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year, coupled with the tests to which they are submitted in the course of the annual examination, I am fully able to endorse his appreciative remarks. He also points out the fluctuating character of this important section of our staff: thus, of 7 who composed the class at the beginning of the year, only 2 now remain, 2 others have been promoted to Assistent Masterships in the College, and 3 have left to better themselves. I may also add that impending changes-the creation of two extra classes, and one English master to go on leave soon after our reassembling, will mean further promotion of pupil teachers ere they have completed their articles of agreement. The only solution of this really difficult problem seems to be the opening of a Normal School, from whose students both Queen's College and the Education Department could draw a supply of trained teachers. The serious lack of properly trained and adequately equipped Anglo-Chinese teachers is one which will be felt with increasing severity in the future, on account of the unceasing demand throughout the eighteen provinces for native teachers with a working knowledge of English.
In the vernacular school, 473 boys in 15 sections and 5 classes, were examined, 90 per cent. passing. Of this aggregate 173 in six sections are in the 5th or highest class; 96 in three sections in the 4th class; 105 in three sections in the 3rd class, and 30 in a single section in the 1st or lowest class. The pro- portion of boys in the highest vernacular class steadily increases year by year, and is most gratifying testimony to the splendid efficiency of this side of our work. I may at this point aptly add that two of our visitors during the year, His Excellency the Junior Amban of Tibet, and the Consul-General for China in Australia, both of whom are dis tinguished old scholars of this ollege, quite independently of each other expressed to me their intense gratification at the restoration of verna- cular studies to our curriculum
I
During the past year 18 boys obtained employ. ment in different departments of the local Government, 23 under the Chinese Imperial Government, 47 in professional and mercantile offices, and in situations outside the Colony. These 162 boys are practically all from the Upper School, and from the nature of the case constitute the very pick of our scholars While it is eminently flattering to know that we are thus furnishing the supply for a great demand, it is nevertheless disappointing, if not disheartening to a teacher to see his best boys drift away before the annual examination. should at this juncture like to put on record two facts which sufficiently and amply proclaim the practical utility of the education we give. In September last, examinations were simultaneously held in Chinese and English, at Peking, Hankow, Shanghai, Foochow and Canton, for 36 scholar ships tenable for 4 years. at the newly inaugurat ed Customs College at Peking. One of the examiners himself informed me that at Canton there were some 500 candidates; this will give an approximate idea of the total number of aspirants at all five centres. When the list of successful candidates was published, an analysis of its names discovered the fact that no fewer than 14 of the 36 names-i.e. 4 per cent of the entire list—were those of Queen's College boys, (applause) 13 of them appearing on this year's roll, while one had left us in September 1906. This unlooked-for success is one of the most remarkable recommendations we have ever received, and one of which we can all feel emphatically proud. More recently, at an examination of candidates for six prospective pupil teacherships for the local Education De. partment, five of the successful candidates were from our College. I mention these two facts because one must not too narrowly scan the results of an annual examination, particularly in the upper
classes, which have been constantly drained of their best scholars during the year by the demand for boys to fill situa- tions, leaving behind little more than the lees. Doubtless, when the mooted University is once established in our midst as it will be sooner or later, and the sooner the better-boys who now leave us before their education is completed will strongly be tempted to stay on and prepare themselves for professional or scien- tific careers, which should then be within the comparatively easy reach of many to whom they
THE HONGKONG, WEEKLY PRESS AND
The tennis, cricket, football and bathing clubs continue a lusty existence. The reading club, unhappily, and through circumstances out of present control, is temporarily discontinued. Gunner White, R.GA., has succeeded Corporal Wade, R.G.A., who has left the (olony. He is a capable and enthusiastic Drill Instructor.
We again gratefully acknowledge the generosity of all who so regularly contribute to the prize fund. As usual a full list of donors will be posted up on the announcement board at the entrance and later published in the College Journal, The Yellow Dragon.
January 18, 1909.
are now entirely inaccessible. This is but one of been considerably handicapped in regard to other many sound and legitimate reasons why the schools in the colony by the proportion of its appeal that has been issued for funds to endow scholars. There are 26 classes and only nine and equip a local University should meet English masters. It will result therefore in with early and ample support. It would closer attention being paid to each of the boys in be little short of a calamity educationally if the the class. The average cost of each pupil in the scheme so munificently started should be allowed school has continually tended to increase for to come to naught. Queen's College may hope, some years past. It now stands at $431 per not unreasonably, to supply a large number of head; eight years ago it was under 815, and the the matriculants in the future University of average for the period was $24. This is to say Hongkong.
