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Tabulated Statement of the Parcels of Ore tested at the Thames School of Mines' Experimental Plant during the last Year (percentage saved not given).

The following is a report by James Park, F.G.S., the Instructor and Director, on the state and progress made at the Thames School of Mines for the year ending the 31st March, 1891: — " I have the honour to report that the year just ended has been the most successful the School of Mines has seen since its inception, both as regards the efficiency and usefulness of the work and the attendance of students. The average number of registered students for the whole year was 58, as against 45 in 1890 and 33 in 1889, a result which must be considered highly satisfactory and encouraging. The practical character of the instruction has attracted students from all parts of the colony, and many miners have come to the Thames and secured employment in order that they might be able to attend the school and qualify themselves for certificates as mine-managers. "It is now freely admitted throughout the Hauraki Goldfields that the practical and theoretical work of the Thames School has exercised a most beneficial influence on the mining industry, and I have much pleasure in stating that the jealous ignorance which has hampered scientific mining and stifled progress in many mining centres in New Zealand does not exist in this peninsula, where the practical miner eagerly embraces the opportunities which the School of Mines affords of learning the technical branches of his occupation, where the students of the school find ready and profitable employment, and where the latest scientific processes for the extraction of the precious metals are readily tried and as readily adopted when they have been proved successful. It is this progressive and enterprising spirit which has placed the Thames Goldfields, in the matter of goldand silver-saving appliances and processes, so far in advance of the southern goldfields, and has enabled her low-grade ores to be profitably worked on a large scale. " The attendance at the different classes during the past year is shown in the following table : —

"Table of Attendance, Thames School of Mines, for Year ending 31st March, 1892."

"Practical Assaying and Metallurgy. —The attendance at this class was very large throughout the year, and severely taxed our accommodation and appliances for instruction. Much valuable work is done in this class, as it is here that most of the students first obtain their knowledge of the numerous complex ores found in the peninsula, and the different methods of treating and valuing them. Several of the students have obtained good appointments in Australia, and quite recently Mr. Edwin Banks has been reappointed assayer to the Waihi Gold- and Silver-mining Company, succeeding the well-known metallurgist Mr. James Napier. A great many miners and battery-

Assay-value of Or< per Ton. Trei Crusliii Coj ited by V ig and sa* iper Plat< r et ?ed on JS. ■cated by Hot Ainalgamatio: and Chemicals. Name of Mine and and District. 0 o s Value. Gold. ? > s 04 Si Value Silver. g g Bu »i ou O d P or 53 a Ton Pμ save . 13 Hi ill Silver. Bullion. Goia. Silver. Gold. juminary, Puhipuhi Vaipu* „ iurtham, Waitekaurif )ixon's, Thamei3 few Find, Komata { rreat Mercury, Kuaotunu§ Lb. 84 1,900 2,240 2,000 2,360 95 £ b. a. 18 0 9 9 11 34 8 8 3 14 0 23 2 0 Oz. d. gj 0 2 1.2 1 5 1 ! 7 16 2' 0 2 12! 4 11 0 !Oz. d. g.'Oz. d. g. I 5 18 12 J 6 1 0 ! 33 5 334 10 4 22 9 030 5 2 21-6 0 21 8 12 32 12 11 37 3 11 Oz. d. g. 3 9 15 oz. a. g. 3 8 2 41-9 Oz. a. g. 1 4 12 3 5 20 Oz. d. g. 22 19 12 12 2 1 83-3 91-5 43-5 I £ s. d. 13 4 8 14 0 29 8 4 not given 19 5 0 83-3 91-5 85-4 2 12 10 1 10 10 392 3 14 18 '6 5 4G-2 85 : 2 * The percentage saved waa ; 90 pei % per oe • cent, of j nt. of go! gold and 1 and C8'4 per cent, o: SO per cent, of silver silver, saved. i 895 per cen' § Nothing in tt S. of gold, te ore. A'. and 60 per cent, of silver saved. 11 silica.

1891. 1892. Name of Class. First Term. Second Term. Third Term. First Term. 'ractical assaying and metallurgy ... 'ractical chemistry and laboratory practice ... 'heoretical chemistry lineralogy and blow-pipe determination reology and geological surveying ... lining ... jand and mine surveying ... lechanieal drawing —j <J 22 22 5 5 29 27 11 35 20 24 7 7 22 24 n 43 24: 24 7 7 17 23 11 34 25 25 11 9 15 20 12 Saturday Lectures. 61 55 51 46 'heoretical chemistry Total attendance at all classes ... 211 205 207 197 Total number of individuals 112 112 115 105 • Registered students exclusive of Saturday classes... 51 57 64: 59