E.—ll

2

During the year upwards of £1,000 was spent in permanent improvements and increasing the equipment of the College. A septic-tank system of sanitation was installed, a stable for six horses was built, extensive additions to the milking-yard and cow-stalls were made, a boiler and appliances for steaming and preparing food for the dairy cows and heating water for the dairy were erected, a new power separator was added to the dairy, and a complete milking-machine plant with oilengine was set up. The arrangements for the teaching of blacksmithing and woodwork were modified during the year. In the past a carpenter visited the College two days in the week and a blacksmith on one day, but the arrangement did not allow of sufficient time being occupied by the students with this important part of practical work. Accordingly, a well-qualified mechanic has been engaged and provided with a house at the College. The whole of his time is occupied in teaching and carrying out, with the assistance of students, such horse-shoeing and wood or iron work as is necessary on every farm. Improved facilities are thus offered to students to acquire experience with tools and to fit themselves better as " handy " men. The College farm has been generously and efficiently managed, and is being worked throughout as a training-farm whereon the business element is all-important and the financial aspect of all operations is set out in relief as bold as is practicable. At the same time, demonstrations are given of the effect of different methods of culture and manuring, of the relative advantages of different varieties of seeds and of different forage-crops and forage-crop mixtures in illustration of the lessons taught in the lecture-room or in the field. As evidence that the live-stock of the farm is being maintained of high quality, it is mentioned that the following tickets were gained at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Metropolitan Show, 1907 : Two champion prizes, two first prize and reserve champions, nine first prizes, four second prizes, one very highly commended, two highly commended, and two commended. It may be mentioned also that the flock of crossbred ewes is each year subdivided, and rams of different long-woolled and short-woolled breeds used with the view of demonstrating to the students the utility of different breeds in relation to the fat-lamb industry. To enable students to acquire experience in the valuation of stock, fat or in store condition, and in the ways of the stockmarket, classes are taken to the Addington Saleyards in succession, one class each week. Through the courtesy of the stock agents and the Addington Saleyards directors, students have an opportunity of handling the stock in the pens ; and to encourage them to compare and value different lines carefully, prizes are awarded at the end of the year to the student in each class who most accurately and consistently throughout the year values certain pens selected at each visit to the yards. In this way experience in the buying and selling of stock is much more extended than could be acquired on any one farm. I have, &c, William Lowbib, Director. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.