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Appeal Board. Mr.JH. S. Wardell, a non-elective member of the departmental Board of Appeal, died on the 6th May, 1912. Mr. R. McNab was appointed in his place. . The Board sat on the Ist July, 1912. Ten appeals were considered. In three cases the Board confirmed the action of the Department, which was in accordance with regulations. In four cases the appeals failed. In one case the Board reported that the appeal had not been made within the time prescribed by Regulation 19, but strongly recommended the officers promotion. One appeal was withdrawn, the officer having been promoted. One appeal was dismissed under Regulation 19. The Board sat from the Bth to the 10th March, 1913. Twenty-one appeals were considered. In one case the Board recommended that, in consideration of the arduous and important work performed by the officer, his salary be raised to that paid in corresponding positions. As the Board's recommendation could not be gives effect to under the Department's regulations, it was forwarded for the consideration of the Public Service Commissioner. In two cases the Board had no recommendation to make, but expressed the opinion that one of the officers should receive promotion at the earliest opportunity. In one case the Board recommended the payment of £6 as a special bonus. In view, however, of a subsequent adjustment of the officer's salary the bonus was not payable. One appeal was not proceeded with, -as the officer had been promoted and liis seniority preserved. In one case the Board had no recommendation to make. Five appeals were not inquired into by the Board, as they referred to action taken in 1908 and 1909. In ten cases the Board recommended that an adequate adjustment of salary and status be made to preserve the officers' relative seniority in the Classification List. The Board again sat from the 27th to the 29th .March, 1913. Eighteen appeals were considered. In nine of these the Board had no recommendation to make. In five appeals it was recommended that the cases of the officers who had suffered by the operation of the Post and Telegraph Amendment Act, 1907, and the annual classification made thereunder, be dealt with by the Department. The necessary adjustments have been made. In one case the Board could net sustain the appeal. In another the Board recommended that the opinion of the Crown Law Officer be taken. The opinion confirmed the decision of the Department. The Board upheld one appeal, and recommended that the officer be promoted from the Ist April, 1912. This was done. In a further case the Board considered that the officer should be given an opportunity of proving nis fitness for another position. This was arranged. It also recommended that when the officer's promotion took place it should, if possible, be ante-dated to 31st March, 1913. The recommendation was forwarded to the Public Service Commissioner. The Departmental Appeal Board ceased to exist with the coming into operation of the Public Service Act, 1912. Officers were called upon to elect representatives to the Public Service Appeal Board, and Messrs. F. M. Scully and A. Mill were elected to represent the Postal and Telegraph Branches of the Service, respectively, on the new Board. Instruction Classes for Officers. The special course of instruction instituted by the Professor of Physics at Victoria College for officers of the Engineering Branch of the Department commenced on the 27th March, 1913. The Departniein granted a sum to the College for the purchase of apparatus for use in tuition in telegraphy and telephony. The correspondence classes inaugurated in 1910 for the tuition of officers of the Department in technical telegraphy and telephony, and in subjects of the Civil Service Senior and Junior Examinations and the Sixth Standard, were continued during 1912. The total number of students for the year was 319, of whom 130 were technical students. The results of the year's work were most satisfactory. Examinations. The principle of requiring officers of the Department to pass examinations was first dealt with in the Post and Telegraph Classification and Regulation Act, 1890, which provided that the Governor in Council might make regulations " prescribing the times and places at which examination of candidates [for employment] shall be held and the subjects of examination upon entrance or on promotion, also for the conduct of such examinations and the appointment and remuneration of examiners," Regulations were made under the authority of this Act by Older in Council dated the 22nd January, 1891, prescribing the examination for admission to the Department and the senior examination for officers before being eligible for promotion above the Fifth Class, of which the maximum salary at ithe time was £250. Officers of at least ten years' service before the passing of the Post and Telegraph Classification and Regulation Act, 1890, were exempted from the necessity of passing the senior examination. Efficiency tests, however, were authorized in 1906, in which year it was provided by the Post Office Act Amendment Act that the Governor might make regulations " prescribing a test of efficiency for officers in the Sixth Class before such officers may receive increments beyond —(a) One hundred and fifty pounds; and (b) one hundred and eighty pounds." An Order in Council made on the 29th July, 1907, defined efficiency examinations for cadets before being promoted, and for officers in the Sixth Class before receiving increments above £150 and above £180. By the Act of 1907 the ■Sixth Class examinations were altered to apply to increments above £165 and £200. By Order in Council dated the 26th November, 1910, the efficiency test at £200 was changed from a written examination to an oral one, and a written test was required for promotion beyond the Seventh Class. At the same time questions on the Post and Telegraph Act were included in written examinations. ■At the beginning of 1913 examinations were in force for officers generally. For postal