1913-04-07 — Page 1

RANDOM REFLECTIONS.

The sensation of the week has been afforded by the piratical gang who a few hours after leaving Hongkong tock posses- sion of a stramer flying the British flag. On learning the news a good many folk whose thinking apparatus appears to work rather casily immediately wanted to know where the British gunboats were and what were the police doing, but needless to say the reflection which such questions are intended to convey upon both Services in The affair could have not deserved. bappened just as easily had the river boats been in the neighbourhood of Cun- ton instead of being in Hongkong, and the police cannot be expected to hold up the entire passenger traffic of the river to examine everyone who goes on board.

Of course it is not comforting to think that a piracy can be so easily conducted from Hongkong as was manifest in the attack on the Tai On. Measures will have to be taken to make the recurrence of such an exploit unlikely, but it does not follow that the additional work necessary should fall upon the police and, incidentally, the cost thereof upon the community. The owners of the steamboats must naturally adopt some precautions to protect the selves and their passengers, and the mat ter is one that might be deliberated upon by the Chamber of Commerce.

CORRESPONDENCE.

EDUCATION IN HONGKONG.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE “HONGKONG

DAILY PRESS.**]

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, APRIL 7TH, 1918.

Bi-In your issue of Thursday, the and inst, there appears a long urticle on Education in Hongkong. The writer quite apparently is trying to improve the bad condition of matters which at present exists in the educational world of In the same spirit I make Hongkong. bid to discuss some of the opinions which he expresses,

In the first place, is it not a screwhat sweeping statement to make that the possession of Hongkong by the British was one of the chief causes of the Revolu tion in China?".

Are we not too near to China and to the Revolution to be able to fix on what were the chic! causes of the outbreak Can we judge just now whether this Revolution was a good thing or a bad The writer thing for the Chinese instances Sun Yat-sen, "the hero of the Revolution," as being an example of what Hongkong education has done for the Chinese..

satisfy the requirements of Hongkong and of Chinn generally, both as an Entrance Examination and as a leaving certificate.

It reads almost like an advertisement The writer bas Inid on the butter a little too thickly and the result is an unpleasant taste in the mouth. It is

You will notice that a third group (C) impossible to deny the high place held by St. Stephen's College. As the Governor is added to the two groups which are stated in his speech concerning the school, necessary to secure entrance here. These they have provided half the students of will probably be taken in addition to the the University. This is very largely due to offer subjects by scholars who do not the skilful teaching imparted to the intend to enter this University but pupils, but it is also due to the fact that require a leaving certificate. I hope you the students of St. Stephen's College are will be able to make these facts public, the wealthiest students in the Colony, and I will forward to you a Prospectus

of the University in a few days. Rivalry certainly stimulates.

Meantime I enclos other papers relat can we compare a school like St. Stephen'sing to the courses.-I am yours faith College, where the fees are about $12 per fully month, with one like the Ellis Kadoorie, where the poorer Chinese obtain Western education at the rate of 82 per mouth?

But how

W. J. HINTON, Registrar. Hongkong University, z

[Copies of the papers referred to in the letter can doubtless he obtained by those interested on application to the Registrar.

A TOURIST'S ADMIRATION OF

HONGKONG.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS.].

Hongkong, April 5th, 1913. Sit-As a lover of the smell of printers' ink and an American round-the world tourist, permit me to congratulate your office upon the neat and artistic get-up of your paper and its clean and neway columns.

LAWN BOWLS.

was

· OPENING OF KOWLOON BOWLING GREENS,

The Kowloon Bowling Club greens wore formally opened for the season on Satur- day afternoon, when members, were ́At Hore" to friends and to visitors from kindred clubs and when & match played between teams representing the President (Mr. A. Ramsay) and the Vice- President (Mr. R. Hall), spoons being awarded to the members of the winning rioks on either side. The weather was ideal, and the greens looked in excellent condition. The attendance was very large, and everyone was entertained with the usual hospitality of the Chub, the Indios' part in the proceedings being much appreciated..

INTIMATIONS

JOHNSTONE'S

M.P.

At the close, it was found that the Vice- President's team had won, three rinks being up, though the scores showed that the quartettes were fairly well balanced. The President having expressed the appreciation of the members of the Club; at seeing so many visitors present, who were afterwards asked to show this by three hearty cheers, Mrs. Ramsay presented the silver spoons to the members of the The best that quality of ingredients winning rinks.

Mr. W. C. Jack then

A Really Recherché Whisky,

proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies and age combined with experience who had done so much in entertaining tho company that afternoon. These were and skill can produce. given, and Mr. Purcell and Mr. A.. Hamilton replied on behalf of the visitors.

