Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 196

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5. The following comparative Table will illustrate the varying fortunes of the College during the last five

years:

YEAR.

Number of Scholars.

Number of School Days.

Monthly Attendance.

Maximum. Minimum.

Average Daily Attendance.

Actual

School Fees.

Net Expenditure.

Average Expense of each Scholar per Average Daily Attendance.

1895,

1,024

233

788

577

547

$12,667

$28,431.50

$43.61

1896,

988

235

677

489

521

9,948

27,541.15

52.86

1897,

1,212

230

961

531

825

13,460

25,623.52

31.06

1898,

1,344

235

1,014

669

753

21,593

16,803.91

21.65

1899,

1,344

230

1,072

718

887

27,245 14,262.89

16.08

6. From absence and resignation the staff has been shorthanded this year, and frequent changes have ensued. Four out of ten English masters have been absent throughout the year. The Second Master, Mr. A. J. MAY, went on leave in March. Mr. MACHELL was on leave the wliole twelve inonths. The services of Mr. Joxes were retained at the Supreme Court. The tenth master provided on the Estimates has only just entered on his duties in June, Mr. JAMES resigned on obtaining the appoint- inent of Second Master at King's College, Bangkok. His example was followed in August by Mr. Ú HÁNG KAM, Native Mathematical Master, who left the Colony for Manila. In November Mr. WONG KWOK-U was temporarily transferred to the Supreme Court on probation. A serious loss to the College was caused at the end of December by the resignation of the Second Chinese Assistant Mr. LUK KING-FO, who is entering upon a mercantile career. In January, 1882, when I held my first Annual Examination Mr. LUK was proxime accessit to the Morrison Scholar, and in the following year was appointed to his late post. In his relations with masters and boys, he merited and enjoyed their highest respect and esteem. His classes invariably passed with great credit. No man has been more successful as a master in teaching English to Chinese boys; nor has any Chinese Assistant excelled him in his strenuous and persistent efforts to master fully the difficulties of the English language.

7. Mr. A. W. GRANT, B A., of Pembroke College, Cambridge, appointed to the additional master- ship mentioned in my last report, arrived at the end of August. The appointment of Mr. B. TANNER to the vacancy caused by Mr. JAMES' resignation was approved by the Secretary of State, but has only just come into effect, on the expiration of the due notice required by the terms of his late agrec- ment. We were fortunate in April in securing the services of Mr. JAMES CHEONG, graduate of Melbourne University, as a substitute for Mr. JONES. Mr. NG IN, Third Chinese Assistant, has been promoted to the post vacated by Mr. LUK. A scheme for articling three additional Pupil Teachers, and for improving the salaries of the Junior Chinese Assistants is under consideration.

S. The results of the Oxford Local Examinations are as follows:-Of seven Senior candidates, six of whom were Chinese, four or 57% passed; of the Juniors all non-Chinese, only one out of seven or 14% passed. We sent in no Preliminary candidate. C. B. HAYWARD, who headed in 1898, our Junior list and was distinguished in English, occupied the same position and obtained the same distinction as a Senior, last July.

9. I am happy to report that four Free Scholars from the Government District Schools were elected last March and have worked most satisfactorily in the Fourth Class to which they were admitted.

10. The year under review has been most prolific in schemes for arousing the interest of pupils in matters not connected with scholastic routine. Mr. JAMES before his departure inaugurated the publication of a school magazine called "The Yellow Dragon" which has met with an enthusiastic reception, has been kindly welcomed by its contemporaries, and has so far proved a financial success ; Messrs. BARLOW and RALPпs adopted the fatherless infant on the departure of Mr. JAMES. Mr. DEALY, Acting Second Master, started a Reading Club which now numbers 80 ineinbers among the Upper School boys; they subscribe for some school-boy papers, as well as the Pall Mall and Daily Graphic; the Weekly Times and Public Opinion have been added at the request of the Chinese Assistants. Mr. DEALY too we are indebted for a couple of dozen fine photogravure plates, views of London, which give an excellent idea of the magnificent buildings and crowded thoroughfares of our great metropolis. These pictures adorn the walls of our First Class, and should excite intelligent interest and provide food for reflection. Mr. Woodcock has been very energetic and successful in organising various cricket clubs for boys, past and present, including Chinese. Picnics and excursions chiefly for non-Chinese boys have been personally conductel by Messrs. RALPHS and BARLOW.

To

11. We hail with delight the cleansing of the Augeau stables which renders un necessary a repetition of the piteous plaints of the past, about the immorality of the neighbourhoo 1.