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table will show the subjects taught and the average number of students attending each class at the school during last year :— Subjects taught. 8 Mining and mathematics ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Practical assaying and metallurgy ... ... ... ... ... 15 Surveying ... ... ... ... ... ... ... — Practical and theoretical chemistry... ... ... ... ... 14 Geology ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 At Boatman's School, where instruction is given once a week, the average attendance has been 25. The following is a report by Mr. E. Aitken, the Instructor, for the year ending the 31st March, 1892 :— " I have the hqnour to report on the work and progress of the Eeefton School of Mines and its branches during the past year ending 31st March, 1892, which, I am pleased to say, is far more satisfactory and encouraging than that of the previous year. " The time-table was altered to suit the students, and the classes held with every regularity throughout the whole year, with the result that far greater interest was taken in the school, and the attendance largely increased, there being as many in some classes as could be accommodated comfortably. The increase is partly among the miners, and some students have obtained work in the district for the sole purpose of attending the school, which is evidence that the benefits to be derived from such an institution are appreciated. Samples of minerals, &c, are now sent from all parts of the coast, and other districts, for assay and determination. " The mining and surveying classes are the most popular and best-attended. These classes are not only attended by those who desire to qualify themselves as mine-managers, but also by those who are mine-managers, and by others whose sole object is to extend their knowledge on the subjects taught. " The classes in practical assaying and theoretical chemistry were well attended, but the progress was hindered owing to our limited supply of material and apparatus; this difficulty, however, has now been overcome by our last shipment from England ; and these classes, together with practical chemistry just started, are making excellent progress, and are much appreciated by the students." "A class was started on mining and mathematics in the Merrijigs district with over fourteen members, and was kindly conducted by Mr Southerland, one of our advanced students. It was discontinued after about five months, owing to a partial collapse in that district, and the removal of many of its members, but I am pleased to report there is every probability of the class being again reformed. " The number of assays, tests, &c, are not so large as those of the previous year, which I attribute to the comparative dullness of the district, although many most important assays have been made. " Following is a list of the subjects taught in the school during the past year:— " Mining and Mathematics. —lt is found necessary to take these two subjects together, as one is, to a certain extent, connected with the other. This class has over twenty members, the majority of whom are miners, and the number is gradually increasing. The instruction given is on arithmetic, logarithms, plane trigonometry, mining geology, and on the formation of lodes, besides hauling, winding, hydraulics, ventilation, gases, and the strength of materials. "Practical Assaying and Metallurgy. —ln this class the students are instructed in the assaying of ores of gold, silver, lead, copper, antimony, and tin, and in the use and composition of the fluxes and reagents used. The melting, refining, and valuing of gold and silver bullion, together with the dressing of copper plates, and cleaning and retorting of amalgam, also formed part of our work last year. The assaying has been principally by the dry methods, but this year, with our supply of chemicals, we shall enter into the wet methods, and also analysis. The number attending this class is over fifteen, and the students are of various occupations. The text-books used are Mitchell's and Aaron's. In this class assays by amalgamation are also taught, which give far more practical and correct results in assaying parcels of quartz than by the fire. " Surveying. —This class is very largely attended, and instruction is given on the theodolite, dial, &c, together with the use and adjustments of these instruments ; also in land and mine surveying, plotting by protractor and rectangular co-ordinates, tabulation of traverses, calculation of areas, and levelling. Several students have procured instruments and now do their own surveying. These with a little more practice will soon become competent surveyors, and some have already shown their competency by practical illustrations. " Geology. —In this subject our text-book is ' Geikie,' and most of our work last year was purely theoretical. The instruction was on Book I. and parts of Books 11. and 111., comprising physical geography, composition of the earth and its envelopes, and dynamical geology; the average attendance being eight. "Practical and Theoretical Chemistry. —These two classes are now held the same evening, so that the students in one class may attend the other. The latter class was held during last year with an average attendance of six members, and now, since the two are held together, the attendance has increased, to about fourteen—as many as can be accommodated. The work done in this class is the reactions of metals and acids, and the schemes for the separation of metals, together with the principles of analysis; also the chemistry of the elements and their compounds, illustrated by experiments. "Boatman's School. —lnstruction is given at this school every Thursday evening, and the class has been held regularly throughout the full terms. As the attendance here numbered twenty-five students, I found it necessary to form a senior and junior class, and the latter class was conducted