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the plant to prospectors and others, have in view a scheme to supply increased motive power at a proportionately reduced cost, and have interviewed the Minister of Mines upon the question, with the result that financial assistance has been promised; when the scheme is carried into effect it will enable a further reduction to be made for the treatment of ore. Dibectob's Eepoet. The Director (Mr. D. V. Allen) read his annual statement, as follows : — The school has been well attended throughout the year, the average attendance being the largest we have had for three years. Early in the year some of our members formulated a scheme for increasing the attendance, generously donating sufficient money for the free tuition of eleven students who were selected by competitive examination. This acted as the necessary impetus— others enrolled until finally we had some thirty students. The following are the details for the three terms :— T . Number of Average Students. Attendance. First ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 58 Second ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 61 Third ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 60 Generally speaking, students attended regularly and took considerable interest in their work. Our course for the year included instruction in the following subjects—viz., mathematics, land and mine surveying, mining, wet and dry assaying, theoretical and practical chemistry, metallurgy, and mechanical drawing. During the first term a class in geology was commenced but owing to lack of attendance was subsequently discontinued. The two best-attended classes were theoretical chemistry and mathematics. A good deal of useful work was done in the laboratory and assayroom, while the practical survey class did good field-work. At the annual examinations for schools of mines, sixteen of our students presented themselves and five first-class, nine second-class, and six third-class certificates were obtained. In this connection I would point out the want of uniformity existing at the several schools of mines in the matter of awarding marks. Our school has always taken 75 per cent, as necessary for a first-class pass. Last year one student passed for first-class mine-manager and two for battery-superintendent. For this year's examination we have four candidates for first-class mine-manager and one for battery-superintendent. The sphere of usefulness of the.school has been increased by the erection of a grinding plant for preparing rock-sections. The power is supplied by al2 in. Pelton-wheel, the water being supplied by a 2 in. pipe at a standing pressure of 801b. per square inch, diameter of nozzle fin., speed of wheel 1,500 revolutions per minute. The whole plant is contained in a substantial building. All that is now required is a good petrological microscope for examination of sections. In conclusion I am pleased to state that the outlook for the present year is assuring. Considerable interest is being evinced in the class on electricity, eleven students having already joined this class alone.— D. V. Allen, A.0.5.M., Director. Public Batteey. The battery has been well patronised during the year. Altogether thirty-seven parcels of ore were treated, which constitutes a record. These represented 68f tons of general ore, 813 lb. of picked stone, and 30 lb. of slag. The total yield was 691 oz. of bullion, valued approximately at £2,050. This is satisfactory, and goes to show that a much-needed want has been supplied by the erection of a public battery in this district. I understand that the Minister of Mines will favourably consider any reasonable scheme for increasing our motive power. The accomplishment of such a scheme would benefit our local mining community considerably. Prospecting would be encouraged, for our crushing-charges would then be so moderate that parties could treat ore at a profit which previously would not Day. The oil-engine on the whole worked well, notwithstanding its heavy work. I have again to acknowledge the valuable services of Mr. H. Macdonald, our amalgamator, who has carried out his rather onerous duties in a satisfactory manner.—D. V. Allen, Battery-manager. Balance-sheet. The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £7 2s. lid. on the School Account, and a similar one of £3 9s. lid. on account of the public battery. Election of Officeks. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr. T. W. Ehodes, J. P.; Vice-Presi-dents, Captain Hodge and Mr. A. N. Jamieson ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. W. Thomas ; Auditor, Mr. A. F. Steedman ; Councillors—Messrs. John Reilly, 8.A.; J. B. Rockliff, J.P. ; H. P. Hornibrooke; 11. Battens, M.E. ; E. A. Daldy; W. Jones, and G. T. Mellars. Peesentation of Ceetificates. The certificates won by students at the examination in December last were presented as follows :E. McMillan—Ventilation, first-class ; explosives, first-class ; mining, second-class; pumping and winding, second-class. John Carroll—Ventilation, first-class ; surveying, second-class ; explosives, third-class. T. Cummings—Surveying, second-class. W. J. Patterson—Metallurgy of gold and silver, first-class. Victor Denize —Assaying (senior), second-class; chemistry, third-class. E. E. Jamieson—Assaying (senior), third-class. Vincent Daldy —Assaying (junior), third-class. G. Antwis —Assaying (junior), second-class ; chemistry, second-class. Sydney James—Chemistry, first-class. Eansom Myers—Chemistry, second-class. Eric Rhodes—Chemistry, second-class. W. Turner—Chemistry, second-class. Herbert Jones—Chemistry, third-class.