His Honour, in the course of his remarks, said he understood that one of Mr. Beer's objects in having a prine He thought that the occasion was not only a proper one for making the attempt, but that Mr. Beer had suc ceeded admirably in his object. (Hear, hear.) Four years ago he had the pleasure of distributing the prizes at this school, but that was ina very different building. He remembered describing the school on the former occasion as "a healthy infant." Without going so far as to describe the school now as an "old boy," it was satisfactory to learn that it possessed many "old" boys" (cheers). The old school house wus situated back street, with no more interest outlook than a blank wall, The new premises were not only excellently adapted for the purpose, but occupied a splendid situation (hear, hear). The new house seemed to catch all the breezes that blew from almost any direction, as wax evidenced by the owlness of the school-room in which they were now i We read that the hills looked Marathon, and Marathon looked on th wea; but as Marathon was situated o a plain, the school is better off, for while the higher hills look down on it, it is situated on " hill the base of whic ix washed by the sea (hear, ar). Since its establishment the sch had made considerable progress, and it was gratifying to all concerned to hear of the honourable posit already obtainced by several of the old boys" (cheers). maintained their connexion with the school by corres ponding with their former Headmaster} (hear, hear).
The health record of the school was only (cheers).
a bilious attack Such healthiness he attributed to two causes—(1) the excellent climate of Weihaiwei, which, as stated in the school report, is the best in Chit though he ought to add that his German friends at Tsingtao put forward the same claim (laughter); and (2) the school diet. Mr. Beer had inform ed them that boys and masters sat down together at the principal meals, and had the same food. He had known Mr.
Beer some four years, and, as evidence of the excellent feeding arrangements of the school, he was happy to notice that his shadow had not grown less (laughter). Sir George White is reported to have said, in connexion with the siege of Ladysmith, that Sir The H.-C. herald and S. C. & WE. Gaseite.
Ave. 23, 1907.
Edward Ward waste best quartermaster the world had known since the days of Moses, and he had no hesitation in stating that in her arrangements for the school diet Mrs. Beer had undoubtedly proved herself worthy to rank with the best of quartermasters (cheers).
The success of the school in the Cambridge Local Examiuatious reflected great credit on the school and the staff (hear, hear). The best candidate, it seems, was "ploughed" in spelling. This was a subject which had caused many of us sad moments, and even famous authors had never been able to instance, it was n Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson had much trouble in spelling correctly. This particular candidate, therefore, deserves our sympathy. He can console himself with the reflection that he has erred in god company. Illogical as our system of spelling is, to adopt the system suggested by President Roosevelt would be to render confusion worse confounded.
It is sometimes well to leave bad alone.
(Hear, hear).
The Empire Day Movement, he should like to explain, was langoly due tothe ive of the Enrl of Meath, from whom he received the pamphlets which had been distributed to the boys on Empire Day." He sincerely hoped the bays would find the these papers, and the prepara tion for the subsequent examinati both *instructive and interesting. would like them to realize that they were privileged members of a great race—ot the greatest empire the world has ever seen (cheers).
He was afraid that the prejudice aguinst colour, to which Mr. Beer had referred, was deep-rooted; and so long as human nature remained as it was, ft would be difficult to eradicate. Sich a feeling was greatly to be regretted and we should endeavour to overcome it.
We should always respect those who' are worthy of esteem, regardless of their colour, which is after all hear). The population of the British Empire is suid to be over 400,000,000, Only 50,000,000 these are white, and those who are of white always deserve our sympathy tic treatment and frequently merit our esteem. We should not take aman for what he looks, but for what he is, "AA man's a man for a that," whatever his colour (hear, hear).
He was pleased to notice so nich interest taken in sports, and while it is to be regretted that the match against the Chefoo School was lost, he eon-gratulated the football team on the energy shown in spite of an unpleasant journey and the sea-sickness (hear, hear). He wished them better luck next time, and hoped they would retura to Weihaiwei with their colours flying and a victory to their credit. No one would be readier to ive them a hearty welcome under such cireamstances than himself (cheers).
He would like to mention one incident that occurred that morning. One of the boys had occasion to come to his house, and, as the day was warm and thirst-producing, he presoed him to take some refreshments, He declined. and, on being asked the reason, he said he did not wish to run any' risk of damaging his chances of success in the aquatic sports that were to come off that afternoon. He was very pleased with the spirit shown by this boy, and hoped he would win a prize. He certainly deserved it (hear, hear).
Te was not at all surprised that the School Cadet Corps came off second est" in its encounter with the armed forces of the Crown—to wit, the Weihuiwei Police Force (laughter). He hoped all attacks on that protected our lives and lil have @ like result (hear, hear).
He asked all present to join him in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Beer awit the staff on the general success of the May the old boys continue to be successful; remaining true to the motto of their school—Deo Patrineque Fidelis'—and may there many wore of them" (Loud cheers).
The Rev. A. E. Hume, in a vote of thanks to His Ho Couniissioner, said there was one print in the report which Ie had lear with regret. He was sorry tu learn that the classics are not con portance relatively ax modern La and the English subjects. He knew one successful business man who argued that the classical education he had Received wax win great help to hi in the business life. Tt seen pity—thongh, perhaps, of te be wondered at—that competition and the demand for business training had reacted so unfavourably in tiny schools on the study of the dead lnngua; He would like to give some advice te the boys. He would urge them ts study han,—to make the mest of the opportunities that would never recur (hear, hear). Recalling his own sche: days, he remembered that nea bey often regarded his lessons ay irks to be shirked if possible, He new ly regretted that he had den and he quotd his own' experiences an incentive to the boys of the school to work hurd—even at congenial tasks (leur, hear). sure that they all' appreciated Honour's kindness and the school in coming to. pre Prize Distribution—especially so, since he was till very recently in the doctor's hands. He, therefore, asked all prose: to join him in thanking the Commis. sioner. (Loud cheers.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.