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my attention was drawn to the fact that one chemist at least was selling these pills with a printed label on the box, "Dr. Batchelor's Iron Pills." I was very much annoyed at this, and called on the chemist at once; his explanation was that a number of patients asked for these pills under that name, and for his own convenience he had the label printed. I pointed out to him how objectionable this was; lie promised to withdraw the label, and I believe did so. I haw heard nothing more of the matter since. This, so far as 1 know, is the sole foundation for Dr. Hunter's charges on this point, if they refer to me, which I imagine they do. Sincerely yours, Fredk. C. Batchelor.

Sir, — University College, Auokland, 9th September, 1913. I have delayed a few days in answering your communication of the 2nd instant in order that I might consult the Professorial Board at their meeting held yesterday. The Board recommends that proper provision be made in Auckland for schools of architecture (including town-planning) and law, and that the present provision for teaching certain engineering subjects be retained. Personally I approve of this recommendation, and in its support, and with reference to specialization in general, beg to urge certain considerations. 1. There are some hundred and twenty or more law students attending the law lectures at this College. If there were no instruction in law given here probably not 1 per cent, of these would attend any law school out of Auckland. Law is different to medicine; attendance at a law seliool is not necessary for, though it may be a valuable aid to, a career in law, and law students in New Zealand generally prefer or find it necessary to carry on their law studies concurrently with their office practice. The number of law students already existing here seems to thoroughly justify better , provision being made for their proper instruction. 2. Auckland, as being both much the largest and the most rapidly increasing centre of population in the country, has a special claim to a reasonable share of the professional schools. I think it will be found that in all our special schools, with the possible exception of medicine, each school is patronized mainly by the community in which it is placed. Even in the case of medicine I think it will be found that the" proportion of students relatively to population that the Otago School attracts from the rest of the country does not compare with the proportion supplied by Dunedin itself. (A properly compiled report giving the statistics of this character for each of our professional schools would be of interest and might supply valuable lessons, and I hope such a report will be obtained.) If this be so it follows that, other tilings being equal, the greater will be the utility of any school the larger the community in which it is placed. This argument strongly favours Auckland as the locality for the new school of architecture if such be founded. 3. Reasons are numerous in favour of distributing such professional schools as cannot at present be multiplied more or less equally, as may be practicable, amongst the four University centres, but such concentration as is unavoidable would be more effective in the larger and not in the smaller centres. 4. Duplication may lie advisable over a portion of a course even when the time is unripe for the duplication of the whole. The classes held in Auckland in certain engineering subjects meet a want, and, if the course were recognized by the Senate and by Canterbury College as far as it goes, would tend to feed the School of Engineering at Canterbury. Many would go to Canterbury to finish that at present cannot face the financial strain involved in the longer course away from home. Some others, who now having to leave home for a long period in any case prefer to go to foreign schools of greater celebrity, would be induced to take their course in this country. There are many others also who, like the law students, must have their instruction concurrently with their workshop practice, and the workshops are not confined to one centre. Suitable engineering courses where there is sufficient demand would serve the same purpose in the same way as do the various schools of mines at the several mining centres. Further, if provision be made for a school of architecture in Auckland very little additional provision is necessary-—and none in the way of equipment—to the classes in engineering subjects at present conducted in Auckland. Yours faithfully, Mr. G. M. Thomson, M.P., Chairman, Education Committee. H. W. Segar.

Victoria College (University of New Zealand), Sir, — Wellington, New Zealand, 10th September, 1913. In reply to your letter of the 2nd September in re the memo, of the Minister of Education on the subject of specialization at the University colleges, I am now instructed by the Professorial Board to write you as follows : — 1. The Board makes this statement in compliance with your request, but- desires to preface the statement by reasserting its opinion that the question of specialization is one which cannot be properly determined otherwise than by a Royal Commission, after a thorough inquiry into all the factors which ought to influence policy on such a question. 2. Subsequent proposals in this letter are based upon the assumption that effect is given to the findings of the Inspector-General's report, and that this College is guaranteed the full sum of £14,000 per annum necessary to finance the report's scheme. The Inspector-General, in his evidence before your Committee, gives as a revised estimate of revenue from fees at Victoria College the annual sum of £4,000. We do not agree with that estimate, believing it to be much too high. Our fees have already been raised to the same level as those of Otago University viz. C-'i 3x. per annum for a full course in a lecture subject (with £3 3s. additional for a practical