May 1, 1901:]
efficiency of the two fuels, and in conclusion said he would
with pleasure the substitu tion of oil for coal as lessening the duties of marine engineers.
Mr. LAMBEET having replied, the meeting concluded with the customary vote of thanks
to Mr. John Lambert and to the Chairman.
QUEEN'S COLLEGE.
The report of Mr. A. J. May, Acting Head- master of Queen's College, is published in the Gazette. We make the following extracts:--- The total number on roll was 1,440, being nearly 100 more than last year; and this num ber could have been exceeded had the roll been large enough to have admitted of more entries being made, and the class-rooms of a more ex- pansive nature. This shews that an entrance into this Institution is eagerly sought after, in spite of the fees being, in the higher part of the school, $36 per annum, in addition to which each boy has to provide himself with all books used in the school, which in some classes means an extra expenditure of about $10 on the part of each scholar in the up- per classes. The average daily attendance was 990, as against 887 last year. The highest monthly attendance was reached in April, when there were 1,126 pupils in attendance. The highest average daily attendance was also. in April, viz., 1,649. The largest number of boys present on one day was 1,079, on 25th July.
The revenue from fees was $29.037, being an increase of $1,792 on last year. The gross ex- penditure has been increased owing to the in- crease of salaries granted under C.O.D. 280 of 1899, and also by an increase of compensation on the same, and the adjustment of exchange in England; yet owing to the great increase in the average daily attendance the expense of each scholar has been decreased by $1.28.
The results of the Oxford Local Examinations are as follow:-Of the 8 juniors 5 passed, one of whom was a Chinese. Of the 9 Preliminary Candidates only 2 passed, one of these being a Chinese.
During the year under review, great strides have been made in recreation and sports. A greater interest has been taken in sports generally by the Chinese, who have now got both football and cricket clubs of their own, and 2 or 3 Chinese boys are included in the College 1st Cricket Eleven.
Mr. Tanner is to be thanked for encouraging sea-bathing among the boys, and for starting a Club open to all who were willing to pay the fee, of which many availed themselves. The outcome of this was Aquatic Sports promoted by Mr. Ralphs, and held for the first time in the history of this school, and here again some of the Chinese shewed great proficiency.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HONGKONG POST OFFICE.
The report of Mr. E. Cornewall Lewis, is published in the Gazette. We make the Acting Postmaster General, for the year 1900, following extracts:-
Departmental Changes. The Postmaster General obtained twelve months' leave of ab- sence and left for England on the 6th March. The Assistant Postmaster General was ap. pointed to act during his absence, and the duties of the Assistant Postmaster General were divided between the Accountant and the Superintendent of the money order office.
On the 1st January, the six Armenian Clerks, referred to in last year's Report as having been engaged, entered upon their duties. I regret to say, however, that after two or three months' experience of Post Office work, to which they were quite new, they all, more or less became dissatisfied, not only with the hard work and long hours, but also with the salaries which they received, and which they considered wore inadequate, owing to the fact that they were strangers to Hongkong. By the end of the year foar had severed their connection with the Offics. Including the above six Clerks, 23 new appointments were made during the year, and 12 Clerks resigned. With the excep- tion of three-one with 11 years' service and two with three years-none of those who re- signed had completed even a year's service.
In response to a general wish expressed by the non-Chinese students, Mr. Ralphs (having first consulted Sir John Carrington, Colonel of the Hongkong Volunteers, on the matter) undertook to raise a Cadet corps which, with some of the former students, numbered close upon 5 Drills were carried on, and in No- vember the corps was inspected by Sir John Carrington, who spoke very favourably of the appearance and drill of the boys and stated that a scheme would be presented to the Government for sanction to attach the corps to the Volun teers. The decision is still awaited.
Another subject which I hope is under the consideration of the Government and which I
trust ere long will be un fait accompli, is the building of a suitable Gymnasium.
Mr. May points out that throughout the past year the school has been seriously understaffed, owing to sickness among the masters and the lack of relief from England in the shape of a successor to Mr. Machell.
The report of Messrs. C. Clementi and 8. B. C. Ross, who examined the Upper School, is appended to Mr. May's report.
In the month of May, Mr. F. J. Machado, the Postinuster at Shanghai for the long period of 23 years, retired on a pension, which he fully deserved after his lengthened and faithful ser- vice of 43 years in the Department. He was succeeded by Mr. W. J. Solly, the Senior Clerk of the General Post Office, Hongkong, who in his turn was succeeded by Mr. G. G. Burnett, transferred from the Sanitary Board. The e were numerous changes at Shanghat owing to resignations, and with the advent of a new Postmaster, the long needed additional assist ance was pressed for, and I am pleased to say that three extra mei were granted by the Government.
|
International and Local Correspondence.- The table shows an increase under each head in both classes of mails dealt with. Attention is drawn to the large number of bags dealt with, viz, 74,844, an increase of over ten thousand on the total of the previous year.
Postage Stamps.--From monthly sales of stamps at Hongkong the total amount received was $217,612.24, an increase of $820.79 on that of the previous year. The sales of stamps at the British Post Office at Shanghai and at the several British Postal Agencies, amounting together to the sum of $76,220.55.