The scores were as under :---

PRESIDENT

J. Sloan.

My R Watt.

At the risk of appearing long winded I take up a few remaining points. The writer states that but for the difference] between Churchmen and Nonconformists there would be no real education problem in Britain." This is nonsense. There are countless real education problems of which the religious question is one. It is the one which, because of the bigotry. and intolerance so often inseparably I have followed this linked with religion, has been taken up hero's career with close interest and by the great British public. The others, even more real, they have little time for has been particularly struck with his latest utterances. I fancy that if this preferring to leave them in the hands of

nan is a product of the variety of those in authority. "advanced Western education" to be

In Scotland there is practically no The men who formed this gang of pirates were not all ruffians, and it would obtained in Hongkong then the average religious question in the shools. Accord- appear that some of them were as polite open-minded individual can only mattering to the writer of the article there can as the highwaypen of a former generationGod help the Chinese,"

be no real education problem in Scotland. in Great Britain. These gentlemen of the

The next point which we take exception The education authorities there are read framed their requests in the most to is the statement that because most continually grappling with real problems. polite language and with many apologics of the officials of the New Republic Education is not a fixed thing. It is would seem that the well-dressed Chinese received their education in Hongkong always undergoing a process of evolution of the city from the lofty "Peak, P. Oliphant.

and so is one interminable series of real problems

Regarding the present anomaly in the post of Director of Education, the con- seems content to let things tributor remain as they are, nay, oven to buttress them up. But why should we do sot. It only needs strong representation in the proper direction to stop the irregularities of the Siberian mail. Why should not similar means be taken with this Director. ship? The scheme drawn up indicating a Committee has one fault which condemns it as being the plan of a man who has no real knowledge of education. As another contributor pointed out recently

for the inconvenience caused, and it

But chiefly do. I wish to refer to your beautiful City of Victoria and Hong- kong's magnificent land-locked, cock-lock- ed and mountain-locked harbour. wife and I have visited the Botanical W. Gerrard.

(skip) Garden, and had a most enchanting view A. Ramsay. easy and comfortable of access on the B. L. Frost. marvellous funicular railway. A foreigner W. Worth. (Alcip) in greatly amazed at Hongkong's many W. Bussell Tuiles of beautiful concrete and macadam L, Guy roads, its millions of yards of massive R. Gray,

(skip) masonry, its stately municipal and busi. Hardwick. ness edifices, Its shops of rich and D. Harvey. wonderful merchandise, the native and W. C. Jack. residential quarters, and I have parti A. Briggs cularly noticed the industrious habits of D. Keith. the little brown-skinned artisans and M. McIvor. common labourers, both men and women,

who figured in the raid on the Tai On therefore British trade will reap the behaved very nicely to their prisoners advantage. I am utterly unable to see after the disagreeable task had been com how this fellows at all. One might just as reasonably state that British trade pleted of reducing them to impotence. But the gang also included the old-will suffer. What has been the result of fashioned type of desperado who wanted educating Indians in India and Egyptians blood as well as leot, though apparently in Egypt? Little else has accrued save the latter were not so bad but that they animosity and ill-will towards their were susceptible to good advice when educators. tendered not only from their own people, but from Miss Dunk, the plucky Eng lish missionary lady, whose name should enrich the annals of missionary work in fondly imagines to be a Western educa possible constitution for the Advisory Surely Hongkong, with its natural and

China. Though piracy and highway rob- beries are very serious offences, it is not improbable that oned it becomes known that the actual robberies ato not purish.

The average Chinese student from Canton who comes to Hongkong does so to obtain at very small cost what he tion and because he knows that when he returns to China he will run a chance of Betting a better job than he held before.

If the British Government of Hong education for the inhabitants of Chins and to neglect its own British folk, why, that is not his pidgin.

16

VICE-PRESIDENT. J. Willey.

J. Grant.

A. Milroy.

K. Hall.

(ship)

T. Grimshaw.

A. Kinross.

J. M. Henderson.

ft. Duncau.

(skip) ́

J. Smith...

P. Taylor.

A. Hamilton.

D. Cooper.

17 (skip).

Pearman.

(skip)....... 24

F. Lonfesty. R. Hunter. S. Grey

(skip).

10

21

Total 74

LAWN TENNIS.

Total

82

OBTAINABLE EVERYWHERE.

