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Enclosure 1.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, DECEMBER 19th, 1893.
THE BELILIOS PUBLIC SCHOOL.
INAUGURATION CEREMONY.
Yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a large and representative gathering, the colony received, through His Excellency the Governor, the most princely gift which has ever distinguished the generosity of any one of its citizens. The Belilios Public School for Chinese girls, presented to the Government by the Hon. E. R. Belilios, and inaugurated yesterday with all due ceremony, is a fitting monument to the munificence which in so many ways has been identified with his name, and will stand as a lasting testimony to the public spirit of the donor. The inauguration was rightly made a function of an attractive, and even imposing, character, and the occasion, beyond its inherent significance, was marked by many features of special interest. It was a red-letter day in the history of education in the colony, a red-letter day for the rising female population, and a red-letter day for the Hon. E. R. Belilios himself.
The lengthy programme which had been arranged for the afternoon commenced at 2.30 with the cadet corps and band meeting at headquarters and marching through the town to the new building. This was the first public appearance of the corps, whose formation was due to the energy of Dr. Eitel, and the young cadets created a very favourable impression as they passed through the streets, their smart appearance in white tunics being an excellent testimonial to the care which has been expended on their drill and the natural aptitude of the lads themselves. At 3 o'clock, the scholars, in gay holiday attire, met at their respective schools and then proceeded to the new establishment. Shortly before 3.30, the Cadet Corps were formed up in front of the school as a guard of honour, and the public then began to arrive in large numbers. Among the early arrivals were Hons. E. R. Belilios, Hon. J. J. Roswick, Hon. E. Bowdler, Hon. G. T. M. O'Brien (Colonial Secretary), Hon. R. M. Rumsey (Harbour Master), Hon. N. G. Mitchell-Innes (Colonial Treasurer), Hon. Ho Kai, Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney General), Dr. Eitel, Mr. Lethbridge (Acting Captain Superintendent of Police), Dr. Ayres (Colonial Surgeon), and Mr. W. Chatham (Acting Director of Public Works). Then followed His Excellency Sir William and Lady Robinson, H.E. Major General Barker, Capt. Sterling, Capt. Murray, and Mr. C. Platt, H.E. Sir E. Fremantle arriving later. The Governor and the members of Council were then invited to inspect the new building, and the greatest satisfaction was expressed on all hands during the tour of the school. The official party, and subsequently the public, were evidently delighted with the magnificence of the place—the architectural beauty, structural conveniences, and the general appointments, and Mr. E. A. Ram (the architect) was warmly complimented on the result of his work. The building stands as one of the architectural ornaments of the city, and marks our progressiveness in an important direction.
The building is a three-storied one, with its principal facade towards Hollywood Road. The style selected by the architect is an adaptation of the English Renaissance, and the premises present a strikingly handsome and commodious appearance. The nature of the site has rendered it expedient to make the access from the Hollywood Road directly on to the first-floor level,
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and this arrangement has the advantage of obviating the necessity for scholars having to ascend more than one flight of stairs to their classrooms. Considerable care has evidently been bestowed upon the sanitary arrangements, which are on the most modern plan, all the fittings being of the most approved pattern. The block devoted to this department is cut off from the main building by a verandah and is practically surrounded by outside walls—a great desideratum from a sanitary point of view. The accommodation consists of six wash-basin and six W.Cs to each storey, the floors being of English tiles with dados of the same material. From an educational point of view, the school should be a great boon to the community, providing as it does for the accommodation of between 600 and 700 scholars. There are twelve classrooms, one upon each floor, and each will seat 48 children, with the exception of one which has an infants' gallery for 80 pupils. These classrooms are so arranged that those on each floor can be thrown into one by means of large sliding doors. All the apartments are airy, comfortable, and convenient. To the rear of the school, upon Gough Street, there is a commodious open playground with a concrete pavement, which forms a pleasant open space in a somewhat crowded locality. The cost of the building was $30,000.
THE PUBLIC MEETING IN THE PLAYGROUND. At four o'clock, His Excellency and Lady Robinson and the official party descended the steps into the playground, and the band played the National Anthem. There was a very large concourse of spectators, who were accommodated with chairs arranged on three sides of a large table on which the silver key of the building rested. The children were arranged on one side, with the Cadet Corps drawn up in line facing them. A great number of ladies graced the interesting function with their presence.
