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have mentioned at Paris is the largest school of mines in the world. The diploma given by that school is a very good one, being, 1 believe, highly appreciated everywhere. 13. Your mining engineers are experts in treating ores for silver and other metals, as well as gold ?—ln the French colonies mines are developed in every possible way. 14. Mr. Grimmond.] When does the Paris Exhibition open?- -The sth May, 1889. 16. Would there be time, after the Melbourne Exhibition, to send some of the exhibits there to Paris ?—There would bo just about time. 16. What time would the exhibits have to be there ? —Some time in March. As for mining exhibits, I should say they would not require so much time in the arrangement of them. If you sent machinery, however, that would require more time, 17. Mr. Allen.} I should like to know whether the mining and metallurgical works in France are in the hands of speculators, or whether the French Republic itself has any interest in them?— We have in Le Creuzot very large ironworks engaged in turning out a variety of heavy machinery, guns, &c. That is quite a private industry, next to that of Krupp's, at Essen. The owners of these works arc Schneider and Co. M. Schneider was Speaker of the French Corps Legislatif. We have very important works at Commentry-Tourchambaud, St. Etienne, Marseilles, and many other places. But the French Government have their own works, namely, in our five fortified ports, where twenty thousand hands are at work. .Besides, there is the large foundry, belonging to the Marine Department, at Indret, near Nantes, Loire Inferieure. The works at Indret are under the supervision of a French admiral. Very large works are executed there for the purposes of the French navy. But private industrial establishments supply our navy, by special contract, with most important work, such as ironclads. 18. But recurring to the schools of mines : is that central school you speak of provided with a competent body of good teachers?— Yes. Besides, it has one of the best and largest mining museums in the world. We are paying a great deal of money every year for mineral museums in schools of mines. 19. But I want to know whether there is an efficient body of teachers provided for these schools?— Yes. I know personally the director. I met him in San Francisco when he came out on business for the Rothschilds to report on the copper-fields of Lower California. I have friends who have been at the French School of Mines. I have them in many parts of the world. 20. Mr. Brown.] Are you sufficiently acquainted with other parts of France to give us any information as to whether there are other schools of mines spread throughout that country ?— Yes, at St. Etienne there is also a school of mines. We have also industrial schools (Ecoles dcs Arts et metiers) in different parts of France; the principal at Chalons and Angers. But there we are not forming engineers of high standing. They are trained and educated at St. Etienne or Paris. In those professional schools we are making what I may term sub-engineers, overseers, or foremen of works. Students are trained to every kind of industrial work. Young fellows are admitted when they are fourteen or fifteen years, and learn to be mechanicians, locksmiths, or to acquire any special branch of industry. 21. Are these institutions provincial and local?— They are State institutions. 22. All supported by the State?— Yes. 23. The State desires to spread over the country every kind of industry ? —Yes. There are some industrial schools at Paris and some big cities which are supported by the local bodies. These municipal institutions are connected with some special branch of industry. The town where I was born, for instance (Besancon), is distinguished for its watch-making industry, which competes with Geneva. Of course, that industry is most important for that town. Consequently we have there a school for watch-making (Ecole de Horlogerie). It is supported by the Municipal Council, because it is of great local interest. The Chairman : We thank you, Count d'Abbans, for attending this Committee, and for having given us very valuable information. We will give every attention to the suggestions you have made, and will probably recommend the Government to give every facility for carrying out some of them. If you will be good enough to communicate with your friend the Commissioner, that we may receive from him through you what he would recommend, we will recommend the Government to communicate with you the effect which they may be disposed to give to our report. M. d'Abbans.] If you desire to send mineral exhibits to the Paris Exhibition I will prepare a little pamphlet in French, which will serve as a handbook to that part of it. It shall be made from official reports from the recent publication upon mines by the New Zealand Government. It will be a good way of informing people in Europe who are interested in mining questions what is to be found in New Zealand in the form of mineral wealth.

The evidence given by Mr. G. E. Tolhurst, Mr. S. Brown, Mr. E. 13. Gore, and Mr. H. A. Gordon was not ordered to be printed. [Approwknat* Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,375 copies), £i 17s.]

Authority: Geobqb Didsbuky, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBB.