མ་ན་ བབ ་
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38
LL
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
to the question of the lighting and ventilation in the term of probation did not come into force this street. I pointed out in my minute that the until more than six weeks after Inspector houses are very low-only about 25 feet high-Phillips was appointed, and under the circum- bat in accordance with Ordinance 15 of 1894 stauces it would appear to me to be a distinct they can be considerably increased in beight, breach of faith to make it apply to his case. No and then if we have the ends of the streets such new rules ought in fairness to be made blocked up there would be great danger to the retrospective.
That the Colonial public health. I move Secretary be informed that the Sanitary Board advises that the application for the extension of the lease of Inland Lot 1,347 be refused.”
Mr. EDE seconded and said he had very great objections to these lanes being obstructed. It was very necessary that they should have plenty of light and he entirely agreed with the remarks of the Medical Officer of Health.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-It seems to me that there is force in what the Medical Officer of Health has said, but at present I cannot see that the place is obstructed.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-Not very much at present, but the people are likely to raise the height of the houses very consider ably.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-Would you have any objection to allowing the obstruction to remain if the houses remain as they are at present ?
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-The objection to that is that the man who owns the obstruction does not, so far as I am aware, own the houses on each side.cf the street.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-I am not in favour of asking the Government to break or relax a rule. If Mr. Phillips is en. titled to it under any, well, let him have it, otherwise not.
In a second minute the VICE-PRESIDENT wrote-The new rule came into force on the 29th September. He has drawn compensation up to the 30th September. What object to is to ask Government to pay him coufpensation after the rule came in force, i.e., from 1st Oct. to the 15th November.
In the discussion which followed the reading of the minutes the VICE-PRESIDENT pointed out that the applicant had already drawn six weeks' salary.
[January 19, 1898
Ten years ago, I ree mmended seats, made by Dr. Stewart in 1882, was not 770 as a minimum, and subsequently 924 as a adhered to. maximum accommodation; alleging as a reason the overcrowding in the Central School, owing to the want of capacity in the building to meet the demand, increasing every decade. From a financial point of view, too, it must be satisfac- additional cost in the way of increased staff: tory to have 224 extra monthly fees, without
4
5. My experience at the old Central School with its 450 boys taught me that it was only When the demand exceeded the supply that Chinese are like most regular attendance could be enforced with the necessary strictness. other people, they value most what there is some difficulty in obtaining. If a guardian finds that his boy's seat, racated for some trivial cause, is taken in his absence by another, he learns to respect the exigencies of school. routine. I am therefore glad to draw attention to a pronounced improvement this year in attendance.
!
6.-The total amount of fees collected this The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-This man was appointed on the understanding that year has been $13,460, or $3,500 in excess of while he was on probation he would receive last year's revenue from this source, and beat- compensation. If a rule is passed after he hasing the previous record in 1895 of $12,667. It of fees collected in the Old Central School was. joined the service I do not think it is fair should be remembered that the largest amount 26.899 in 1888, and prior to my arrival in 1882, that it should apply to him. When civil ser-
$4.05) in 1881.
vants-
The VICE-PRESIDENT-It does not say in this application 'that he was promised compen-
sation.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH There is no promise in regard to compensa-
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-If it is intended to raise the houses, I quite agree with the Medical Officer of Health, but I visited the place and saw that the lane was practically clean. I examined the archway on both sides:tion for anybody. and could not see that the houses created a nuisance. If the owner was called upon to take it down there would be considerable ex- pense, because he would have to take down the houses on each side, and as there is not now.any nuisance and the raising of the houses is a remote contingency I see no harm in extending | day week.
the lease.
The VICE-PRESIDENT-I agree with the Director of Public Works! It seems to me that it would be rather harsh to put a man to expense in a case where we all admit that the place is not a nuisance or an obstruction, I am afraid I cannot vote in favour of the resolution,
.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-It must be borne in mind, Sir, that this was
originally an encroachment on Crown land and that owing to the lapse of time before it was discovered, the owner was permitted by the Government to retain the houses on payment
of an annual rental until such time as it was then thought the bricks and mortar would hold together. That time has now elapsed and I think you will find that the solicitor for the ap- plicant admits that very considerable repairs will be necessary if the lease is extended.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-I move as an amendment that the lease be extended as an annual lease as long as the lane continues in its, present condition and the houses are not raised.
The VICE-PRESIDENT seconded.
The amendment was put and the mover and
seconder voted in favour of it.
The original resolution was then put and this, too, received the support of only the mover and seconder.
The VICE-PRESIDENT said he would not give a casting vote, but would send both the amendment and the resolution to the Colonial
Secretary.
The VICE-PRESIDENT--I propose that the application be forwarded to the Government together with the minutes of the members.