Mr. Chatham (Acting Director of Public Works) said—Your Excellency, I have been requested to state that the building, for the opening ceremony of which we are met here to-day, has been completed and furnished in a manner befitting the promise made by the Hon. E. R. Belilios to Government at the time when the site was handed over to him for the purpose. I need not trouble you with any statistics about the accommodation afforded and other matters. As a point which may not be touched on by the Inspector of Schools, however, I may mention that the requirements of the climate in a structural sense appear to have been provided for by the architect, Mr. Ram, who has evidently bestowed great pains on matters of arrangement and construction. School buildings in England have become almost palatial in their size and external and internal arrangements within recent years, and I think that the building before us to-day shows that we are not behind in this respect in Hongkong, but are keeping pace with the times. I can only add that I consider the colony must be congratulated on this important addition to its establishments for educational purposes.
Dr. Eitel said—Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, My colleague, the Director of Public Works, having stated the grounds on which this new school building commends itself architecturally as acceptable to the public service, it remains for me to add a few words concerning the educational import of the new building. Sir, standing as we are, on ground which, from the earliest years of the Colony, has been associated (as a missionary residence) with education, on ground sacred since 1862 to the memory of the most faithful labours, for the education of the Chinese, connected with the name of the late Dr. Stewart, it may well befit the occasion to survey briefly the bearings of the educational movement in this Colony. The schools of Hongkong are the offspring of three distinct educational agencies: the Chinese, the Church, and the State. Ever since this dot in the ocean has been peopled, the leaders of the Chinese inhabitants have gone their own way in the matter of education, accepting neither aid, nor control, nor even advice from Church or State. Of some 300 schools now at work in this Colony, well-nigh 200 are the exclusive creation of the Chinese Kaifong or the Tungwa Hospital Committee. As Chinese trade has gone its own way
Page 129
E
1
Enclosure 1.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, DECEMBER 19mm, 1893.
THE BELILIOS PUBLIC SCHOOL.
INAUGURATION CEREMONY.
Yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large and representative gathering the colony re- ceived, through His Excellency the Governor, the most princely gift which has ever distin- guished the generosity of any one of its citizens. The Belilios Public School for Chinese girls. } presented to the Government by the Hon. E. R. Belilios, and inaugurated yesterday with all due ceremony, is a fitting monument to the munificence which in so many ways has been identified with his name, and will stand as a last- ing testimony to the public spirit of the donor. The inauguration was rightly made a function of an attractive, and even imposing, character, and the occas on, beyond its inherent significance, was marked by many features of special interest. It was a red letter day in the history of education in the colony, a red letter day for the rising female population, and a red letter day for the Hon, E. R. Belilios himself.
The lengthy programme which had been ar- ranged for the afternoon commenced at 2.30 with the cadet corps and band meeting at head quarters and marching through the town to the: new building. This was the first publis appear- anes of the corps, whose formation was due to the energy of Dr. Eital, and the young cadets created a very favourable impression as they passed through the streets, their smart. appearance in white tunics being an excellent testimonial to the care which has been expended on their drill and the natural aptitude of the lads themselves. At 3 o'clock the scholars, iu gay holiday attire, mot at their respective schools and then proceeded to the new establishment. Shortly before 3.30 the Cadet Corps were formed op in front of the school as a guard of honour, and the public then began to arrive in large numbers. Among the early arrivals were Hos. E. R. Belilios, Hon. J. J. Koswick, Hon, E. Bowdler, Hon. G. T. M. O'Brien (Colonial Secretary), Hou. R. M. Rumsey (Harbour Mas- ter), Hôn N. G. Mitchell-inues (Colonial Treasurer), Hon. Ho Kai, Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney General), Dr. Eitel, Mr. Lethbridga (Acting Captain Superintendent of Police). Dr. ¡Ayres (Colonial Surgeou), and Mr. W. Chatham Acting Director of Public Works). Then followed His Excelloney Sir William and Lady Robinson, H E. Major General Barker, Capt. Sterling, Capt. Murray, and Mr. C. Platt, H.E. Sir E. Fremantle arriving later. The Governor and the members of Council were then invited to inspect the new building and the greatest satis- faction was expressed on all bands during the tour of the sehool. The official party, and subsequently the public, were evidently delighted with the magnificence of the place--the architectural beauty, structural conveniences, and the general appointments, and Mr. E. A. Ram (the architect)! was warmly complimented on the result of his work. The building stands as one of the ar Jchitectural ornaments of the city, and marks our
progressiveness in an important direction.
