OTAQO SCHOOL OF MINES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9116, 15 May 1891, Page 3

OTAQO SCHOOL OF MINES.

A deputation consisting of the chancellor of the Ofcago University (the Rev. Dr. Stuart), Mr James Allen, and Mr Hamilton (registrar) met the city members in the Council Chambers, Town Hall, yesterday afternoon. All the city members—namely, Messrs D. Pinkerton, H. S. Fish, jun., and W. Hutchison—were present.

The Rev. Dr Stcabt said he had put in writing what he had to say, aa it contained a number of quotations. If they would excuse him for 60 doing, he should prefer to read it. The Chancellor then read the following memorandum :— I lake the liberty of making a statement of the friendly relations which have always existed between the Council of the University of Otago and the Provincial Government of Otago (which founded the university) and the General Government. Some 20 years ago, when the establishment of the fourth chair in the university was under consideration, the council and the Provincial Executive were agreed that its subject should be natural seienc?, in order to secure to agriculture and mining a place in its teaching. The promise of the Provincial Government to make a grant in its aid till the endowments increased in value was conditioned on these important industries receiving due consideration in its lectures. It J3 only fair to say that Dr Black, who became the occupant of the chair of natural science, carried out the objects of the .council and Provincial Executive. In 1874 the question of a fully organised school of mints received the attention of the council. But it was found that without a substantial subsidy from the Provincial Government the meanß at the disposal of the council could not bear the cost. In order to enable the university authorities to establish a chair of mioing and mineralogy, with lectures on applied mechanics, geology, and mine and land surveying, they intimated to their ever good friends the 'Provincial Executive that a subsidy of £500 a year would be necessary. The grant was made,but the abolition of the provinces diverted for a time public attention from the proposed school of mineß. On September, 1876, on the motion of Mr Barff in the House of Representatives, it was resolved as follows:—" That having in view the yast undeveloped mineral wealth of the colony, and the necessity of obtaining the fullest possible iufcrmation concerning the metals and minerals with which the coantry abounds, this House is of opinion that it is advisable to establish a school of mines." The Hon. Donald Reid, Secretary for Crown Lands, placed himself in communication with the Board of Governors of Canterbury College and with the Council of the Otago University, with a view to induce them to pay Bpecial attention to the establishment of mining schools in connection with these institutions. The council of our university replied in these terms : " That the Colonial Government be informed that the University Council is quite prepared to render more complete and effective the school of mines so far as it has already been created in the university so soon as the£soo a year voted by the Provincial Government of Otago towards such school is available." The oouncil forwarded at the same time to the secretary of Crown lands a report on school of mines drawn up by a joint committee of the Council and the Professorial Board, and which the council adopted. In the letter enclosing the report on a school of mines the council added: "Desirous as the council are to sco such a school established, they cannot see their way to proceed with it until they obtain an assurance from the Government of a subsidy to the extent of £500 per annum; but that on receiving a favourable answer they Sill appoint a director of the school, with the atus and salary of a professor of the university and the lecturers necessary for the completion of the school." In due course this communica-

tion was received from the Hon. Donald Reid: " I have to inform you that the Government, being desirous of having a fully equipped school of mines established in Otago, is prepared to move the General Assembly to agree to a vote of £500 per annum towards the payment of the salary of a director of mines for a limited period of, say, five years. The amount of subsidy after that date to be open to be dealt with by the Legislature. The suggestions of your committee as to the qualifications, salary, and duties of the director appear satisfactory; but, as it is considered that great practical benefit would accrue to the mining interest if the director could personally inspect the mines and give advice to persons engaged in mining pursuit?, I have to suggest that the time during which his services may be bo available should be extended to four or nve months if required by the Government, on the understanding that his travelling expenses are defrayed, as suggested by you. In the event of this proposal beiDg agreed to by your council, ana the vote passed by the Assembly, tha sum voted by the Provincial Council of Otago will also be made available for the objects stated." The council .replied to the efEect that they would proceed without delay with the school of mines on the terms of his letter, and at the same time they had pleasure in putting tbe services of the director at the disposal of the Government during four months of the long vacation Thoy also communicated that Mr Ulrich, leoturer in