that it has nearly doubled. We have therefore considered that it was advantageous and bene- ficial to somewhat raise the fees in the college and they now stand at $4 per annum for all the forms alike. This increase of fees has resulted, as the headmaster has told us, in somewhat increased revenue and reduced numbers. I have spoken at some length on this point because it constitutes a new departure in the history of Queen's College, but apart from the cos of each boy the cost of Queen's College as an institution has also tended to increase year by year. The proportion of revenue to expen. diture now stands at 44 per cent. The aver HIS EXCELLENCY, before distributing the age for the period of eight years is 564 per cent. prizes, said My Lord Bishop, Mr. Dealy I hope that the small increase in fees will Ladies and gentlemen: Before I proceed to restore us to the former figure. But in any make any observations on general subjects it case it is inevitable that in a progressive Colony will, I think, be fitting if I say a few words the cost of education should continuously to regarding the report, the most interesting report some extent increase. The taxpayer pays some- just read to us. You show, by your presence what more for education, but he gets value for hore to-day, your interest in this college, and I his money and he gets it in an enhanced degree. hope that in the remarks I shall make on the Look at the number of boys who have gained headmaster's report I may be able perhaps to appointments under Government, in mercantile present a few of the salient points in a somewhat houses and elsewhere during the past year. The clearer light, and to call your attention to those headmaster told us that during this year 162 points which seem to me to be of most importance. boys left to take up appointments, more than Take first of all the figures we have heard of the half of whom took up appointments in the average attendance and the enrolment of the Colony. Last year the number stood at 93, and ollege. We have heard that the enrolment the year before it was 147, and this is irrespec- has fallen to 1270 from an average of about tive of the large number of boys who have 1400 in previous years, and that the average obtained appointments sometime after leaving attendance has fallen tr 911 from about 1000, the college, and who have been lost, sight of. In any other school I should find cause for Probably few countries can see the result much regret in these figures, but here it is the of the money laid out on education come result of deliberate action and intention of back to them so quickly; for what would Government in consultation with the governing our merchants, and what, indeed, would body and the headmaster. The fact is that our Government do, if it had not this* Queen's 'ollege is at present overcrowded; that source on which to draw for its olerks it has more pupils than it has accommodation for. and for its various Chinese subordinate officers; This, on the one hand, means a disregard of and if the benefit to mercantile houses and to those rules of hygiene and sanitation, which we Government is so great through obtaining boys are endeavouring to teach, and on the other hand from Queen's College, how much greater will it means the formation of classes so large that it be when we can obtain fully trained men who it is impossible for one master to adequately have taken degrees in a university course ? In control and deal with them. I have gone int any case it is the duty of the state to expend an this matter very fully during the past year, appreciable part of its revenue upon education. and discussed it with all those whose opinions on I think, if frecollect aright, that the proportion the subject are valuable, and they have all had of revenue which we spend here on education an opportunity of expressing their views. The is somewhere about three per cent, and I think result has been to confirm my
view I am right in saying that the proportion spent on the subject and a new departure will by the Indian Government is over five per now be taken in Queen's College. The cent, and the proportion spent in the United numbers will be reduced and the standard Kingdom is over ten per cent. We cannot raised. I look forward with 'confidence to therefore say that we spend an undue the future, to seeing a competition not only amount of the revenue upon this most from the Government District Schools but from important branch. The headmaster has alluded many of the branch schools of this Colony for to some other minor matters which have taken entrance to this college, and a competition from place during the past year, if indeed we can call Queen's College for entrance into the proposed the institution of preventive measures for an University. The reduction will be effected by epidemic disease like trachoma and a reorganisa- abolishing some of the lower classes and re-tion of the holidays mere minor matters. To taining the higher standards. It will proceed these I will add the institution of masters meet- gradually by the introduction of dual and single ings at which every member of the staff of the desks in place of the desks which accommodate six scholars each, which are insanitary, and which tempt boys to overlook each other's work. We hope during the coming year to replace the whole of the desks in the upper school, and next year to replace the desks in the lower school. It will also be effected by the age limitation which the head master has told you of. The age will in future be limited in the lowest class to 15 years. That will produce & uniformity of ages in the different classes and will limit the maximum in the senior class to about twenty years. The headmaster told us he considers this will be a very great improve ment and amongst other things it will have this effect: that it will eliminate some of the boys whose ages are much in excess of the average of the form, and it is among these boys that we have chiefly to complain of irregularity of at- tendance. But if the number of scholars in the college is reduced, and the staff remains as it is, it is obvious that the cost per head of each scholar will considerably increase. This is, in fact, as it should be, for Queen's College has
Own
college is able to put forward any proposals which seem to make for the good of the college and these proposals are submitted by the head- master with his comments to me. That, I con- sider a very important and a very beneficial institution. I have left myself but little time to allude to the school work of the year. We have heard that 90 per cent, passed the head- master's examination this year as against 94 per cent. last year, and 81 and 98 per cent. in the previous years. This, think, we may consider as very satisfactory. It has ex- ceeded the percentage of previous years with the exception of last year, and that in spite of the fact that the school had to contend during the past year with disorganisation both by á severe epidemic of plague and by the destruction worked to this building by the typhoon at the end of July. The headmaster has referred, with justifiable pride, to the success gained by the boys of Queen's College in the competition for open scholarships in the Customs Training College at Peking. He has also alluded to the success in the examination for pupil teachers
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