OTAGO SCHOOL OF MIKES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 26

OTAGO SCHOOL OF MIKES.

THE ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report of Professor James Park, M.A. Inst., M.E., M. Insr., M.M., F.G.8., director of the Ofcago University School of Mines, \vae presented to the University Council, and rea-Js as follows: — The Mining School for the year ending* the 31st March, 1905, showed the satisfactoryattendance of 47 students, comprising 34registered students for the full course and 13 for one subject only — namely, 12 in geology and one in surveying. The persistent rumours in the past year or two that the Mining School would be closed or removed from Dunedin created a feeling ofi uncertainty as to the future, which hag already caused a marked decrease in the number of new students for the session of 1905. It will doubtless be some time before we again reach the satisfactory attendance of the past four years.

Diplomas Granted in 1904. — Diplomas were* issued to students on production of the necessary certificates of practical work as follows: — D. M. TomHnson, diploma in metallurgy; J. Bailie Macdonald, -diploma, in mining ; A. Reed Graham, disploma in metallurgy; A. R. Andrew, diploma in mining ; G. W. Eaton Turner, diploma in. metallurgy ; J. Allan Thomson, diploma in mining; W. Brand Inglis, diploma in mining; Joihn M 'Kin lay, diploma, in metallurgy.

Annual Examinations. — Forty-two studentspresented themselves for examination in 34subjects, and_ of these only three failed — • namely, one in mathematics, one in physics, and one in surveying.

New Zealand University Examinations.— Exhibition scholarship, 1851 : Two mining" students competed for the 1904 scholarship — namely, ArtHur R. Andrew, B.Sc, and James Allan Thomson, B.So. Tbe> geological theses sent in by these students were reported by the English examiner to be equal and excellent. The Senate of the University df New Zealand at its annual meeting in Wellington in February, 1904, awarded the scholarship to Mr Andrew, who in the same year won first class honours in physios and second class honours in geology. Mr Thomson had gained first class honours in geology, and for this and his excellent thesis the senate recommended the 1851 Exhibition Commissioners to award him a second exhibition scholarship. The cornmksionere acceeded to the request, and! awarded Mr Thomson a scholarship, which he resigned in favour of the Rhodes scholarship.

The Rhodes Scholarship for 1904.— Mr J. Allan Thomson was elected the first Rhodes scholar for New Zealand by the Selection Committee, sitting in Government House, Wellington, in May, 1904. He was a distinguished scholar and prominent atlilete. His academic career represented a standard of excellence rarerly equalled by a graduate of the University of New Zealand. He has earned our most hearty congratulations. Honours in Natural Science. — Charles Norton Boult, B.Se., first class honours in geology. Senior Scholarship. — Robert A. Farquhar* son, senior scholarship in geology.

Mining Engineering. — Part first, examination in mining engineering — P. H. MTDoosall^ completed first examination in mininsr egi' neering — A. Gordon Macdonald, Hugh RMacdonald, R. Wm. M'Cullough ; passed second examination in mining engineering — * William Gibson and E. T. H. Webb ; passed second examination in metallurgical engi-> neering — W. A. Given. 3NI.A Grey Scholarship.— Robert A. Farquharson. This scholarship has now been wort by a mining student for throe years in succession.

Robinson MedaK— For mining and surveying, J. E. Menzies; for quanitative chemical analysis, J. T. Mosley. Ulrich Medal.— For Petrography and mineralogy, R. A. Farquharson. Laboratory.— During the rear 84 samples of ore were assayed for the public at schedule rate?, and in the same period the director furnished reports on 37 samples ot rocks and minerals free of charge. Geodesic Station on Tanna Hill.— -bast October and November the director completed the observations needed to connect Tanna Hill with the Government meridional geodesic station at Observation Point, Port Chalmers. The latitude and longitude of the station on Tanna Hill havebeen computed, and an azimuthal bearingin terms of Observation Point meridian, thrown on to an iron standard in the quadra nglo In the University grounds. A true bearing has also been thrown on to the illuminated clock in the Town Hall tower, which provides the necessary referring light for night observations without cost or charge to the council.

