E.—7

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to be hoped in this connection that before very long the Government's vexatiously severe regulations bearing on underground work will be relaxed. These regulations are at present the main hindrance to the success of our mining school, and they drive the great majority of our holders of diplomas in mining out of New.Zealand. As I explained the relation of the Dunedin Training College to the University in my last year's report, I may simply say here that the Training College students derive great benefit from their connection with the University, and that the important experiment initiated by the Education Department some years ago is thus amply justified by the results. I have great pleasure in expressing my appreciation of the tone and good conduct of the students during the past year. In Otago University, students and teachers are a happy family, and get on remarkably well together. This has been increasingly the case during the last ten or twelve years, and is, I believe, one of the chief reasons why the University has now reached such a high state of efficiency. Chief Needs of the University at the Present Time. —(1.) Two additional class-rooms: The University of Otago is unfortunately a very badly planned building. One of the results of this is that we have one class-room —namely, the Chemistry Lecture-room —that is really far too large for the purposes of ordinary class-teaching, while almost all our other class-rooms are too small. Between 5 and 7 p.m., when our attendance is at its maximum, some of the class-rooms are already uncomfortably crowded, and if the classes continue to increase we shall soon be very awkwardly situated as regards accommodation. We urgently require two additional class-rooms, and, when it is possible to give us these class-rooms, they should be of a size somewhat in advance of present) requirements—they should, in short, be planned on such a scale as to afford comfortable accommodation for about eighty students each. (2.) A students' building: I wish strongly to emphasize what I said last year about the deplorable accommodation in the University building for the comfort of students. We require a really good building with a first-class gymnasium, a reading-room, a hall for meetings, cloakrooms, committee-rooms, lavatories, &c It is estimated that such a building would cost about £6,000, and we believe that if £3,000 could be raised in Otago by the friends of the University the Government would probably be willing to supplement this by a pound-for-pound subsidy. The members of the Professorial Board are unanimously of opinion that this building, when we get it, should be controlled by the executive of the Students' Association, subject to the approval of the Professorial Board and of the University Council. We gratefully acknowledge that we owe a great deal in the past for efficient help to the editors of the Otago Daily Times and Evening Star. Perhaps these gentlemen may see their way to give us their powerful assistance in this movement, which is really of incalculable importance to the welfare of the University. Certainly nothing is more urgently required by us at the present time than a suitable building for the use of students. (3.) Chair of Pathology: The prosperity of our Medical School, of which we are all proud, is a matter not only of local or provincial but of national concern. I believe that my medical colleagues are unanimous in thinking that the next great need of the Medical School that will have to be faced sooner or later is the foundation of a Chair of Pathology. This, however, is a large question, which I prefer to leave in the more competent hands of my esteemed colleague, Dr. Scott (Dean of the Faculty of Medicine). (4.) An increased grant for the Mining School: Now that the Government has generously provided funds for the erection of a suitable home for our Mining School, and has thus banished all fear of the removal of the school from Dunedin, the only thing essential to the increased efficiency and prosperity of the school is an increase in the annual grant. I understand that an annual grant of £1,000 would be sufficient to meet all present requirements. (5.) Teaching of elocution : In my last year's report I drew attention to the fact that, while we give our students excellent instruction in many branches of knowledge, we are doing little or nothing to assist them in communicating this knowledge to others by trained efficiency in public speaking. Any instruction the students get in this art they give to each other in their Debating Society. I believe it is very important that the efforts of the Debating Society should be supplemented by systematic instruction in voice-production, elocution, and public speaking. The importance of such instruction to the citizens of free communities can scarcely be overrated, and it is very desirable that our educated youth should receive training that would qualify them to take their place among the future leaders of the public in the Dominion. I trust that this matter will receive the early attention of the Council. For some of the needs I have mentioned we shall sooner or later have to approach the Government, but surely it is not too much to hope that some of our wealthy public-spirited citizens in Otago will come to our assistance, and thus emulate the princely generosity of Mr. Ross to the Presbyterian Residential College.

School of Mines: Repoht of the Dikectoe (Puofessok James Park, M.lnst.M.M., M.A.Inst.M.E., F.G.S.). The Director reported as follows : — The Mining School for the year ended 31st December, 1907, showed an attendance of 21 students, of whom 19 were matriculated students of the University of New Zealand. Of the 21 registered students, 6 attended one 'subject only —namely, 1 in assaying and 5 in geology. Six students in their final year completed the full course in the division for which they had entered; and 2 in the final year failed to pass in all the subjects required to qualify for the associate diploma.