Parcel Post.-The Parcel Post transactions, again this year show an increase on that of the previous year. The total number of parcels handled in 1900 being 54,396 (of which 6,315 were insured) against 49,354 (of which 6,217 were insured).
troops a fully manned and equipped Field Post Office Establishment. After consultation with me, the Chief Superintendent, with
my Hongkong, and to this Office everything received consent, arranged to open a Base Post Office în
here for the China Field Force was to be sent at once to be dealt with.
I regret to state that the Convention for Partial Postal Union between this Colony and China which was sent forward for execution was not completed, owing to the unfortunate troubles in China breaking out about the same time. It appears very much as if this Conven- tion will be hung up indefinitely. One of the Articles of the Convention would have done away with an anomaly, which certainly allowed the Chinese Imperial Post Office an advantage over the British Postal Agencies in China. It was this; The Hongkong rate on letters is for all places in China (exclusive of Canton and Macao) 5 cents for each half ounce whereas the Chinese rate is 2 cents for each quarter of an ounce or 4 cents per half ounce. I certainly think that this anomaly should cease without delay.
Revenue and Expenditure. The total revenue received in 1900 was $325,603.38, exceeding that of 1899 by $7,693.97, and the total ex- penditure was $235,263.08, less by $2,639 68 than that of 1899. The net balance to credit of the Hongkong Post Office on the year's transactions amounted to the large sum of $90,340.25.
LOCAL EXAMINATION HUMOUR.
From the report on the Upper School at Queen's College by Messrs. C. Clementi and 8. B. C. Ross we take the following examples of unconscious humour as exhibited by some of the pupils at the recent examination: -
56 A
Three forms offered "General Intelligence" as a subject for examination; but, say the ex- aminers, the intelligence displayed was not gen. eral. Samples of it are these:-"The Zebra is a wild animal it is something like a sheep. It will devour men, women or cais, etc.' kangaroo is a tame animal and is something like a boy. It is not a wild animal. It cannot walk or talk." "A kangaroo is a little animal
them in topics." like a cat. They like death. We often see King of birds means a kan- garoo." A kangaroo is like a rat with a hole in its stomach." Treaty ports mean rugby, swimming, racing, cricket, rounders, aiming.
England's colonies consist Duke, Earl, Baron, etc., and also Bishops."
Sir Joshua Reynolds was the leader of the Jews after Moses' death.” "Professor Pasteur famous for training horses at a Circus." "Alexander the Great King of England in the 9th century." "Alexander the Great, Roman Emperor, famous for building ships." "James Watt is famous for transla- tion of the Bible."
Money Orders.-The total amount of orders issued and paid in Hongkong and Shanghai was $1,102,140.62, which was an increase on that of the previous year of $468,742.90. The increase in the number of Indian regiments stationed at Hongkong will amount for the larger number and amount of Indian orders drawn in 1900. The sales of Imperial and local postal notes similarly exceeded the sales of 1899. The total of the former amounting to £6,149 178. 2d. and the latter to 86,491.50. The increased sale of Imperial Postal notes was largely due to such being applied for to a greater extent by the Naval men on this station, partionlarly as their namber had of late been so much added to by the additional :ships sent out to augment the China fleet.
We have received a copy
of an interesting
General Owing to the troubles in North pamphlet on Chinese Jurisprudence, being an China, and the consequent despatch there of address delivered by H.E. Wa Ting-fang, British troops, including a large number of Chinese Minister at Washington, before the Indian Regiments, it can well be understood New York State Bar Association on the 15th that the work of this Department was con- January H.E. Wa gives a very lucid exposi-siderably added to. The Indian Postal Ad- tion on the subject.
ministration, however, sent out along with the
{
+4
46
The subject for dictation was Fuller's defini- tion of the true gentleman as personified in Sir Francis Drake. One ingenious pupil rendered the opening words thus:“The quaint old bullock sums up in a few words the character of the true gentleman in the descripsing that of a great animal Sir Francis Drake." History, wo are told, was very weak. For example-“ Acre was a town in Jerusalem it was taken by the French and made him king 88 years"; "Brom- well was a statement in England"; "Mayflower was denoted the Plantagenate Kings of the Crown"; "The Bank of England are many - manufacture towns and a great number of ses pert and also very rough." Ignorance of his- tory adds to the confusion* The way how Lady Jane Grey came to the throne was that she married, the Dauphin (Philip II); “ Iron- sides is a brief and generous nobleman" "Magna Charta was a great charta was a famous outlaw man who lived in the Sherewood Forest. He fobbed the rich but help the poor"; "Lot of Security was used to make some mat- ter secure""Pilgrimage of Grace was a book written by John Bunyan during his confinement in Bedford jail. Ignorance of the elements of geography leads to such statements, as
Indis on the continent of Europe has been subject to England " ́-“ Bank of England has beautiful mountain ranges high peaks" A boy asked to give the provisions of the Treaty of Union says--“ Tea was brought to England by the Dutch from China; tobacco and potta. to s was brought to England by Drake."
arqui
Some of the replies to grammatical questions are worth recording The feminine of deer is variously given as swine, antelope, deeress and heiter of marquis chess, marquiness, mergius, marqueess, an quii; of “peacock "'- weathercock and b cock of #foxa foxes bitch and ictim. The masculine of “bitch!
a wizard.
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