5

C.—3

During the year two meetings of the New Zealand Institute of Mining Engineers have been held at the school, the students gladly availing themselves of the permission to be present. On the 28th June, 1898, Mr. H. A. Gordon, F.G*.S., read a paper on " The Source of Gold and other Metals " ; and on the 7th March, 1899, Mr. James Park's presidential address, and a paper on " Timbering," by Mr. Robert James, manager of the New Alburnia, were read. All the papers were highly appreciated. A large number of geological excursions have been made during the last twelve months, both underground into the mines and across country. In the latter case the journeys were made on foot, on horseback, in brakes, and on bicycles, according to circumstances, and many illustrations of the geological features of the district were noted by the students. These excursions are always well attended, and are a valuable aid to the class-work. Plans and specifications for a School of Mines Mineral Museum have been prepared, and are to be shortly submitted to the department for approval. It is intended to build a large hall, with office and storeroom, on the vacant ground facing Beach Eoad, which, while forming a handsome addition to the present buildings, will serve an extremely useful purpose. The collection, suitable arrangement, and display of the rocks and minerals characteristic of the district are important matters, and will prove of great assistance to the prospector and the mining community generally. The museum will be open to the public as well as to the students, and, as the number of specimens increases from year to year, the value of the institution will become progressively-greater. Already a large number of samples have been collected, and are in readiness for the new building, and, by exchanges with other districts, it is hoped that minerals representative of other parts of the world will be obtained, and form a feature of the museum. Thanks are due to the following gentlemen for donations of rock-samples and minerals, viz. : Mr. Alexander McKay, F.G.S., for a large collection of Westland and Hauraki Peninsula rocks; Mr. Eichards, Assistant Inspector of Mines, for rock-samples from Westland; Mr. Stevens, for a valuable collection of about a hundred mineral- and rock-samples from Tasmania; Mr. Morgan, for a number of Otago rocks and fossils ; Mr. K. M. Barrance, for Otago rocks and fossils; and also to Mr. H. Eabe, for a working model, about 8 ft. high, of poppet-legs and patent safety-cage, exhibited in the Auckland Exhibition. During the last year I have personally collected some hundreds of rock-samples, mineral specimens, and crystals. A collection of several hundred fossils representative of the different geological formations has been obtained as an addition to the samples used for illustrating the lectures in geology. The number of students attending the classes during the different terms is given in the following tabulated statement: —

Table of Attendances for Year ending 31st March, 1899.

The annual examinations were held in December, 1898, the papers being set and examined by the following examiners appointed by the Mines Department: Mr. George Wilson, Inspecting Engineer ; Mr. H. A. Gordon, F.G.S. ; Mr. Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist; Mr. William Skey, Government Analyst; Mr. C. H. Pierard ; and the Surveyor-General. Thirty-one candidates presented themselves for examination in eighty-one subjects, and of the certificates granted 41 per cent, were first class; 31 per cent, second class, and 21 per cent, third class.

1898. 1899. Name of Subject. First Term. Second Term. Third Term. First Term. General and mining geology Mineralogy and blowpipe analysis Land-and mine-surveying Mathematics Mining and applied mechanics ... Metallurgy of gold and silver ... Practical chemistry Theoretical chemistry Practical assaying Mechanical drawing ... Mineralogy and geology (combined course) 12 13 31 11 29 22 20 40 21 14 15 14 33 11 32 I 29 23 42 21 15 8 9 24 11 24 12 20 17 28 19 8 8 14 11 14 24 22 28 20 Total Saturday science class 213 65 235 73 ' 172 45 149 76 Total attendance at classes ... 278 308 217 225 Individual registered students 72 88 56 54 Total individual students 137 156 101 130