3

E.—6

One student of two years' standing attended only two of the mining classes, and with success in the examinations, devoting his studies principally to subjects of the B.Sc. degree examination. He intends, however, to devote the next two sessions entirely to subjects of the mining and geological divisions. . Two students who entered for four years for the mining and metallurgical divisions have finished their third year , one passed examinations in all subjects taken successfully, the other failed in one subject, but, as he has another year's attendance to spare, he is likely to make up the deficiency One student of four years' standing, who through insufficient attendance due to illness failed in last year's examinations in some of the subjects, attended these subjects again, and was successful in the examinations. He requires to pass in only two subjects more to qualify him for the associateship in mining, as he has already been engaged for more than twelve months in practical mining work. . . One student, who had previously passed examinations in most of the subjects of the mmmg, metallurgical, and geological divisions, but devoted last year to practical mining work, attended lectures in the remaining subjects, and also in other subjects, qualifying for the first section of the B.Sc. degree, but I am sorry to say he failed in some of the examinations, and will have to try again next session. Two students—Donald J Matheson and Harry C. Boydell—each of four years standing, have successfully passed examinations in all the subjects of the mining and geological divisions, and the former also in that of the metallurgical division. H. C. Boydell, having fulfilled the condition of twelve months' practical work in mines, is entitled to the diplomas of associateship of the divisions in which he passed but D. J Matheson, having not as yet done any practical mining work, can only claim the diplomas of the metallurgical and geological divisions. Both these students are also qualifying for the B.Sc. degree, and H. C. Boydell has already passed the first- section of this degree. The attendance of the classes, and the results of the annual examinations, are shown in the following table : —

Owing to interference with the University evening classes, the lecture course of the St. John Ambulance Association was attended by only two of the students, who were successful in gaining certificates of " First aid," as required by the new regulation instituted by the Council. During next session the number attending these classes will, no doubt, be much larger There were no evening classes in assaying and surveying held during the session, as no one made application for them. , Eegarding the number of students to be counted upon to return for next year s session, it will probably be thirteen, as two of the eighteen on the roll have completed their studies, as previously mentioned, and three, who have not finished, were uncertain of return. However, as in previous years, there is every probability that an accession of new students will bring the attendance up to the average of past sessions, for it is now becoming generally recognised that the knowledge gained at a School of Mines opens to a young man, who takes proper advantage of the whole course, several avenues to remunerative employment leading to really good positions in time, if not in this in other countries. The difficulty which our students have generally to face at the end of a session—namely, of finding places for practical mining work during the vacation— seems this year to have been more easily overcome than formerly. Two have gone to Ballarat, Victoria ; two to the Mount Bischoff Tin-mine, Tasmania ; and the others, I understand, have, with few exceptions, found work in coaland gold-mines in this province and on the west coast of the island.

Attendance. Eesults of Examination. Entered for . Examination. 1st Class. 2nd Class. 3rd Class. Failures. Eesults of Examination. Subjects. Mathematics Theoretical Mechanics Theoretical Physics Practical Physics Theoretical Chemistry Practical Chemistry Advanced Practical Chemistry Biology.. Practical Biology Mining, 1st course Mining Geology General Geology .. Mineralogy Petrography Palaeontology Assaying, 1st course Assaying, 2nd course Blowpipe Analysis Surveying, 1st course Applied Mechanics Drawing, 1st year Drawing, 2nd year 4 5 2 4 6 5 2 2 2 7 5 4 8 4 2 7 2 II 7 2 4 5 4 5 2 4 6 5 2 2 2 7 5 6 8 4 2 7 2 11 7 2 4 5 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 3 2 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 4 2 4 6 1 2 1 1 4 2 4 1 1 7 1 1 2 4