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their errors in teaching and advising them in their many difficulties. In addition to this, they receive, once a week, in the afternoon from this master, instruction on the theory, history and principles of Education. This system appears to me quite adequate for the requirements of the College, and though at present capable of considerable improvement and extension, it will, I am confident, in a few years, bring great credit to the Institution. Apart from any other consideration, the efficacy of the system is demonstrated by the efficiency of the Chinese Assistants who were thus trained, several of whom hold Oxford or Cambridge Local Certificates. That Chinese Assistants should vary in natural aptitude for teaching, and in their ability to pronounce English purely, is not surprising, as the same variety is observable in the masters of schools in England. The Central School on more than one occasion provided teachers for Government and other schools in the Colony, and I have received from the Inspector of Schools and others letters bearing quite flattering testimony to the excellence of the manner in which those young men discharged their duties. If Victoria College does not continue to provide teachers for Government Schools, the low salary offered, and the isolation of village and suburban schools are, as far as I am aware, the only causes. It cannot be expected that a boy, who can earn $40 a month in the city of Victoria, will allow himself to be exiled to Shau-ki-wan or Stanley for $25 a month.
9. NORMAL SCHOOL-In 1879, the Government made the experiment of forming a Nermal School in connexion with Wantsai Government School. It was closed in 1883 on my recommendation, as Acting Inspector of Schools, for the following reasons; (1) there was no probability of the Gov- ernment being able to redeem its promise of finding the pupils employment as teachers; (2) the number of pupils, reduced by sickness and desertion made the expense of the Institution dispropor- tionate; (3) an opportunity of joining the Medical College at Tientsin made the young men willing to terminate their agreements. Mr. MAY was very successful as Principal of the Normal School, and I have no doubt that, as Second Master of Victoria College, he will have equal success in training our Monitors and Pupil Teachers.
10. NON-CHINESE PUPIL TEACHERS.-As to the employment of English, Portuguese or Indian boys as Pupil Teachers, I have never observed in English or Portuguese boys the least sign of adaptability to the profession of teaching, and have only once found an Indian capable of holding the post, which he did to my entire satisfaction. Mr. ALARAKIA subsequently ranked as a Chinese Assistant, and had therefore to be competent to speak and write Chinese with ease.
11. DRILL.-Drill was introduced last September; but as only one Instructor was engaged for all the Schools in the Colony, only two and a half hours a week fell to the share of this College. The result was that the squads, often numbering 130 boys, were hopelessly unwieldy and it was impossible for the instructor to correct the individual error of so many boys. There is a general belief in the benefits accruing from this form of exercise, and a scheme has been approved to provide a separate instructor to give 12 hours a week to our 900 boys, which will afford half an hour's drill weekly for squads averaging 36 in number.
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12. STAFF.-Mr. MAY was in charge of the College as Acting Head Master for ten months, until my return at the end of October. Mr. JAMESON returned from leave on May 8th, and Mr. DEALY left for Europe on twelve-months' leave from September 9th. Thus the staff was short of two English Masters at the same time for six months of the year. In addition to which the work of the College suffered through the illness of two English masters, one of whom was absent for over two months, the other for one month.
13. OXFORD LOCAL EXAMINATIONS.-Last July there were from this College, one Senior and thirteen Junior Candidates, the Senior Candidate passed, and three Juniors also received certificates. There would have been four more successes, but for failures in Shakespeare, which is naturally a stiff subject for Chinese boys, and is rendered doubly so by the short time (four months) available for its preparation.
14. CAREERS OF BOYS.-During the last twelve-months 96 boys from this College obtained situations; viz.: 4 in the Colonial Service; 9 in the Chinese Imperial Service, Customs and Telegraph; 40 in Mercantile and Professional Offices in Hongkong; and 43 at the Coast Ports, in Japan, and elsewhere.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
GEO. H. BATESON WRIGHT, D.D., Oxon, Head Master.
Honourable W. M. GOODMAN,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
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