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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
His Excellency then unlocked the door hut accompanied by his party made a tour of the premises, with which he expressed himself as being well pleased.
best policy, and that the food won by honest toil is brought up in reformatories.” The foot was that sweeter than stolen luxurios. Of course it will not they had been so trained that they had been turn- | do to expect too much at first as the fruits of re-ed into prisoners and were unhappy under any formatory discipline, but we may reasonably hope other system than the coercion system of prison that when even Chinese boys are taken out of a life. Therefore, I say that the reformatory crime-laden atmosphere, such as that prevailing system should be an educational system, so that in a gaol for adults, they will at least be more children would be equipped for the business of amenable to good infinences and will at any rate life when they left the reformatory. The escape contact with hardened criminals who thanks of the community, I say, are due to Mr. delight in corrupting the minds of those whom Belilios for his manificence in this matter. In misfortuns or a sudden step may have cast in the future many a poor Chinese lad will have their way. I refuse to believe that Chinese to thank this reformatory for his being rescued boys are wholly callous and dead to appeals to from possible crime and for a mental and phy- their better nature. There must be a percent sical equipment which will enable him to lead a age who will strive to reform their ways when respectable life. On behalf of the community, the opportunity is given to them, and to such I Mr. Belilios, I thank you for this reformatory hope this institution will offer that chance. It which I shall now open with the greatest plea- was in that belief that I engaged to erect this sure, (Applause), building, and because it seemed to me so inex- pressibly sad that boys of tender years should be cast into Victoria Gaol în association with depraved characters. This will be my last ap- pearance for some time at a ceremony of this description, for I am about to leave the colony for a holiday which will extend over three years But I trust that others will take up the good work. - I have been able to do a little for the benefit of education, but there is a much more to be done in this and other directions by those who have the means; for the colony is developing rapidly, the population is increasing, and the residents of British and foreign origin are now settling down and bringing up families in the shadow of these grand old hills. If the Almighty is pleased with the means, I shall on my return, if these wants are not then provided for, do my utmost to supply them. Meantime I hope, as I said, to see others step into the breach and do what is possible to advance education, decrease crime and increase the knowledge and happines of the community. I will now ask your Ex- cellency to declare this building open (Ap- plause.)
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BELILIOS TRUST PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.
ADDRESS BY H.E, MAJOR-GENERAL
GASCOIGNE, C.M.G.
H. E. Major-General Gascoigne, C.M.G., attended at the City Hall on the 31st ult. for the purpose of distributing the prizes provided by, and lately awarded auder, the Belilios Trust for general progress and proficiency in education during 1889. His Excellency was accompanied by Mrs. Gascoigue and the Misses Gascoigue, and the Hon. Captain Trefusis, A.D.C. The Rev. R. F. Cobbold prosided, and he was sup- ported by 1r. Bateson Wright and Mr. G. Piercy, jua.
QUEEN'S COLLEGE-Ho Shai Wing, Chan Pak King Elias, equal, specially good char- acters by class masters as being conspicuous for progress in general subjects (English and Ma- thematics).
April 7, 1900.
ent to teachers; kind to her companions; willing to teach them what she knows.
SUBSEQUENT PRIZES. competitive examination will be held about. the close of this year. Particulars, of this will be advertised during the forthcoming month Five or six prizes and two or three medals will be awarded.
H. E. the MAJOR-GENERAL, after distribat- ing the prizes, said he could assure them that it was with feelings of very great pleasure indeed that he found himself asked there to present the prizes, Mr. Cobbold had been kind enough to sond him a full account of the Trust. He hardly thought the Trust was sufficiently known in Hongkong; because, certainly until he received the flattering request to present the prizes, he was unaware of the existence of the Trust. However, he had studied the account sent to him by Mr. Cobbold, and it seemed to him that the Trust was
most admirable one as instituted by Mr. Belilios in 1888. His only regret was that Mr. Belilios was not able to be present to hear his remarks. It was unfortunate that apparently not only Mr. Belilios but Mr. Francis aud Mr. Ford, who he thought were also trustees, were unable to be present, so that they only had the advantage of Mr. Cobbold's pre- sence. As far as he gathered, this Trust was instituted for the purpose of granting rewards for two purposes. The first was for saving life in the colony and the next was for the encouragement of education. From what he understood from Mr. Cobbold, there had been no application for any prize or reward for saving life, possibly because the Trust was not sufficiently known. The other pur- pose, the encouragement of education, certainly commended itself most heartily to him and he The Rev. R. F. COBBOLD, in opening the should think to everyone there. There was one proceedings, said that in the absence of his thing he was very much pleased to notice, and fellow trustees, one of whom was engaged at that was the reasons given why the various His EXCELLENCY said Mr. Belilios, I accept the Supreme Court and the other leaving for recipients had got prizes. The prizes were this building from you with great pleasure: home, it devolved upon him to introduce to them awarded not only for diligence, but also for good I have been reading lately the account of the Major-General Gascogue, though he thought conduct and attention. It must be very satis- laying of the foundation stone of this reforma. he needed no introduction, They might con- factory to the recipients of the prizes and their tary by my predecessor, Sir William Robin-gratulate themselves on being so honoured as friends to hear the very flattering remarks son, in which he said that when money was to have his presence there that day. In a few made by the various school-teachers with regard required it was forthcoming. This question moments he would ask him to distribute the to the prize-winners. It appeared that seven of a reformatory has been a burning ques-prizes provided by the Belilios Trust and after- out of eight schools had come forward. He tion for 20 years in this colony. Twenty wards to address the prize-winners and their could only say that he trusted the publicity years ago it was brought to the notice of the friends. The prizes were not of a very formid-given to the trust by this year's meeting would Government by the then Acting Police Magis able mature, but they trusted they would be hare the effect of bringing out a greater num- trate. From time to time it was looked into useful. He would read out the names of the bar of applicants, and also of making those who and in consequence of representations made, I prize-winners, together with the recommenda- applied for the prizes work heartily to gain think, by General Gordou the Ordinance of tions.
