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gone through twice before it is ready for the final touch, which is to pass it through animal charcoal, which decolourises it. It is then run into cakes, and is ready for the market. " The high-melting-point wax is used for candle-making, and the lower melting-points are used for match-making and many other purposes. When dissolved in spirit low-melting-point wax makes a splendid damp-repeller, and when put on to a house in summer is said to last a long time. A coating of wax is said to preserve fruit and butchers' meat. It is used by brewers for coating the inside of beer-barrels, and by weavers in the manufacture of yarn and cloth. It is also used for making cork impervious to air and as a non-conductor by electricians. One of the bad uses it is put to is to adulterate sweet-meats, which practice was severely criticized in Science Sittings some time ago. " Paraffine-wax, when well refined, is a wax-like, white or colourless crystalline substance, and is not acted on by either acids or alkalies, and is one of the most stable substances known. The spirit extracted from the gas is called naphtha, and has a specific gravity of 730 to 760, and is used for extracting fats, oils, and similar bodies, and in the preparation of paint and varnishes. The acid and soda tars, when neutralised, are used for making briquettes and for asphalting purposes. " When the erections are completed, and the work in full going order, the works at Orepuki will put through 2,000 gallons of crude oil per day, and this output can be doubled at a comparatively small cost."

Copies of the examination papers used at the last sitting of candidates for certificates of competency as mine-managers and battery superintendents under " The Mining Act, 1898," and as mine-managers under " The Coal Mines Act, 1891 " ; two papers of interest in connection with mining engineering; the annual reports of Inspectors of Mines, Wardens, Managers of Government water-races, and Engineer for water-conservation; together with list of holders of certificates as metalliferous and coal-mine managers, battery superintendents, and winding-engine men, and the usual schedules, will be found as an appendix to this report. I have, ojc, John Hayes, The Hon. the Minister of Mines. Inspecting Engineer.

APPENDIX.

MINE-MANAGEBS' AND BATTEEY SUPEEINTENDENTS' EXAMINATION PAPEES. Questions used in Examination of Mining Managers foe First-class Certificates. ("The Mining Act, 1898.") First Day.—Time : 9 a.m. to 12 noon. [Candidates must attempt to answer every question. All calculations to be shown in detail.] Subject A. — The Laying-out and Construction of Shafts, Chambers, Main Drives or Levels, Adits, Uprises, and Stopes. 1. Describe the best method of timbering a main shaft, and how you would allow for pumping, winding, and ladder-way. Give by sketch the size of shaft and compartments. 2. In opening a chamber from the shaft, show how you would timber it, and how you would allow for the quick return of empty and full trucks to and from the shaft. 3. Show by sketch how you would construct tanks at change of lifts in a pumping shaft, and the method of fixing supports to pumps and rising mains. 4. If ore is being drawn from different levels in a mine, and the shaft being sunk continuously in hard wet ground, state the precautions you would use to protect the efficiency of the pumps and the protection and safety of the men sinking the shaft.