49

8.—7

The Debating Club held largely attended meetings. An important want in university life is largely met by the residential colleges of Selwyn ami Knox. Though outside the sphere of control of the University authorities, it is recognized by the staff that the social life of the students is much improved by the existence of these important institutions. In particular they tend to break down the barriers that have' in some measure separated the students of different faculties. Athletics. The football club was not so successful as in some previous seasons, though it was able to place four teams in the field : the University was again successful in the match against Canterbury College, but was defeated by the touring team from Sydney University. The hockey club maintained its wonted position at the head of the list of Dunedin hockey chilis. The tennis club showed an advance in enthusiasm, and matches were played in the association competition, but without notable success. The boxing club is now a live and successful institution. On the ladies' side, hockey and tennis attract many enthusiasts. In the annual tournament with the other University colleges during Easter, Otago Universitywas well represented, but failed to win any of the series of contests. An Otago University Officers' Training Corps has now been organized, and two companies have undergone regular training during the year. The two companies are —infantry, Captain Marshall and Lieutenant Morrison; field ambulance, Captain Malcolm and Lieutenants O'Callaghan ami Fenwick. It is hoped that the corps will prove of use to the country when the compulsory service scheme is introduced. Buildings. The opening of the nexv Mining School has greatly lightened the task of the staff that is occupied there, and bas added to the efficiency of the' teaching. The additions to the Dental School have had a similar effect. The installation of electric light throughout the University buildings has added greatly to the convenience of the staff. These highly satisfactory changes -are in part balanced by the fact that there is at the University no accommodation for the English class, which now has to meet at the Training College. This causes inconvenience and loss of time, and in some measure interferes with the unity of feeling in the University. The members of the Council will remember thai in the last report reference was made to the inauguration of a movement to raise funds for the erection of students' buildings. At the instance' of Dr. Gilray a bazaar was organized, and the arrangements were intrusted to a committee of ladies, with Mrs. James Allen- as president, Mrs. Marshall secretary, and Miss Shand treasurer. The University as a whole is deeply grateful to the ladies of Dunedin who threw so much energy into the movement and brought it to a most successful issue. As a result of the bazaar the sum of £1,140 was raised. Lieutenant Shackleton, by arrangement with the Otago Institute, allowed the proceeds of his lecture to augment the funds to the extent of £95. Card collections by the students, and some of the proceeds of the annual carnival, added £185. Subscriptions from the staff and others amounting to .£2lO have raised the total to £1,630. It is hoped that with the aid of a Government subsidy and of further subscriptions a sufficient sum will be raised to provide for a satisfactory building for the accommodation of students, for this is now the most urgent need of the University. Such a result has been made possible' by the' devoted work of the ladies of Dunedin, who have placed the University in their debt to an extent that cannot he overestimated. The recent death of the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Hocken, was much deplored by the Board, who always realized that he had the liest interests of the University at heart. School of Mines. —Report of the Director (Professor James Park, M.lnst.M.M., M.A.Inst.M.E., F.G.S.). The Mining School for the year ended 'list December, 1009, showed an attendance of 30 registered students, exclusive of 12 who attended the lectures on general geology and 5 who kept terms in dental metallurgy. Twenty-six students presented themselves For examination at the annual October examinations, and all passed except one in mathematics and one in mineralogy. In the New Zealand University November examinations Henry Mayall Budd passed the final examination for the B.Sc. degree, and secured the Senior Scholarship in Electricity and the Senior Scholarship in Geology, being awarded the last. George T. Maunder at the same time secured his M.Sc. degree, with first-class honours in geology. Two graduates who had passed the necessary examinations, and presented satisfactory evidence that they had complied with the regulations relating to practical work, were awarded the diploma of Associate in Metallurgy and the certificate in land and mine surveying respectively. The diplomas granted in the divisions of mining, metallurgy, and geology since 1887 are as follows: — Issued up T , . of ™"™ ln Total. 1908. 19ua - Mining ... ... ... ... ..80 ... 89 Metallurgy ... ... 48 1 49 Geology ... ... ... ... 15 ... 15 152 1 153

7—E. 7.