examination of Dr. EITEL, the Government Inspector of Schools. I need hardly say that no one in this Colony is better qualified than Dr. EITEL to test the proficiency of scholars. It affords me peculiar gratification to be present here to-day to take part with all of you in seeing the result of the instruction given by the Christian Brothers. As his Lordship has said, it is the first time that this school has come under our Govern- ment grant-in-aid system although that system was established in 1873. The difficulties to which his Lordship referred have been happily surmounted, and Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in the decision he gave, has caused universal satisfaction throughout the Colony to the School managers and the parents
179
of the pupils. It is true his predecessor, Lord CARNARVON, addressed to me a despatch desiring me to ask the Bishop how it came to pass that in this Colony the Roman Catholic schools were not accepting any aid from the Government. Accordingly a letter was addressed to the Bishop conveying the instructions I had received from Lord CARNARVON. The Bishop, in answering, went minutely int the objections that he and other managers of schools took to the grant-in-aid scheme, for it did so happen that he did not stand alone in the objections that he raised to it. At the very same time that his Lordship objected to the scheme as it then stood, the head of the Berlin Mission, Pastor KLITZKE, his successor during his absence, Pastor Louis, and our late Colonial Chaplain, Mr. Kron, also came to me and stated their objections to the scheme. Those objections were reduced to writing and duly transmitted by me to Her Majesty's Government. They turned mainly on one point, that the scheme insisted that certain books to be used in the schools should be secular books and that four hours a day should be given to purely secular instruction. They said "Let us teach our schools as we ourselves "and the parents of the children think best, teaching according to the standards fixed upon by the Government; let the Government select the subjects, let Government select its own Inspectors and "Examiners and give the grant-in-aid according to the result of their inspection and examination, "but do not tie us down to any specified class of books or four hours of secular teaching." Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH Considered these objections, and of the ten points raised by the Bishop, he instructed me to grant seven, the other three being points of a different character, one of them relating to the two hundred attendances. I shall convey to the Secretary of State the cordial acknowledgments which the Bishop has made publicly to-day to Her Majesty's Government for what Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH has done. I shall also not fail to consider most carefully the Bishop's observations with espect to the two hundred attendances. It is a fact that at Singapore there is a different rule, and ndeed the rule in England also on that subject is different. It is also, perhaps, a reasonable statement to make that whilst it may be perfectly fair to expect two hundred attendances from a Chinese boy, to expect the same from a European boy in this climate may not be equally fair. However, I shall consider that question.
The school we are now assembled in is therefore enjoying a grant-in-aid, and the question arises, what does the Government get from this school, what advantage will Her Majesty's Government, derive from the grant-in-aid given in this and similar institutions? I admit at once it is the duty of the State to assist education, but I think it is especially our duty in this Colony to assist in giving a sound English education. It was therefore satisfactory to see that the young gentleman who read out the list of prizes so clearly got a first prize. His correct enunciation showed how well he deserves it. Dr. ETTEL has reported that as far as English speaking goes, of all the schools he has been examining he regards this as the best; in arithmetic, he reports highly of his examination, and also in the art of handwriting. In other words, the English speaking, the writing, and the arithmetic in this school show a sound basis for our mercantile requirements. The Inspector has also reported that the results of the teaching in Algebra and Geometry are excellent. But there is one defect to which I venture, as I have received a report on the subject officially, to call the attention of the teachers, and that is in English Composition. Now, it arises I believe, not so much from the fault of the teachers as from the fact that the pupils are mostly young gentlemen of the Portuguese race. I observe my friend Mr. LOUREIRO, the Portuguese Consul, here. He sees a majority of apparently Portuguese youth in this school; but I claim them from him as British subjects, because, although they are of the Portuguese race they have been born in the Colony and therefore it is only their fathers or grandfathers he has charge of; I have official charge of these young gentlemen. In the address, which my young friend ALMADA read, I have been invited to give the scholars advice. Acting on that invitation I therefore recommend that they should endeavour of all things to improve their English Composition. We all know what admirable clerks the young Portuguese make, we know how accurately they keep their accounts, how clear is their handwriting; and we know their other good points--fidelity, punctuality, and the courtesy that arises from a natural disposition to please-but they are defective in English Composition, and it is a most important thing in this Colony that they should pay attention to it, and that in this respect they should show they are equal to any other youths in Hongkong. I would therefore advise them to establish some organisation or society among themselves where they might read little essays in English and discuss them, and also to endeavour to form a library of English authors, not so much of instructive as of entertaining books; by reading these books and writing essays they might gain the skill they require in English Composition. I am sure in giving that advice, from what I have seen of the prizes to-day, I am only doing what the donors of the prizes would like. I find among the prizes some contri- buted by Dr. STEWART, the Head Master of the Central School, and all the prizes he has given are prizes pointing in that direction, to the teaching and studying of English.
Owing to the munificence of my generous friend, Mr. BELILIOS, there is established in this Colony now a series of scholarships. The Honourable Mr. RYRIE, Dr. EITEL, and the Governor of the Colony are the trustees of the BELILIOS Scholarships. Some of these will be devoted to giving medical instruc- tion to Chinese, which I hope to see accomplished by means of the native physicians at the Tung Wah Hospital in combition with a teacher of western medical science. Some of the scholarships go to the Central School; and some to this school. I advise the pupils who may compete for the BELILIOS scholarships to endeavour to work beyond the sixth standard to remain a little longer at school, and to give their attention in the direction I have been pointing, namely, to English composition and English
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