E.—it

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the common ailments of stock on his farm and to avoid or guard against loss in various ways to which, without such knowledge, he would have been exposed in the management of his stock when he leaves the College. Indirectly also such students scattered severally in different districts of the colony will be helpful to the Veterinary Department in its efforts to control diseases among stock and reduce mortality. As with veterinary science so with other branches of study. In botany, for example, it will be practicable to bring about a more detailed and practical study of grasses —varieties, purity of samples, treatment, and utility—and of the diseases of field and garden crops. Field-work in this subject is of the highest importance, and more time can now be given to this than could be given in a two-years' course. The difficulties we meet in our endeavour to make this institution fulfil its function can be referred to two categories (a) the low standard of elementary education attained by the majority of the students who enrol; (b) the unsatisfactory attitude to study properly so-called of a number of young men who come up, and, indeed, to work generally. I have pointed out in previous reports that it is desirable that the degree of preliminary education required of candidates for admission should be maintained as low as is compatible with the requirements necessary for the character of the course of study that the sons of the smaller farmers, who may have had only such elementary education as the rural schools offer, may not be excluded. Such youths I have found often work off the handicap with which they start and at the conclusion of their course take a prominent place among their fellows. The difficulty therefore has to be faced, and it would not be serious were it not that the low standard of admission allows of the entrance of youths from the secondary schools or colleges who have neglected their opportunities, and who prove often so lazy and indifferent, that they cannot be allowed to remain in residence, and, being sent back, become an unsettling element and provoke dissatisfaction. In the second category may be placed some of the young men who come up from some sheepstations where they may have been placed as cadets. Very few of such prove good students : too frequently they seem to have acquired habits of indolence and unpunctuality, and have little appreciation of the value of time. When such have to submit to the regulations of the College and have regular hours for work and study mapped out for them, they are taken aback and become impatient of restraint. In due time it will no doubt be known more widely that youths cannot remain in this institution, supported as it is by public endowments, and carelessly fritter away their time, and this difficulty which has beset the authorities here in the past will gradually resolve itself. The case is very different when a youth comes up from a farm : there he will have learned to work, and he knows when he enters the College enough of farm practice to enable him to make the best use of the work at the College. It would be well if every student, before he comes here, if he has not been brought up on a farm, could be persuaded to take at least a year at regular work on a farm, for his course would then assuredly be more profitable to him. lam glad to be able to report an improved tone in the institution all round. The young men in residence as a whole are now more anxious to secure the full advantage of the training : they have accepted the position that work on the farm shall mean work, and I am satisfied that the greater number now in residence are endeavouring to do what they can to qualify themselves well for the management of stock and the practice of farming generally. On the farm they are as diligent and reliable as can be expected of young men of their age, and I am confident that when they leave the College as high a percentage of them as can, in fairness and comparatively to other institutions of the same character be expected, will prove that the technical training they have had here has been of value to them individually and to the colony. During the year thirty-seven students were enrolled, seventeen for the second year's course and twenty for that of the third year. This number is not the full complement of the institution, but it is quite enough for the size of the farm. In this relation it must be borne in mind that a considerable percentage of the students who come here have not been brought up on a farm, and consequently are not familiar with ordinary farm practice or experienced in farm-work. Accordingly they must have practice at the various manual operations and the working of the several implements used on every farm, and, indeed, must have very considerable practice if they aspire as we desire they should do to take the College diploma. In the examination for this diploma practical farm-work and the management of stock rightly holds the most important place, and accordingly on the College farm (800 acres) there is scarcely work enough for that number of students in the course of three years to acquire that skill at the several operations which it is desirable they should acquire. Public Lectures. A series of weekly evening lectures to farmers was given during the winter by the veterinary surgeon on the diseases of horses and their treatment. These lectures were very highly appreciated, as was evidenced by the fact that the average attendance of farmers was somewhat over a hundred, and the lecture-room was crowded to the door regularly. Many young farmers came considerable distances to attend, and followed the course with evident interest. It is proposed to continue these evening popular lectures during the winter and spring of 1904, when the veterinary surgeon will give a course on the diseases of cattle on alternate weeks, and the Director a course on agricultural subjects or topics in the other weeks. The Farm. The live-stock have been maintained at a high standard of quality. A Shorthorn bull was purchased at the dispersal of the McHardy herd at Palmerston ; and a Border Leicester ram from the flock of Mr. John Little of Montserrat, and a Shropshire ram from Mr. Eogers of Tinwald were