The building is a three storied one, with its 'principal facade towards Hollywood Road. The style selected by the architect is an adaptation of the English Reunissance, aud tho premises prasunt a strikingly handsome and commodious appearance. The nature of the site has rendered if expedient to make the access from the Holly- wood Road directly on to the first floor level,
and
47. 128
'Rec?
20.
194
and this arrangement has the advantage of GB- viating the necessity for scholars having to asoend more than one flight of stairs to their class rooms. Considerable care has evidently been bestowed upon the sanitary arrangements, which are on the most modern plan, all the fit- [ tings being of the most approved pattern. The block devoted to this department is cut off from the main building by a vorundah and is practi cally surrounded by outside walls a great desideratum from a sanitary point of view. The accommodation consists of six washhour basins and six we.'s to each storey, the floors being of English tiles with dados of the same material. From an educational point of view the school should be a great boon to the com- munity, providing as it does for the accommoda- tion of between 600 and 700 scholars. There are twelve class rooms. fone upon each door,! and each will seat 48 children, with the excep- | tion of one which has au infants' gallery for 80 pupils. These class ranged that 1hose ou each floor can be Chrown into one by means of large sliding doors. All the apartments are airy, comfortable, and convenient. To the rear of the school npon Goagh Street there is a commodious open playground with a concrete pavement. which forwa a pleasant open space in a somewhat crowd- a locality. The cost of the building was $30,000. j
Fooma
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THE PUBLIC MEETING IN THE PLAYGROUND. At four o'clock His Excellevey and Tady Robinson and the official party descended the steps into the playground, and the hand played the National Authem. There was a very large coucourse of spectators, who were accommodated with chairs arranged on three sides of a large table on which the silver key of the building rested. The children were arranged on one side, with the Cadet Corps drawn up in line faciug them. A great number of ladies graced the interesting function with their presence.
Mr. Chathan (Aoting Director of Public Works) said-Your Excellency, 1 have been ra- quested to state that the building. for the open- ing ceremony of which we are met bero to-day. has been completed and furnished in a macner befitting the promiss made by the Hon. E, K. Be. Blios to Government at the time when the site was handed over to him for the purpose. I need not trouble you with any statistics about the accom- modation afforded and other matters. As a point which may not be touched on by the Inspector of Schools, however, I may mention that the re- quirements of the climate is a structural sense appear to have basu provided for by the arcbi- lect, Mr. Ram, who has evidently bestowed great pains on matters of arrangement and construc- fion. School buildings in Finglaud havs become almost palatial in their size and external and internal arrangements within recent years, aud I think that the building before us to-day shows that we are not behind in this respect in Hong. kong but are keeping pace with the times. can only add that I consider the colony must be congratulated on this important addition to its establishments for educational purposes.
夏
Dr. Eitel said-Your Excellency, ladies and geatlemen. My colleague, the Director of Public Works, having stated the grounds ou which this new school building sommends itself architecturally as acceptable to the public service. it remains for me to add a few words concerning the educational import of the new building. Sir, standing as we are. on ground which. from the earliest years of the Colony, has been as- socisted (as a missionary residence) with educa. tion, on ground sacred since 1862) to the memory of the most faithful labours, for the education of the Chinese, connected with the name of the late Dr. Stewart, it may well befit the occasion to survey briefly the bearings of the educational movement in this Colony. The schools of Hongkong are the offspring of three distinct educational agencies: the Chinese, the Church, and the State. Ever since this dot in the ocean has been peopled, the leaders of the Chinese inhabitants have gone their own way in the matter of education, accepting neither aid, nor control, nor oven advice from Church or State. Of some 300) sekools now at work in this Colony, well-nigh 200 are the exclusive creation of the Chinese Kaifong or the Tungwa Hospital Committee. As Chinese trade has gone its own
way
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