Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 105

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especially in the Lower School, in such a way as to reduce the drudgery attendant on the study to a minimum. The Humanities, History and Geography and Western Knowledge generally, will be treated as matters of great importance in view of the extraordinary ignorance under which the Chinese suffer, of what has passed and what is passing in the world they inhabit. Besides these subjects, Mathematics and others will be pursued as time admits. But if it is found in a year or two that the Scholars cannot understand plain English, and if they cannot write a good letter in their own language, failure must be admitted, though they understand Bookkeeping as taught in school books, and can write Shorthand at the rate of 30 words a minute.

GRANT SCHOOLS.

The earlier date on which I have been this year required to send in my Report has rendered it impossible to give the usual returns and figures for the Grant Schools; the material for these, which itself requires careful sifting, not being available till the middle of January. I hope to send them with a short supplemen- tary Report in explanation of them shortly.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

EDWARD A. IRVING,

Inspector of Schools.

The Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary.

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