This course was agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Board then adjourned until next Thurs-
QUEEN'S COLLEGE PRIZE DIS-
TRIBUTION..
SPEECH BY SIR JOHN CARRINGTON,
On 4th Jan, at ngon, His Excellency the Go- vernor distributed the prizes at Queen's College. There was a very large att, udance, areng those present being Sir John Caringin (Chief Justice), Hon J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Colonial Secretary), Mr. A. G. Wise (Puisne Judge), Pearce, Father Torres, Mr. A. W. Brewin Hon. Ho Kai, Rev. R. F. Cobbold, Rev. W (Inspector of Schools), Surgeon-Colonel Evatt,
&o.
The Head Master read bis annual report as follows:-
1-681 boys were admitted in the course of the past twelve months, raising the total roll- from 531 in January to 1,212 in December.. It is thus evident that we have in the same year been practically dealing with two separate schools, an old and a new one, each as large as the old Central Schools, whose record total at. tendance in 1888 was 634. It is a somewhat formidable undertaking to organise in one year an entirely new school of 600 scholars; but the task of suitably accommodating and classifying an inrush of 600 new candidates for admission is even more complex.
2. The total accommodation provided is 924 seats. We had a monthly attendance of over 90 scholars during seven months of the year, the largest numbers being 961 in September, 950 in May, 94 in June. The attendance 900 has only been touched in one previous year, viz., 1891, when the college was a novelty; in March and April of that year the figures 919, 932 were attained, to fall however before its close to 744, whereas in December last 866 boys were present.
7.-It should be manifest that the introduc- tion of so many new boys bas necessitated very rapid promotions; this will be the more evident when it is understood, that of the 587 new boys (not including 94 re-admissions) 443 went to the Preparatory, 115 to the Lower, and 29 to admitted to the non-Chinese classes. As a con- the Upper School, 22 of these last being sequence 8 boys from Class IV. were examined in Class II., 24 from Class V. in Class III., and n ore remarkable still, 23 boys from Class VII. were examined in Class IV., and 12 from Class VIII. in Class V. From these specimens, the intensity of the upward impetus may perhaps be estimated.
Buure
8.-Three little books on English conversa. tion were prepared by myself, at the instance of the Governing Body, and printed at the expense of the Government early in the year. But as the cost nécessitated excess of the amount provided for this item, the Government than re-imbursed itself by selling to His Excellency the Governor then approved of scholars the balance of these stores in hand. my recommendation that all books, published in the colony for the express use of this college, should cease to be included in school stores, the expense of which is defrayed by the fees paid in Scholars were therefore vacation months. instructed to procure such books for themselves at shops.
TIBO
9. The immediate result was that avery. useful bilingual vocabulary long in in manuscript form, prepared by the Second Master (Mr. A. J. May) was approved by the Governing Body and published.
10.-Towards the end of the year, I sub- mitted three suggestions, which on the recom mendation of the Governing Body received His Excellency's approval. The object aimed at in all of them was the same, viz., the increase of English-teaching power throughout the college, as follows-In the Preparatory School, by abolishing monitors and appointing an extra Chinese assistant; in the Lower School, by re- lieving English masters of mathematical lessons in the Upper School, a competent native mathematical master to be appointed, thus leaving the English masters at liberty to give the Lower School; in the College generally, by lessons in English reading, &c., to classes in
The scheme is to divide the assistant masters increasing the English staff by two masters. into two grades, senior and junior, four in of sir 3. This sudden access of numbers is due to a natural spoutaneous canse, which we may there each, thus providing eight instead fore reasonably expect to prove abiding: A English wasters, at a slight additional cost to demand for European ducation has arisen, Government, the services of two Chinese during the last two years, throughout the length assistants being of course dispensed with. Mr. The VICE-PRESIDENT It is distinctly laid and breadth of China. Native English-teach-.Jameson's resignation affords oppor tunity for down that no officers, except police, ou probationing schools have sprung up in Canton. Swatow, the appointment of one of these additional and the neighbourhood of Macao, while even in masters, the full realisations of the project are to receive exchange compensation. I see no use in asking the Government to break the rule Yokohama the Chinese community are about to having to await a further vacancy in the senior
open a school, where English, Japanese and grade. that has been recently made.
Chinese will be tanght.
A QUESTION OF COMPENSATION, Inspector Phillips applied for compensation in respect of salary received during his three months' probation. He pointed out that it was customary in the police and gaol departments to pay officers compensation in respect of salary received during the term of probation.
The following minutes were appended : Mr. EDE-I am in favour of asking the Government to grant the compensation asked
for.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-The Captain Superintendent of Police overlooks the fact that the rule as to compensation during
11-Mr Jameson, absent on leave, resolved 4.It is a matter of congratulation to the not to return to the colony, as he has found the Government that the original estimate of 700 | climate prejudicial to his health; he accordingly
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