mining at the University of Melbourne, and lecturer in mineralogy and curator of the mineral section of the museum, was elected professor of mineralogy and metallurgy and director of the school of mines in the university at a salary of £600 a year and class fees. He was -also informed by Judge Chapman, the chancellor,

that the Government would be entitled to his

services for any purpose -within Wb proper functions daring any portion of four months in the long vacation, A. communication, by direotion of the Hon. Mr Ballance, Miniater of * ducation, dated Maroh 1878, was received, to the effect that vouchers had been passed for payment of two Bums voted by Parliament, of £500 for the services of the director, and of £500 to make good a vote of the Provincial Council of Otago for appliances for1 the school of'mines. It affords me pleasure to say that successive Governments have readily assisted the Counoil of the University in completing the school of mines, When the Hod. Mr Latnach

was Minister of Mines he conceived that it would

be advantageous to the mioing interests if local Bchools were established in tho mining centre?. iAs Or Black was in sympathy with the idea he gave muoh timo, under tho direction of the Minister, to start tho local institutions. Tho miners and friends of minirg entered heartily into the plan, and donbtlesa much valuable information was coinmuuicated. A school of mines is, in its early Btages, necessarily very vory costly, and many forget that tiniß is necessary before results become visible all round. Tho university has spent on it the large sum of £10,533 while the various subsidies of the Government amount to £6200. But its friends aro confident its output will in duo courso handsomely repay the country. When tho mining industry of the colony is directed by trained mining engineers, the council has no doubt that the proverbial waste of other days will be prevented, and the profit far greater in proportion to the outlay. Gentlemen, you know whf.t—tens of thousands of the capital of our fellow-citizens havo been lost mainly through lack of trained intelligence in the management. I confidently look to you to assist us to obtain the parliamentary subsidy, without which the university cannot carry on the sobool with the efficiency which is necessary

to mako it subserve tbe great miniDg interest of the country. The university began it at tho request of our old Provincial Council and of the General Assembly, and at a cost which has crippled its operations in some directions. For one, I am confident that if you take tho lead you will bo readily supported by your fellow-rulers, not only in the South Island, but in the colony. The Rev. Dt Stuart, continuing, said: I do not know that I need add anything else. My object was to show you that in originating and in carrying on this school tho authorities were made aware that our own university funds wero not adequate to the strain it would bring upon it, and that a subsidy would be absolutely necessary. As you must have gathered from my rough minutes, the support and sympathy required of Parliament has very readily been rendered unto us. Only on one or two occasions, I think, did it show us the back of its hand, but a little gentle pressure from our representatives in the south always secured to us the means requisite to carry on the sohool efficiently. My fellow-councillor Mr Allen has taken for two or three years a very particular interest in the sohool will now, if you like to heai him, tell you its present state, and its very efficient condition as to appliances and teaching power. I thought it was better, as he is more familiar with that than I am, that he should tell you what he knows, and what he knows very well, not only as to its teaching power, but as to its efßeienoy and as to the adequacy of the appliances and of the building. I am sorry to have kept you so . long, gentlemen, but I could scarcely have managed it in a shorter time. Mr Jamel Alien said the chancellor had asked him to explain the position of the sohool at the present time, and in commenting upon this he ought to explain how it was that the charge was brought, possibly with some foundation, that the school so far had not been a success. It was true if they looked at statistics it would be found that in the early days of the school there were very few students. From 1879 the number of students for each successive year had been 3, 7, 6, 6,5, 2,5, 6, 7, 16,25,22, and 19. But that did not indicate the number attending lectures. As he did not want to exaggerate, he had' not quoted tbe number attending separate the classes of lecturers. They would see that an increase had taken place within the last two or three years. The numbera attending the various lectures for the same years had been 3, 7, 7, 8,5, 4,12,12,28,49, 46, and 50. This was palpable'evidence that during the last three or four years they had been making some progress towards success, and he might mention that these figures did not include students attending chemistry, physics, mathematics, and drawing, which subjects wero included in the school of mines course, but only thoseattendingclassesdealingpurely with miniDg and metallurgy. Supposing it to be true that in the earlier days, as the figures showed, few pupils attended the school of mines, the reason was that its course was so incomplete. It was not

till 1886 that they were able to appoint a leotnrer on applied mechanics, not till 1887 that they were able to appoint a lecturer on general geology and on mine and land surveying. These three subjects they would recognise were extremely important for a mining school; but until the time mentioned they were not able, for want of funds, to appoint lecturers, and it was only this last year 1891 that they had appointed Mr Wilkinson lecturer on assaying and metallurgy. They had introduced Mr Wilkinson from the old country, and they had built for him a new laboratory, with five air and three muffle furnaces, at a cost of something over £1000. Now, though few students had attended the school in the early days, they should not by that fact be misled into forming the idea that good work had not been done. Exceedingly good work had been done, and he could prove that by referring to the names of men who had attended this mining school and who now held good positions. Ho had a list of the names of 22 men who had been students at the school, and who now held prominent positions in respect to mining. The names were: — Donald Henderson, mining engineer, Melbourne, now ia New Zealand; B. S. Allan, now a surveyor and engineer; Adolph Hamann, at Sandhurst School of Mines; James Marchbsnks, engineer; Alexander Montgomery, for some years director of the Thames School of Mineß, now Government, geologist and reporter on mines, Tasmania; Thomas Butsment, now manager of one of the Mount Zeehau mines; J. Fenton, for some time assayer Reef ton School of Mines; Wm. Calder, surveyor in Victoria; Alexander Purdie, now lecturer on geology Otago School of Mines, and was assayer at the Exhibition laboratory; W. T. Neill, surveyor; — Ahfrne,'eogiaeer, New South Wales; W. E. Spencer, teacher; Charles Banks, surveyor; J. E. Don, teacher; — Cochrane, coal mino iuspector, West Coast; W. P. Watson, manager Kaitangata mine; J. C. Meadway, Broken Hill; James Gibson, coal merchant; — M'Lymont, was head of school of mine-, Kyneton, Victoria; R. Ewing, a coal miner; and Walter Cutten, was lecturer on applied mechanics, Dunedin. As a matter of fact much more life and utility was now being imparted to the teaching, first by the course of instruction being made more complete, and secondly by insisting on the students, during the recess, visiting and working at mines. They would see that regulation 10 said, "provided that stadents of the mining division shall be required before receiving their diplomas to produce satisfactory evidence that they have spent at least 12 moDths in practical study at mines, and that the students of the surveying division 6hall be rf quired to produce satisfactory evidence t hat, they have had fix months' practice in mine and land surveying." Unless this ■ condition was complied with certificates were not given, and as evidence that thi3 was done he would tell them what the students bad done.last recess:—Baldwin was at Coalbrnokdale mipe; Allen and Fitzgerald at Waitahuna quartz mine; Fulton at Waihi mine, Aucklsnd; Faterson at Sylvia mine, Auckland ; Ahem at Hindon; Stephens and Esdaille at Pbcenix mine, Skippers; Walcott, M'Kenzie, and M'Kellar at Cromwell mine; Morgan at Freeman's mine; Waters at Kditan^ata, and there now; Collins at AUandale 'and West Coast; and Boydell at Hindon. He only read this list to show that not alone scientific but practical instruction was required. Well, he had no hesitation in saying this with regard to the echool at the present time that the instruct:on given here—and he spoke with experience of a school in the old country—was much better than that given in any other mining school in the Australasian colonies. He did not think teaching in tho school of mines at Ballarat could compare with the teaching given here, and evidence of that was to be found in the fact that even in the earlier days the students from this school were tha successful candidates for positions of responsibility. The subjects taught in the Otago School of Mines were as follows:—Mathematics by Professor Gibbons, general geology by Mr Purdie, mining geology by Professor Ulrich, chemistry by Professor Black, applied mechanics by Mr Thomson, mine and land surveying and surveying practice by Mr Begg, drawing by Mr Sutton, theoretical mechanics by Professor Sband, physics by Professor Sband, mineralo y by Professor Ulricb, blowpipe analysis by Mr Wilkinson, mining (including mechanical extraction of gold) by Professor Ulrieh, ore dressing by Mr Wilkinson, petrography by Professor Ulricb, and assaying and metallurgy by Mr WilkinsoD. Leaving out mathematics, chemistry, and physic?, which were naturally parts of the geueral university teaching, all the ofcher subjacts have been added by tho council at the request originally of the government. It would be seen that the teaching was extensive and comprehensive, and was such a course as could not be given excepting at a school attached to a university. As Dr Stuart explained, the Government assisted by granting ug £500 per annum. This £500 was increased by £200 m 1889, and in 1890 this £200, though on tho Estimates, has not be paid to the council. The council were payiog in salaries £1050 for school of mines purely, as well as buildiDgs, chemicals, and appliances, and all they bad got from Government wss £500 a year, increased for one year to £700. The reason this extra £200 was a?ked from Government was this: the council recognised the necessity for more attention being paid to assaying and metallurgy. Professor Black, who had been teaching assaying, &c, was so occupied with teaching chemistry and chemical laboratory work that he had to resign the teaching of assaying and metallurgy, consequently it was necessary to provide for the proper teaching to select a lecturer on these subjects. The House of Representatives passed a £200 vote in 1889, and the university then voted £250 a yeir, and appointed Mr Wilkinson at that salary for three years. Before doing so he (slr Allen) had written, at the request of the council, as follows to the Hon. Minister of Miaf 8 :— I have been asked by the Unlvereity Council to communicate with you in respect to the vote of £200 passed by the House to aßilstin procuring an asßaTfr and metallurgist for ths school of mines. Dunedin. 'J he council determined at their last meeting to vote £250 per annum for above purpose. 1 hey will have also to spend a comiderable amount In improving the laboratory accommodation and appliances. We wiih to know upon what terms thU money will be Riven to us, and whether we may hope for a tlmilar voto for next year and eomn years to come. The finances of the oounoll will not allow them to pay this £250 per annum uDless they can get atslatanoe from the Government.

The Minister's reply was to the effect that he could not bind succeeding Ministers, but that he was favourably disposed. Acting on this assurance, the council not only appointed Hf Wit-

kinson for three years, but spent £1000 in building furnaces, and appliances at a cost of, say, £300. Mr Seddon has told Dr Stuart he will neither continue tho £500 nor £200.

Tho Rev. Dr Stuart thought that perhaps on the whole too much was made of this conversation. The remark was made casually when he had called on the Minister.

Mr Allbn said he did not intend to comment on it, nnd had mentioned it merely for the purpose of saying that without the grant of £500 he did not see how it was possible the university could continue the school of mines. Ho thought they had produced sufficient evidence to show that the school was going to bo a great success if it was kept going. They had been endeavouring these last few years to make the school a success. They had an increasing number of students, many of whom wero poor, but they wero, ho believed, in earnest, and would bo a credit to tho colony. Further, ho would point out that this was essentially technical teaching. They were trying to make this university the great technical university of New Zealand, and tho medical school and tho mining school should be supported by all who believed in practical teaching. Regarding the mining school, he would emphasise the following points:—Mining is not the Bimple matter it was in early days. We require now more knowledge to work on tho largo scale auriferous deposits— to deal with complex ores. Further, we do not

want to train mon for gold mining alono. Coal will soon be of as much, if not more, importance. Other minerals require to be developed also— eg., iroD, fire clays, oil and oil shales, &c. Lastly, ho would point out that assistance is givon by the Government to the Reef ton School of Mines and the Thames Sohool of Mines. During the last five years, up to and including 1889-90, other schools of mines had cost the colony (by vote of the House) £9094 3s 6d, and the Otago University School of Mines for the last five years in votes by the House has had only £1700. The Parliamentary return," C 3," page 11, gave the information on these points; but a mistake appeared in it, as it was reported that the Otago University School had received £2700, during a period of five years, when it had received only £1700. On comparing the figures, he thought it would be seen that they had not had from the Government anything like » proportionate sum compared with other schools when the sum expended out of university funds was considered. He did not need to say more, and was sorry to have kept them so long, but he thought the facts ought to be placed before them in order

that they might know exactly the position the school was in. IE the members could find time he would like them beforo leaving for Welliagton to see the now bnilding erected for the school ot mines, to observe how practical the teaching was, and to judge for themselves as to its quality.

Mr Pinkeeton said he supposed there was no reason for believing that the grant would not be continued, beyond the remark casually made during a conversation.

Rev. Dr Stuart : That was all.

Mr PiNKEuroN said that from the great interest tho Hon. Mr Seddon took in mining he did not imagine he was likely to do anything in the direction of crippling the school of mines. He had no doubt the city members were unanimously of opinion that they had been told facts which could not be controverted, and with those facts before them he thought they could not do otherwise than insist that the School of Mines of Otago should receive a fair share of anygrant for schools of mines. Such, at all events, was his opinion. He noticed that the Hon. Mr Seddon was reported in the northern papers to have spoken very favourably about mining, and to have indicated that a sum would be placed on the Estimates for the encouragement of mining. It was not likely that the remark applied solely to gold mining. In his own opinion, indeed, coal mining was of greater importance than gold mining, and if a sum of money was to be applied to the advancement of mining Industrie?, he should think that the interests of Otago could not be overlooked.

Mr W. Hutchison asked how they came to fancy they would not get the £500.

The Rev. Dr Stuakt said he did not know that it was quite fair to quote the casual remark made by the,> Minister, as it was not intended for publication, the conversation being of a eemiprivate nature.

Mr Hutchison said as they got it last year, he did not know why they did not assume they were going to get it.

The Rev. Dr Stdabt said that perhaps they should not have done so, but they were anxious to secure .the advocacy of the city members in this matter. The truth was there had been some little difficulty in getting anything for the people hero. The members bad not always been united, but if they could see their way to concerted action, nothing was wanted but what was reasonable and fair, especially in view of the money that had been laid oat and the trouble that had been taken in establishing a school of mines. They seriously hoped tb&fc the city members would recognise the work done and the potentiality of that work. _j Mr H. 8. Fish said it appeared to him they"! had to some extent been beating the air, for he could not imagine how theycould conceive it possible that any member representing Danedin could oppose a vote of this kind. He felt sure ho could speak for his colleagues a3 well as for himself and say that they recognised fully the great good tho school of mines bad done. As Mr Allen had shown, the attendance during the early years of the school was not great, but still the teaching must have been effectual, Bines it turned out men who hud taken positions of importance in connection with mining in this and in the sister colonies. As bad been Eaid the vote was inaugurated by the Provincial Council of Otago, and bad practically been adopted by the Assembly. Now it appeared to him that under such circumstances, after obligations had been entered into by the University Council of Otago, it would be nothing short of a breach of faith of the most flagrant character on the part of the Assembly to attempt to interfere with this vote. For nia part he did not apprehend that any such attempt would bs made. Certainly during one session of Parliament they had had a good deal of trouble, when every vote was criticised in getting the item through, but he thought that was a special occasion. Notwithstanding anything the Minister of Mines might have indirectly suggested, it seemed to him (Mr Fish) almost certain that the Government would place a 6imilar votepn the Estimates in future, and so far as the city members were concerned he was sure it would receive their hearty support. If, however, they should find any disposition to ignore the claims of Otago in this matter they would do their utmost to obtain tho. grant. He could not, however, for a moment imagine such a thing possible, the facts as stated bsing so strong. It was of course well to have these statements of facts, for they would no doubt bo published and would be of assistance if any attempts were made to do away with the vote. As in all these matters it was as well to be practical, be would recommend the Rev. Dr Stuart and his colleagues to wait npon the Minister of Mines when he came to Danedin, aud he thought that after hearing them the Minister would be bound to favour the grant. The Hon. Mr Siddon was very enthusiastic with regard to the interests of mining, and it could hardly be possible that he would be guilty of such an absolute dereliction of duty as would be involved in ignoring Buch a valuable institution as the Ofago University in connection with this matter. Thpre could be no doubt the Danediu members would support the vote and would conceive it to be their duty to see that it was placed ou the Estimates. Mr Hutchison said he had nothing to add. Mr Fi3h had spoken in accordance with what he conceived to be his right; but as to the vote of £200 in addition to the £500, he thought the council had been unduly hasty in supposing that they could reckon npon that as an annual grant. • 'Xhe Eev. Dr Stuaot thanked the city members, and the deputation then retired.