C—3.

During the year a large number of rock and mineral specimens, collected by myself or given by various donors, has been,added to the school collection. Among these may be specially mentioned several pieces of solid rhyolite containing fragments of easily recognisable charcoal. One specimen was obtained at a depth of 110 ft. in the Grand Junction No. 1 shaft ; the others were found in excavating one of the Waihi Company's No. 4 shaft chambers at a depth of over 200 ft. Quite as noteworthy, perhaps, are specimens of partly silicified wood, containing 5 per cent, or more of free carbon, from a depth of 620 ft. in the Grand Junction shaft. The rock in which this fossil wood is imbedded is not improbably a decomposed andesite lava, though it may be decomposed andesitic tuff. In conclusion, I have to thank the committee for the continued attention which they have given to the requirements of the school. Thanks are due also to Messrs. K. M. Barrance and A. H. V. Morgan, M.A., who have in turn acted as assistant lecturers. KARANGAHAKE SCHOOL OP MINES. The Director, Mr. E. B. McDuff, writes: — I have the honour to furnish herewith the first annual report on the Karangahake School of Mines for the year ending the 31st December, 1901. At a public meeting held in October, 1899, for the purpose of establishing a school of mines at Karangahake the following gentlemen were appointed to carry out the resolutions passed at the meeting: Messrs. G. H. Taylor, J. E. Noble, W. Goldsworthy, G. N. McGruer, F. Eich, E. Stackpole, jun., and Alexander Hogg. At a committee meeting held at the close of the public meeting Mr. Hogg was appointed secretary, and Mr. W. Goldsworthy and H. W. Guthrie trustees. So untiring in their efforts was this committee that in a little over a year the school was erected and fitted up with all the necessary appliances ready to open at the beginning of the present year. Applications for the position of Director were called, and that of Mr. W. H. Baker, B.Sc, of the Thames School of Mines, was accepted. Mr. Baker took charge at the beginning of the year, and continued up till the end of March, when he resigned, having received the offer of a more lucrative position in Tasmania. Applications for the directorship resulted in my appointment, and I commenced my duties on the Ist April, 1901. The school has had a most successful year, the attendance at the lectures being excellent, as is shown in the table appended. The course of instruction is similar in all respects to that of the Waihi School of Mines, and embraces all the subjects necessary for the Government mine-managers', battery-superintendents', engine-drivers', and assayers' certificates. The school-year is divided into three terms : First term, from the first Monday in February to the 30th April; second term, from the 9th May to the 20th August; third term, from the 9th September to the 20th December. The fees charged are ss. per term for each subject taken up. In addition to the class fees there is a membership fee of £1 per annum. No Saturday science class is held for children. The following improvements have been made in the school during the year : Sixteen lockers for the assaying class; a lecture-bench placed in front of the blackboard; a mineral case provided; and the assay-room ceiled with iron. The capacity of the assay-room is taxed to its utmost at present, it being only 14 ft. by 10 ft., and, with an attendance of twenty students, working becomes very inconvenient. If the number of students in this class increases—as I am convinced it will do next year—some addition will have to be made to allow the work to be carried out successfully. One great drawback to the school is the want of a waiting-room for the students ; having only one class-room, they are compelled to remain outside until the earlier class is over, which is not very pleasant in the winter months.

Table of Attendances for Year ending 31st December, 1901.

18

Subject. First Term. Second Term. Third Term. lining lurveying ... Lssaying theoretical chemistry Metallurgy ... Mathematics ... ... 5-eology Mineralogy ... )rawing 'ractical chemistry ... 8 9 13 10 11 4 3 3 4 13 11 12 16 18 13 7 3 3 4 18 11 12 20 20 11 13 4 4 3 20 Totals 78 105 118 Total individual students 25 31 37