H. RUTTONJEE & SON,

Wine and Bpirit Merchants.

artificial environments, is one of the most interesting and charming spots we have seen during our present globe-trotting tour. Everything thus far has been most tours comfort and pleasure during The annual laws tennis tournament ZEISS

K.K. C.C, TOURNAMENT.

able by death it may be that these crimes kong is kind enough to provide cheap in an article on Education in Hongkong, our brief visit to Victoria and Hongkong, promoted by the Hongkong Cricket Club|

will be attended with less loss of life than they have hitherto done.

I believe there were a number of people who remembered that Tuesday last was All Fools' Day and a number who did not remember it until it was too late.

With the advent of April we are being made to realise that summer is not far off. Punkabs are again being installed, and the electric fans that lay so long idie are being brought into operation again. The ladies are laying aside their winter costumes, and light cool-looking garments are being donned. The men bave not become so definite in their change of attire yet, bus another few days like Saturday and Sunday should bring out the summer

stock.

The change of seasons and the change of pastimes are becoming manifest. Cricket is practically ended, and so is football, and the time is at hand when the craft of the vachting enthusiasts are laid up. Tennis has commenced in real carnest, the longer evenings making it possible to get in some hard work, and ewimming is being discussed and the formation of partics arranged. things remind us that summer is not far

off.

These

I cannot agree also with the contri- butor's statement that the University is the top rung of the educational ladder." If he were speaking of a European University then certainly he is right, int since he means Hongkong University he is undoubtedly wrong.

Anyone who knows what & University is must be aware that what is called Hongkong University is not a University at all. It is really a Teetinical College, and should be so named. What does it consist of? At present there are two faculties, Medicine and Engineering,

the basis of every educational system must and we may come again, but alas! when ? rest on one foundation, viz., the primary Eschool.

If the primary schools are inefficient, the whole superstructure is weak. Where are the representatives from the most important education institutions in the Colony-the primary schools?.

The imaginary committee is to bridge over the gaps caused by the changes in But why the Director of Education." have gaps at all? If this post is held by efficient men, the policy of each will be carried on by his successor and no gaps will occur.

by Ti6 934

The writer of the article expresses the These are both, purely and simply, wish that Hongkong may increase its scientific brauchies of knowledge, and if reputation for progress in educational am not aware that ita the writer means to imply that science is matters. 1 the end and aim of education, then he reputation in this direction is a very knows nothing of education. The sugges enviable one. tion that Medicine or Engineering is the top rang of the educational ladder" is so palpably ridiculous as to deserve only scathing cumament. How many well educated men are there who know little

The only way to Elter its reputation is to reconstruct the present system and efficient one with no substitate

GEORGE J. MAGER,

Cortland, New York.

EXPLOSIVES BY POST.

DANGEROUS LETTERS TO CALCUTTA EDITONS,

131

PRISM

BINOCULARS

AT HOME PRICES:

16. Power

is now in full swing, the courts being occupied nightly. Twenty-one entries have been received for the championship. Several of the ties have been played off, S. E. Green having in the first round. defeated major Hunter, 6-4, 6-2, 5-3, M. 12: R. Harris having in the second round

12 defeated, Captain Clarke 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 0-4, and J B. Penman having in the secund round defeated W. E. Weidler 8-6, 6-2,

0-L.

ROWING.

INTERPORT SHOOTING.

.£10.10.0.

(new model)......£10.10.0

£9.5.0

51

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*£6.10.0

G

(large field)..

£7.10.0

£6.0.0

(small model) ... £5.18.0

3

£5.8.0

To to Obtained from

Chs. J. Gaupp

& Co.,

Alexandra Buildings, ORATER ROAD,

A panic was caused in the Calcutta General Post Office on the 17th inst. by two letters addressed to the editor of The Englisherman and Cupital respectively

At the Canton Begatta on Saturday exploding. The first explosion took place at 6.30 when a man named Rani Bhajon the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club crew was stamping letters prior to delivery.

won the Cameron Challenge Cup in the He struck the envelope with the stamping

The Canton instrement and it exploded making a senior pairs' competition. very loud noise. The back of the envelope crew had the best of the start and led by was blown to pieces, but the address half a length till the three-quarter mark, The where both boats were level. A ding similar explosion took place. portion remained. Hulf-an-hour Inter a envelopes in which the explosives were dong struggle ensued, in which neither placed were blucish grey in colour, and potash had been placed in them. They stroke, when Hongkong got ahead and it is believed that sachets of chloride of could claim any advantage till the last won by less than half, a length. The were posted at Simla, Cornwallis Street, and Bow Bazaar post offices respectively, Hongkong crew was: Bow, H. Hupenden'; Gilbertian elements.

