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Home Science. c. The following is a report from Professor Boys-Smith with reference to the needs of the School of Home Science :— " To the members of the Otago University Council. " Gentlemen, — " I want to bring to your notice the urgent needs of the home science department, and to beg you to ask the Minister of Education to decide as quickly as possible what sum the Government will allot to Otago University to establish the home-science course permanently. One of the urgent needs of the present time is a place in which to teach the practical laundry-work and housewifely. The syllabus laid down for the degree and diploma courses, and approved by the Council anil the New Zealand Senate two years ago, undertook to give the students n course in practical laundry-work and housewifery as well as in cookery. At the time, temporary provision was made for teaching of cookery by asking the Education Hoard to grant us the use of the North Dunedin Technical School kitchen, which they agreed to do at a rental of £100 per annum, upon condition that the Hoard's cookery teacher gave the classes. No provision was made for the teaching of laundry-work at that time, but the consideration of suitable quarters was postponed until the question of the projected hostel came up for discussion. Last summer (as the number of students who had started the work in 1911 was small) 1 was able to make temporary provision in my own house. Now that the number of students has so much increased it will be impossible to go on with this branch of the work unless provision is made for the laundry and housewifery classes, in which case the students would be unable to complete their practical work and obtain a degree or diploma. " The Inspector-General in his report on the University colleges of New Zealand has pointed out thai a chief demonstrator of the practical work in cookery, laundry-work, and housewifery is at once necessary to enable myself and my assistant to carry on the total work of the department. And we shall never lie able to show the value of teaching these subjects on scientific lines until we have our own kitchen, laundry, and demonstrator. If Government decides to make permanent provision for the home-science course, and to allot a given sum to Otago University for this purpose (see pages 6, 7, and 11 of the Inspector-General's report), the Citizens Committee would, I understand, agree to hand over the remainder of the subscriptions which were given expressly for improving the teaching of these practical subjects, for the purpose of electing a model kitchen and laundry, if the University would provide a suitable site, and Government would subsidize the amount subscribed. " The question of permanent laboratory and lecture-room accommodation at the University also presses. With twenty-four students reading for the full degree or diploma course, and eighteen other students taking single courses, or groups of courses, we have barely sufficient accommodation for our needs, and there is reason to hope that, next session we shall have as large an increase of students as we had this year. " In conclusion, gentlemen, I would therefore beg you to ask the Minister of Education to consider these facts at I he earliest possible moment, and decide to allot .£l,OOO per annum to establish the home-science course permanently. I would point out that already Government is subsidizing Mr. Studholme's contribution and that of the Citizens' Committee to the extent of £500 per annum, so that we are only asking that this provision be raised to £1,000 per annum and made permanent. "W. L. Bots-Smith." Here we are pioneering—and that in a department of education which, though of supreme importance to the community — the higher education of women—has been scandalously neglected. For the start already made we are indebted to the enlightened generosity of Mr. Studholme and a few of the liberal citizens of Dunedin. The school has now proved its value, and the Council looks to you to put our School of Home Science on a stable foundation as regards buildings and finance. The grant we now receive from Government is £500 per annum :we require double that amount, and a small grant for the necessary buildings. The Veterinary College has long been in the air. The time for establishing it is due, and a site has been recommended by Mr. Reakee and approved by the Council. We hope you will enable us to receive it at once. The small debt on the Dental School of .£560 is a serious burden, and we were glad to have the assurance of the Premier, when in Dunedin last month, that this burden will be removed by Government grant. In submitting the above reports on the needs of the University as a basis of consideration the Counoil desires to remind you of the value of the special schools in our College, and the consequent heavy burden laid upon the Council to make them efficient. I need not remind you of the liberal fashion in which the people of Dunedin have in the past contributed to the funds of the College The Council urges the claims of the College in the favourable and liberal consideration of yourself and your colleagues. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Andrew Cameron, Chancellor.

Dear Mr. Thomson, — 77 Lower Stuart Street. Dunedin, sth September, 1913. I notice in yesterday's Times that Dr. J. W. Hunter is having another tilt at the Otago Medical School. I think I can throw some light on one of his statements. Between twenty and thirty years ago, when treating cases of ansemia, my favourite prescription for that condition was Blaud's iron pills. . . . About fifteen or sixteon years ago

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