The annual meeting of the governors this school was held on Thuzsday evening (3rd inst.), in the Municipal Board Room. Mr. Anderson, introduced by Mr. F. S. A. Bourne as one of the members of the incoming Municipal Council, was placed in the chais.
In moving the adoption of the report the Chairman said:—Ladies and Gentlemen,—In the absence of the Chiirman of the Council who usually presides ut these meet ings, I have been asked to take the chair.
Since our last meeting, this Institution has suffered a great loss in the death of our Chaplain, the Rev. H.C. Hodges. He was a man who, 8 you all know, did a great deal of good work in a quiet and unobtrusive way. So retiring was'he that many members of the community nave heard more about the spheres of his activity since he has been taken away, than they did when he was amongst us. He took a keen interest. in the school, and devoted much time to. its supervision; he was a great friend of the boys, and as the good deeds that men do live after them, let us hope that his kindly advice to them will long be remembered.
By Mrs. Hodges' departure, we have lost an Honorary who' managed the administrative duties of the school in an excellent way. It is a post which involves really hard work and the sincere thanks of all who take an interest in the work is due to her for the unremitting attention which she devoted to it.
The Committee have been fortunate in finding @ successor in Mrs. Reid, and 1 am sure that in her hands, with the assistance of the Committee and the staff, the high state of efficiency that has been established vill be maintained, regards the staff, Miss Neatby resigned on her marriage. The girls lose in her a sympathetic teacher; she leaves us with we best: washes of the Committee, the staff, and the scholars for her succoss'and happiness in her sew life. Miss Usher succeeds Miss Neatby, and in addition we have been fortunate in securing the services of Miss Graham, who comes to us from Australia. Wo hope that it will be possible to devote more ume in future to teaching the girls domestic duties in addition to the instruction in needlework to which more attention has been given.
On the boys' side Mr. Price continues in the post he has so successfully filled and is ably seconded by Mr. Cartwright.
We have to congratulate ourselves that the health of the children has been so satisfactory during the past year. This spe well for the care and management that is so essential; any serious illness amongst so many enildren would be a great misfortune.
'AS regards the finance, 1 take this opportunity of thanking Sir thomas Hanbury and other friends here and at home, who have given us their support. In Uctober a Bazaar was held which proved so successful that the Honorary Treasurer, Mrs. A. W. Burkill was able to hand over to the Institutian no Jess a sum than $4,691.17; I need not say that the Institution is exceedingly grateful to the ladies who gave us their assistance this will strengthen the Endowment fund; it has enabled us to invest Tls. 3,000 in Municipal Debentures. The Commuttee hope that in time the object for which they are striving wu be attained, which is to build up the Endowment fund that the annual interest derived from it, together with the ordinary income will make the Institation self-supporting.
Your mil seo from the accounts that the subscriptions and donations are Jess than in 1902, due partly to the departure from Shanghai of former subscribers, but also toa reduction in the amount of some subscriptions, which is a feature which we hope will not develop.
On the other hand the expenditure has also been rather less. The sum of £51 on the credit side of the account represents the amount sent home for the passage of a teacher, who at the last moment asked to be released from her engagement and re turned the money. I have nothing further to say, but if there are any questions to be asked before the accounts are passed, I will be glad to answer them to the best of my_ ability.
"Mr. Bourne seconded the motion, which was carried without either question or com ment.
The Chairman proposed, and the Rev. C. E. Darwent seconded that the committee and officers for 1904 be as follows Committee:—Mrs. Berner, Mrs. Burl Mrs. Poate, Mrs. Reid, Mrs. Smalley, Re G. H. Bondfeld, Messrs. A. W. Burl AL Fleet, H. B; Hobson, Sir Hiram Wi Oaicers:—Prosident—Sir Hiram Wilkin-and Mr. A. Wright. son, Vice-President—Mr. H. E. Hobson, Hob. Treasurer—Mr. A. Fleet, and Hon.
—Mrs. D. J. Reid.
This resolution was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks having been accorded to the Chairman, the meeting resolved int> committee, with Mr. Bourne presiding.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.