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last examination, 812 actually presented themselves in the examination-room, and 584 were successful in passing the examination, 203 passing " with credit " —that is, with an aggregate of 60 per cent, of the possible marks. Seven candidates, who had previously qualified in the examination and had been appointed to the Public Service, presented themselves for examination for the Professional Division in the special subjects required by section 177 of the regulations. The Public Service Senior Examination was held between the sth and 20th January at eighteen centres throughout the Dominion and at the Chatham Islands. The number of entrants was 1,051, as against 574 for the previous year. This exceptional increase is no doubt very largely attributable, in the first place, to the fact that an entrance fee is no longer payable by candidates actually employed in Departments of the Public Service coming under the provisions of the Public Service Act, 1912 ; and, in the second place, to the benefits now held out to officers who succeed in passing this examination. Of these 1,051 candidates, 871 presented themselves in the examination-room ; 582 were successful in improving their status, and are now recorded as having passed as follows : Passed the whole examination, 198 ; passed in five or more subjects, 22 ; passed in four subjects, 124 ; passed in three subjects, 119; passed in two subjects, 119. In several instances candidates found that, although successful in passing the examination in five or more subjects, they were not credited with a full pass, as they had omitted to take the subjects prescribed for their Department. The examinations were conducted by the Education Department by arrangement. The cost was as follows : Public Service Entrance, £751 ; Public Service Senior, £964. Post and Telegraph Efficiency Examinations. In the Post and Telegraph Department efficiency examinations have been in existence for many years. Clerical officers are tested as to their fitness for their duties at three stages —before receiving salary beyond £110, £165, and £200 respectively. During the year an additional examination, at £220, was abolished. In each case the examination embraces the work of the branch in which the officer is engaged, and is of such a nature that it can be passed by the average officer without any great difficulty. It is purely a test of efficiency, and not a competitive examination. In addition to these tests of efficiency, examinations in technical subjects are held periodically to enable officers to qualify for technical positions in the telegraph and engineering branches. To qualify for cadetships, officers of the General Division are required to pass a test of efficiency in postal or telegraph work. On the postal side the cadet's postal examination is deemed sufficient. On the telegraph side an examination in Morse operating, approximately at the rate of twenty-five words per minute each way, is required. The number of. officers who sat for examination during the year 1913-14 was 898. Of this ,-number, 712 (80 per cent.) were successful either wholly or partially. Details are as follows :— Passed (Wholly or Failed. Partially). Cadet's, telegraph.. .. .. ..110 technical .. .. . . 124 34 ~ postal .. . . .. 115 48 „ sorting-test .. . . 19 18 First (postal, general) . . . . 71 51 „ (telegraph, general) .. .. . . 104 6 Second (postal, general) .. . . . . 5 1 Despatch Clerk's .. .. .. .. 1 Counter-clerk's . . .. .. .. 6 1 Oral test.. .. .. .. ..83 Telephone Exchange Clerk's, technical . . 16 Senior, technical .. .. .. 36 22 Engineering (parts of) .. .. 22 5