8.—7

4

scarce, the quantity of live stock has not been ieduced. The turnip crop, though late, is a very fair one. The school was visited at different times by the examiners in farm-work, viz., Messrs J. W. Overton and J. Rennie, and the following short extracts from their annual report to the Board will show their opinion of the work done by the students, and of the management:— "In April," they state, " the students were working a threshing-machine in such a way as to give each one an opportunity of learning all about feeding, filling the sacks, clearing the chaff away, and stacking the straw, and they all did their work very well. The engine was in charge of a driver." On another occasion they state that, " accompanied by the students, we walked round each paddock and questioned them on the crop—when it was sown, what manure, if any, was used, what the previous crop had been, the quantity of seed per acre, whether the seed was dressed before it was sown, and how the land was prepared for it? And after carefully making notes of the answers given to us, and comparing them with the facts regarding each paddock obtained from the Director, we were able to judge of the interest taken, and were much pleased to see how large an amount of attention was bestowed by the students on the every-day work of the farm. In August we examined the laborious part of the farm-work, and, taking into consideration the fact that many, if not all, of the students are still growing, and that their muscles are not yet fully developed, we think it very creditable that they were able to plough as well as they did in such heavy grass-land. The ploughs were well set, the horses driven steadily (though, perhaps, in this there might be a little improvement), and the ploughs firmly guided. In November we found the students sheep-shearing, and we particularly noticed two things, viz., the quality of the work and the time taken in doing it. Of the first we can only speak in terms of the highest praise. In the carpenter's shop four students were busily engaged making hayslides. The work appeared to be well and neatly done. The blacksmith's shop was occupied by students repairing machines, rakes, &c. The remarks made about the carpenter's shop might also apply to this department. In the dairy the students were busy making butter, but had not commenced cheese-making. We were pleased to note that the churns, vats, &c., and all the utensils used, were clean and bright. In conclusion, we cannot help remarking that judicious management was everywhere apparent, and without it the amount of stock on the farm could not possibly be so large and in such good condition, nor the crops as healthy." These remarks, from two gentlemen who are well known as practical farmers, show that the school is doing good work, and imparting to the students a thoroughly practical education in agriculture.

Abstract of Accounts of the Boakd of Governors of Canterbury College for the Year ending 31st December, 1885. Receipts. £ 8. d, I Expenditure. g s. d. Balance from last year.. .. .. 3,104 310 College— Bents— Fees paid to Professors .. .. 1,032 2 0 Classical school .. .. .. 3,913 1 8 Salaries paid to Professors .. .. 4,877 10 0 Superior education .. .. .. 1,847 11 4 Maintenance and exhibitions .. 880 6 7 School of Technical Science .. .. 1,456 13 7 Boys'High School— Boys'High School .. .. .. 2,422 8 9 Salaries .. .. .. .. 2,61110 6 Giiis' High School .. .. .. 232 0 6 Fees paid to teachers .. .. 99 2 8 School of Agriculture .. .. 973 18 8 Maintenance .. .. .. 490 12 3 Medical School .. .. .. 326 14 9 Girls' High SchoolLoans, repayment of .. .. .. 10,014 2 9 1 Salaries .. .. .. .. 1,124 310 Loans, interest from .. .. .. 4,600 511 Pees to teachers .. .. .. 282 5 4 College— Maintenance, &c. .. .. .. 630 3 1 Fees from students .. .. .. 1,032 2 0 School of Agriculture—Bents, text-hooks, &c. .. .. 207 8 6 Salaries .. .. .. .. 1,398 0 0 Boys'High School— Board of students and staff .. .. 1,590 19 7 Fees .. .. .. .. 1,143 9 0 Students' travelling expenses .. .. 131 8 10' Buildings .. .. .. .. 23 3 6 Students' labour .. .. .. 201 5 4 Girls' High School— Labour .. .. .. .. 782 1 n Fees .. .. .. .. 1,477 7 0 Live-stock and implements .. .. 405 13 10 Government grant .. .. .. 200 0 0 Milk, seeds, manures.. .. .. 345 0 7 School of Agriculture — Maintenance .. .. .. 847 7 10 Fees .. .. .. .. 1,740 17 9 Permanent works .. .. .. 45 11 9 Sale of produce, wool, grain, live-stock, Public Library— dairy .. .. .. .. 2,450 810 Salaries .. .. .. .. 280 9 4 Bent, refunds, &c. .. .. .. 98 7 9 Maintenance and reference .. .. 577 9 9 Public Library— Museum— Subscriptions, &c, .. .. .. 385 11 2 Salaries .. .. .. .. 1,074 0 O Government subsidy .. .. .. 50 0 0 Maintenance .. .. .. 289 18 1 School of Art— School of Art— Fees from students .. .. .. 286 0 0 Salaries and fees .. .. .. 864 9 6 Grant from Board of Education .. 300 0 0 Maintenance .. .. .. 242 17 0 School of Medicine .. .. ~ 58 16 0 Interest .. .. .. .. 4,07118 O £38,285 17 3 Advances .. .. .. .. 14,904 2 9 Balance due to bank.. .. 2,023 11 8 Land purchases .. .. .. no 2 1 £40,309 8 11 j40,309~ 8 11 I have audited this account, and have compared the items with the vouchers, and find it correct.—J. Ollivier, Provincial District Auditor, Ist March, 1886. [Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing {I,GOO copies), £2 145.]

By Authority: Geobge Lidsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBo.