OTAGO SCHOOL OF MINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 22

OTAGO SCHOOL OF MINES.

The following is the report of Professor James Park, Director of the- Otago University School of Mines, for the year 1902: — The Mining School for the Fession ending the 31st October, 1902, showed the satisfactory attendance of 32 registered students and one casual student for one snbject only —namely, practical assaying. The registered students attended with the intention of going through one or more of the courses prescribed in the calendar for the several divisions of the school. Of these seven . entered for their first year, leaving 25 in j their second or third year. ( Of students who entered for their final year, four completed their studies with success, and, having presented satisfactory certificates of time spent in practical mining or metallurgical operations, as required by Regulation 9, were awarded the diplomas and certificates to which they were entitled, ; as follows : — i John M'Kinlay— Certificate of Metallurgical i Chemi3t and Assay er. ! George Edward D. Cotton— Diploma of A3sociata in Mining acd Certificate of j Metallurgical Chemist and Assayer. _ j John Porteous— Diploma of Associate in . Mining nnd Certificate of Metallurgical Chemist and Assayer. John Henderson, B.Sc— Diploma in Mining and Certificate of Metallurgical Chemist and Assayer. Diplomas and certificatrs were issued during the year to eight students who had previously pas&ed the necessary class exami- | nations, on the production of the necessary ■ certificates relating to practical work, as follows : — Norman R. Fisher — Diploma of Associate in Mining. George H. Royse — Diploma of Associate in Metallurgy. i William Shand Watt— Diploma of Associate in Metallurgy. Adam Hay— Diploma of Associate in Metallurgy. William E. Barron— Diploma of Associate in Metallurgy. Basil R. Lusk — Diploma of Associate in Metallurgy. Ormsby Gore Adams— JMgloma of Associate in Metallurgy. <#££*''' George Scott Orbell — Diploma of Associate in Mining, Diploma of Associate in Metallurgy, Certificate of Metallurgical Chemist and Assayer, and Certificate of Land and Mine Surveyor. Annual Examinations. — The attendance in the different classes and the results of the annual examination in the subjects of instruction in the Mining School prescribed by the regulations for the different courses are shown in the following tabulated statement : —

The teachers of the subjects enumerated in the above table were as follow : — Dr Marshall— Geology, mineralogy, petrography ; The Director— Applied mcohanios, mining, surveying, mining geology ; Mr Waters — Metallurgy, assaying, blowpipe analysis. Students in their first or second year, according to their standing, attended the University classes in mathematics, theoretical mechanics, theoretical physics, practical physics, theoretical and practical chemistry ; and three students qualifying for the Diploma of Associate in Geology, for the natural science requirements of Bachelor of Science degree, and for honours in geology attended the class in paleontology. The i results of the examinations in these subjects are as follows : —

The teachers in these different subjects were as follows : —Professor Gibbons—Mathematics. Professor Shand — Theoretical mechanics, theoretical physic-., and practical physics. Professor Black— Theoretical chemistry and practical chemistry. Professor Benham — Palaeontology. Students in the different divisions, according to their standing, have to attend the drawing classes at the School of Art. Mr Hutton reported satisfactory progress in every case. The results of his examinations are (riven below : —

Ulrich Medal. — This medal is appropriately awarded in each j r ear to the best student in mineralogy and petrography. It was open for competition for the first time in 1902, and was secured by James Allan Thomson with a first class in each subject. New Zealand University Examinations. — Five students presented themselves for examination in different sections of the B.Ke. degree in mining and metallurgical , engineering ; one student for honours in science, two for senior scholarships, and three for final examination in B.Sc. The results were eminently satisfactory, and in Feveral directions established records which rendered the year 1902 memorable in the history of the Mining School. Of the five in the B.Sn. division, Norman K. Fisher succeeded in passing the third and final examination, thereby securing the first B.Sc. c!"groo in minincr engineering granted by the New Zealaud University. Ho missed

the class subjects at the Mining School some years ago, having been a student of the late director in mining, of Dr Don in geoLogy, and of Mr Bogg in surveying. Mr Fisher since then has pursued his studies with unremitting diligence, and must be congratulated on the. successful attainment of his object. David M. Tomlinson, following the footsteps of Mr Fisher, passed the second examination for B.Sc. in metallurgical engineering; William Gibson and H. Roy Macdonald part of the first examination in mining engineering; and John Henderson, B.Sc, certain subjects in metallurgical engineering. The highest distinction aimed at by mining students in previous years was the diploma of associateship, but in the past three years there has been a growing desire on the part of a few to qualify for the higher degree of B.Sc. in mining or metallurgical engineering, and it is not improbable that in coming years many will elect to follow this course. It is needkes to say that the New Zealand University requires a higher standard of attainment for its B.Sc. degree than the Mining School i for its diploma of assoctateship John Henderson, 8.50., also sat for honours in science, and was successful in , gaining first ohss honoura in geology. This ' is the second occasion on which this disI tinction has fallen to the University of : Otago, and the first time it has been secured by a ctudent of the Mining School. Arthur R. Andrew, in the University senior scholarship examination, secured the scholarship in physics, and J. Allan Thomson the scholarship in geology. The senior : scholarship in physical science has now fallen I to the Otago University on six different • occasions, but this is the first time it has Iboen gained by a mining student. It is equally worthy of mention that the scholarship in geology won by Mr Thomson is the j only one that lias, so far, been secured by ! a student of Ot3go University. Thus, of | four senior scholarships won by Otago Uni1 versity in 1902, two were secured by students of the Mining School. Our geological students have especially distinguished themselves in the University examinations, and . Dr Marshall, lecturer in geology, deserves ! much commendation for his enthusiasm and careful instruction. With the good fortuno to obtain students equally devoted to their work, the some satisfactory results may be looked for again in future years. The economic value of geological science in connection with mining has long been recognised in Germany and the United States of America, where the highest posts _ in the State Departments of Mining are filled by accomplished geologists. It ia certain that if a, mining engineer would rise to the higher branches of his profession , he must needs distinguish himself in the • domain of geology. It may not be out of plaoe to mention here that in addition to the results mentioned above, three mining students — Arthur R. Andrew, J. Allan Thomson, and A. Gadsby Johnston — passed the final examination for the ordinary degree of B.Sc. of the New Zealand University. Government Examinations under Mining Acts. — Mr J. Otto Bishop, a late graduate of the school, passed the examination for a first class mine manager's certificate, which will be granted on completion of necessary praefcioaj work in a mine. The following old students also passed the examination for battery superintendents' certificates: — i George S. Orbell, W. Ernest Barron, John ■ Mackay, G. A. C. Ulrich, and G. A. Gow. I Laboratory. — Mr WateTs reported on 51 samples of ore, mostly gold determinations, and treated two parcels of ore in the experimental plant. The gold ores of Otago are mostly clean and free-milling, with the result that the experimental plant is seldom used by the public. On the other hand, a email leaching plant is urgently required for the practical demonstration of certain metallurgical processes, and by modifying the preseiQt battery on the Hne3 indicated by Mr Waters suoh a plant could be constructed at a cost not exce?ding £50. Donations. — The geological collections in the school have been supplemented by a large number of rocks and fossils presented by Dr Marshall, Mr Hamilton, and the Director; and during the year Messrs Smith and Co. (Limited), of Sheffield, f&Twarded useful exhibits of steel and steed-wire ropes. At present Dr Marshall is greatly hampered by the want of suitable space in which to set out and exhibit his collections. What is much needed is a room in which the characteristic rocks and fossils of the different rock formations of New Zealand could be exhibited, in their chronological order for purposes of class demonstraitnon. Old Students of Mining School. — Among the more important positions secured by old stud-onts of the Mining School during 1902 were those of Mr A. Montgomerie, M.A., appointed State mining engineer for Western Australia; Mr F. B. Allen, M.A.. B.Sc. director of Western Australia School of Minos; Mr O. G. Adams, A.0.5.M., dfrector of Thames School of Mines; Mr T. 0. Bishop, A.0.5.M., director of Reefton School of Minea; Mr W. S. Watt, I A.0.5.M., director of Zeehan School of i Mines; Mr James Maclaren, B.Sc, spscial I mining geologist to Indian Government; I Mr Adam Hay, A.0.5.M., assistant engi- , neer to Abyssinia Prospecting Syndicate ; '■ and Mr Norman R. Fishtr, B.Sc, M.E., assistant surveyor, Dunedin Drainage Board. Besides these, many of our passed students i have obtained appointments during the year 1 in mining and metallurgical works in NewZealand and Australia. j Conclusion. — I wish in conclusion to re- : cord my appreciation of the zeal and ability i with which Mr Waters and Dr Marshall conducted the work of their several departments during the past year.

Result! Attend- Ist Subject of Examination, ance. Class. Machine construction and drawing 4 2 Solid geometry .... 2 2 Practical geometry .... 4 3 Model drawing .... 4 2 • 2nd . Class. o 1 2

Subject of Examination. Mathematics ; Theoretical mechanics . . Theoretical physics .. Practical physics Theoretical chemistry Practical chemistry .. .. Palieontology Results. II 5 . ■i ° -3 < E w B—l 9—2 10—2 12—3 6 3 2 5 13 4 11 m d v . »-. — • 3 4 4 3 6 2 7 2 i T 1 1

Subject o? Examination. Genera! geology (senior) .. General geology (junior) .« Mining geology .. .. .» Mineralogy Petrography .. Applied mechanics Land and mine surveying (senior) Land and mine surveying (junior) Mining (senior) Mining (junior) Metallurgy (first course) . . Metallurgy (second course) Blowpipe analysis .. .. Assaying (first course) .. Assaying (second course) .. Results. I1 G I 1i! 3 1 fe CO En fe 5 12 2 — 722 2 1 3—12 — 13 1 5 5 2 8 4—22 18 1 8 7 2 8 5—3 — 10 4 6 — — 4 12 1 — 8 16 1 — 10 3 3 2 2 5—23 — 935 1 — 9 17 1 — 5 14 — —