The surveying students will now be able to conduct their surveys on true meridian instead of on an artificial or magnetic meridmn, as in former year= ; check the error in azimuth of thoir traverse raeri-

cEian; and take rounds of angles to the sun and circumpolar stars for the determinajfcion of meridian, latitude, and time.

Chain Standard.— Of late years field measurements have been made hy surveyors and engineers with 500-link steel bands, fcut* up till now there has been no standard provided in Otago for checking the accuracy of the bands. It is a pleasure 'to report that a five-chain standard is now being -laid- down by the General Survey of New Zealand, under the direction of Mr D. Barron, Chief Surveyor, inthe University grounds, near the Mining School, for the use of the professional surveyors, engineers, and mining students. _ Associates of Mining School.— The diploma of associate was first issued in the year .1887. The diplomas granted in the several divisions of the school since that date are as under : — Issued from Issued Division. 1887-1903. in 1904. Total. Mining . _ „ 70 „ 4 -, 74 Metallurgy _ 32 , v 4 ... 36 Geology .. k . 12 £ — ".; 12 Totals .. 114 " 8 I. 122 In 1902 the standard of instruction for the associate diplomas was raised to that of the-BJSe. requirements of the New Zealand University in -mining engineering. Prior to that .date mining graduates took the -ordinary 3iSa Since that ' date some 'take .the B.Sc. ,in mining or metallurgical engineering, but some still prefer the or din»ry:^BjSe. *as the 'requirements in respect ix> keeping terms are easier than for the former. -.■>--.,-,-

The mining < graduates - who have' taken 'the -.ordinary and -engineering B.Sc. are as follow': — Ordinary .B.Sc. prior to 1902, three; ordinary B.Sc. since "1902, . five"; engineering : B:Sc.. since 1902, -three;— total,

Occupations of Old Students. — Among the appointments secured by old students dur1904 are the following: — 1. E. Graham, acting-director Charters Towers ■- School of Mines. 2. W. A. JMteod; J3.-Sc., general manager mining. company, Charters Towers. 3. G. TUlrieh, _ assistant surveyor, Waihi ■ Company #. W. Baker, B:Sc, lecturer West Australian School of Mines. 5. T. H. B. Wayne, metallurgist, General Mining and Finance . Corporation, Johannesburg. 6. H. ,E. Allen,* .assistant metallurgist. Lin- , paards -Vlei-Transvaal. 7- P- .Fitzgerald, manager Vivien Mine, "Western Australia. 8. -W. M. 'Fulton, general manager, Mining Company, Johannesburg. 9. :E: A. de -JLatpur, mine manager, Magnet Mining Company, Waratah, , " Tasmania. 10. .G. J H. Royse, appointed to staff of Ferrerira Deep Mine, Johannesburg. 1L G. Aubrey Gow, manager Progress Cyanide Works, Reeftoo.

Besides these six have .received appointment's as cyaniders, assaye*rs, and assistant surveyors. - The students -who have- secured .lucrative jKjfeitions' in connection- ' with " mining at salaries ranging from £200 to £1000 a year -in a -the - four- years 1901.. to 1904- in-clusive-are as xinder:— l9ol 8, -1902 7, 1903 8,-190+ 11 j— total' 34.

Mining School Buildings: — I- regret to report ,that ,ihe class rooms .-and 'laboratories, with, a -single exception, are in a ruinous • and- dilapidated .condition, .thereby adding considerably to the discomfort which must always attend lecturings' z^bb& laboratory work in a. corrugated iron building — at- best a mere shell in a rigorous climate, liko this. The roof of the main 'building is not weather proof, with the result that during heavy rain pools of water collect on the floor, on the drawing tables and weighing balances. Streams of storm -water pour down the walls in places; through this cause the scrim in the large lecture room has become rotten, permitting the wall paper to hang down in long strips. The need of a new, -up-todate, and com-modious-building has- now become a matter of common necessity. The attendance and results last year formed a Teoord in the history "of the school. No faculty connected with the University of New Zealand "has -provided through its diplomas the same lucrative employment for its graduates, and none is so badly housed — none could be worse.

Conclusion. — 3ly acknowledgments are due to Dr Marshall, Mr Waters, Mr Armstrong (lecturers), and Mr Albernon Spercer <demonstrator in surveying) for the zeal they displayed in carrying out their duties during 190*.