them in a way which would afford them a real 1885 was passed, an amending Ordinance being
feeling that they deserved them. It had been passed in 1889. I find that, in 1693 there was
a very great pleasure to him to present the a despatch from the Secretary of State in
prizes. He could only say that he most heartily which the latter deprecated the apathy of
congratulated all those to whom he had the the Government in this matter of a
honour and pleasure of presenting prizes, know, formatory, for it was found that those youths DIOCESAN SCHOOL Choi Po Siu, 1sting, that they had thoroughly deserved and won who were incarcerated in the commou prison in Cheang U Kwong, 2nd; Henry Ahee, 3rd them. (Applause.) Hongkong left thie: Gaol worse characters than well-behaved boys, who have made remarkable they were when they entered the Goal-in fact progress in their studies during 1899. - became hardened criminals. As Sir William Robinson stated when laying the foundation stone, you, Mr. Belilios, came forward and said yon would give $12,000. Plans were prepared in accordance with your desire, but I may tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that $12,000 was found to be insufficient, and that a short time afterwards Mr. Belilios came forward and seid ho was prepared to give what was necessary to complete the plans which werel being prepared. This was $18,000, which Mr. Belilios then gave and for which this building has been erected.jects, during the year. I think the thanks of the community are due to Mr. Beliliðs for his munificence in this matter. A reformatory to be effective should be disciplinary and educational rather than puni tive. I do not believe myself in a reformatory conducted on prison principles. The theory of reformatories is that they recognise the irres- ponsibility of childhood and early youth and the necessity of following out the injunction of Solomon, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." If you bring up children in a reformatory on the same principles as those adopted towards prisoners you are making them prisoners for life. I remember visiting a prison in Jamaica when the Superintendent mentioned that some of the prisoners bore most excellent characters whilst others had very bad characters. I asked, "How do you account for that?" Well" be replied, "those who bear good characters were all
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re.
St. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE-Andrew Hahn, 1st; good conduct; close application; progress in English, elementary mathematics, and arith- metic. Vasco Carvalho. 2nd; good conduct, steady application, progress in grammar, com- position, and history. J. Botelho, 3rd; good conduct, progress in class subjects generally.
St. PAUL'S COLLEGE-Nip Po Nang, 1st, Li Ho Ching, 2nd, Li Ying Yan 3rd; very diligent in their studies; ever ready to carry out our command; great progress in general sub-
BELILIOS PUBLIC SCHOOL-Ethel Long, 1st, marked progress, escially in English and arithmetic. Lily Song,; extremely diligent; ahead of English girls in her class. Wong Wai Chun, 3rd; persevering and painstaking; translates English home lessons into Chinese so as to better understand them.
BAXTER MISSION SCHOOL-Eliza More, 1st; diligence, helpfulness, and good conduct. Laura Lam, 2nd; diligence in English; good conduct. Alice Smith, 3rd; diligence and good conduct.
Dr. BATESON WRIGHT, in proposing a vote of thanks to His Excellency, referred to the Garrison School, and that no dout His Excel- lency would let the school know of the existence of the Trust, and he trusted that another year those who attended that school would have a chance to participate in the Trust, (Hear, hear)
The MAJOR-GENERAL, in reply, said he should take care that the scholars attending the Military School had a chance of competing and it would be a pleasure to him if next year he saw one of the prizes handed to one of them. (Hear, bear.),
The proceedings then terminated.
The Kobe Waterworks, were opened on the 24th ult. in a steady downpour of rain by H.I.H. Prince Fushimi. Commander of the Himeji Division. Very few foreigners were present, the weather keeping most of the invited guests away, including the British Consul, Mr. Hall,
The Chuwa, on the authority of a naval officer in charge, contradicts the report that the Japanese Navy has transferred several gnus manufactured by
ITALIAN CONVENT -Mally Ho pun, 1st,mstrong & Co. to the British Government.
officer admitted, however, that Armstrong application to her studies; example to boarders might, if necessary, divert delivery of guns and day-scholars; obedient to teachers and ob-made to the order of various customers to suit liging to companions. Emilia da Róza, 2nd; the convenience of others. But in the case of much model progress in composition; sur- guns ordered for the Japanese navy this would mounted difficulties to be present at school hardly be possible, because each gun is marked early owing to distance of home from school. | in a special way. The telegrams, however, have May Burrows, 3rd; à model in her class; obedi- been very explicit on the transfer.
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