Lastly, the ending of the article is such either overnight or early the same morn-g, E. Member; 3, F. L. Brown; stroke, ing in time for the 4.30 collection and had ur nothing of both Medicine and Engias to move any high-souled educationalist been stamped at the office of receipt with A. Murdoch, Cox, G. A. Caldwell.

to tears. The education given in Hong-out anything happening. It is believed neering? These are the provinces of a specialist, and a specialist need not be an kong is to spread the English language, that they were intended to ignite when

Firing in connection with the Pubblic educated min He is a

man who has to attract the sons of wealthy Chinese the envelopes were torn open. But the

Works Departments interport shoot took to go off. educated himself highly in one tiny and to stimulate trade, Has education stamping operation caused the explosives

A letter addressed to the editor of The place at King's Park Range on Saturday. department of knowledge, and who, almost nothing higher than this to offer?

Empire was posted at the Simin (Calcutta) The Hongkong team only averaged about had during the past few days there should invariably, possesses a warped and top-

post office the same morning, and when a sorter.The man was dazed and burnt by the Shanghai men. Singapore com- on the hands and face, but his injuries petitors have yet to shoot. being stamped there it exploded, injuring 75.00 per man as against the 81.2 achieved

were not very serious. Another letter. was delivered at The Statesman office.

THE BANDMANN OPERA CO. The editor of the paper had been warned. however, and the letter, which

On Saturday, the Company played opened very carefully and did not ex-

"The Night Birds," a musical comedy addressed in printed characters, was plode. It contained no letter but a piece in three acts, founded on the popular of tissue paper covering a pasty substance of a chocolate colour. The envelope and musical play "Die Fledermaus," its contents were

made over to the libretto being by Gladys Unger, lyrics by THE EYE criminal investigation department and Arthur Anderson, and music by Johana sent by them to the chief chemical

Straus. The theatre was crowded, though examiner for examination.

we think this must be considered as the jeast successful of the Company's produc- tions, for the reason that the play seems to rely for its success mainly on stage settings, which our local stage could not accommodate, even if a travelling Com- pany could provide them.

If the Kowloon-Canton Railway were to continue doing the passenger traffic it bas

Is education to be made a means to be little doubt as to the concern being on sided mental development in consequence. an end and that end money? Alas alas! a remunerative basis. The Ching Ming. festival has been responsible for large Unless a thorough foundation of general 'twere better to go back to the Stone

TEACHER numbers of Chinese travelling to the knowledge has already been laid, speci- Age.. interior to perform the usual worship.alised education is harmful education.

Hongkong, 3rd April, 1913. ping at the graves of ancestors, and the In very many of the European Universi-

DEAR SIR-I enclose for your informa- outgoing trains have been unusually ties a student has to take up the study crowded in consequence. The other day of Arts subjects before he specialises. Intion a copy of the Regulations for our Crowd the morning trains carried 2,000 Scotch Universities, for example, most of passengers, and the traffic is by no means thou who intend to become doctors or ended yet.

A simple American missionary who is passing though Hongkong on his way to the United States was much impressed by the sight of so many steamers in the He harbour all flying the British flag. could not understand the apparent un

iversality of the Union Jack, and marked to a companion. "I suppose every ship that comes in bere is compelled to With this ex- fly the writish flag." planation bis friend agreed.

RODERICK RANDOM

Aa

able seaman of the Blue Funnel liner Tydens, accidentally fell overboard

ministers spend the first few years taking an Arts degree. This means that when they are fully qualified they may lay fair claim to the title of educated men, We know that Hongkong University is only in its babyhood and I have no with to offer only destructive criticism. Our aim should be to build up, and accordingly I hope that in the near future faculties of Arts, Law, Divinity and Science will be instituted.

At the same time I see no reason for flattering unduly those firms which pre- sented donations to the University. These offerings are in the nature of principal on which interest is to accumulate sooner or later. There is no use blinking the

expected.

large return is

in the Red Sea, while setting the awnings.fact that they are simply business invest- The engines were immediately stopped.ments for which a and the ship turned round, and though every effort was made, by lowering a boat and throwing life-belts overboard, to save him, no trace could be found.

Another point which is very noticeable

in the article is the prominence given to St. Stephen's College.

Entrance Examination, particulars of which were forwarded to the School masters Jast term. The Syllabus was drawn up by the University after careful consultation with representatives of the leading schools, and we believe it will

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To-night the Company stage The Sunshine Girl "a play which has been a great draw at the Gaiety Theatre

The Company will be unable to play on Thursday evening, owing to the P. & O. str. Devenha sailing at noon on that day. The farewell performance, therefore, will be on Wednesday, when Autumn Manœuvres" will be repeated, in consequence of the enormous success achieved on Friday last, and aleo by

special request.

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