SCHOOL OF MINES.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20296, 27 April 1938, Page 3

SCHOOL OF MINES.

ANNUAL MEETING.

Report And Balance-Sheet.

DECREASE IN REVENUE.

STARTING OP NEW CLASSES. ; t The 52nd. annual meeting of the Thames School of Mines was held at the school last evening, the president, Mr. C. S. Donovan, presiding. Annual Report. The annual report stated that the number of students on the register for the year had shown a decrease on that of last year, whilst the attendances .at the classes had also disclosed a slight falling-off The Council trusted that with the establishment of the eugi neering class and also the appointment of an electrical instructor, the roll number and the attendances would show a marked increase during tho coming year.

Government Examinations. —The an nual Government School of Mines ex animations were hold at the end ,ot November last; 14 students presented themselves for examination, haudmg in 38 papers. The results were most sat: isfactory, 17 first-class,. 7 second-class and 6 third-class certificates being obtained. One student, Mr. S.. Martin, was successful in gaining the Government School of Mines scholarship and obtained first-class . passes in all-sub-jects. The paper in machine drawing submitted by this student was very favourably commented upon by the examiners. ..... Awards of the President’s Medal and the Bruce Memorial Medal have not been made this year Except at occasional periods the experimental plant and battery have only been engaged for the one shift. In all, 290 tons of ore, 11 tons of concentrates, and 661| pounds of specimen stono have been crushed and treated for a return of 1028 ounces Bdwts of bullion valued at £4198/3/5. The revenue account in connection with the plant discloses a deficit of £ll6/6/7 for the year—the crushing charges received not being sufficient to cover the cost of -wages and materials used without making any provision for repairs or other charges. This matter will require to receive the earnest consideration of the council during, the ensuing year.

The assay and analytical department has again been actively engaged; 1584 assays and analyses have been completed. The Sirroco fan installed to minimise the dust nuisance in the grinding room has proved a great success and a considerable benefit to the laboratory staff. Research work has been carried out in connection will: the foreshore sands and also with ore from the Waitangi Mine at the.newly installed plant, and very satisfactory results were obtained. The museum continues to be regularly visited by visitors to Thames and others interested in metallurgical ex Inbits. Several additions have been made to tlie library, which has been kept as much up-to-date as possible. The buildings are all in a very fair state of repair. During' the year a new building was. erected, for housing the diamond drill.

Towards the end of the year Mr. G, S. Lambert resigned his position as assistant-director to accept a position with the Government Research Department. The council desires to express its appreciation of the services rendered by the director and staff during the past year.

Bulletins and reports have been received from the Mines Departments of New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia and South Africa. Reports and papers have also been regularly received from the United States Bureau of Mines and from the Transvaal Chamber of Mines. The council acknowledges its thanks to these Departments for the useful information'supplied. Tho council desires to express its thinks to the Minister for Mines and the officers of the Department for tho assistance rendered and the courtesy and attention which has been shown in all matters submitted for 'consideration. It also desires to express its thanks to all who have in any- way assisted in the work of the school or contributed to the welfare of the institution.

Speaking to the report, the president said the engineering classes would soon be started and the electricity classes would also be started with tlic assistance of the Government. Ihc question of crushing charges would, have to be gone into. The Govern-, ment had asked the council to carry on for 12 months .and then the matter would be further considered.' The president congratulated Mr. S. M. F. Martin upon-gaining the-School of Mines scholarship, and extended a welcome to the school as assistant-in-structor to Mr. T. Hoyle, a former student of the Thames School of Mines. Tho report was adopted.

The balance-sheet showed the financial side of the school’s activities had been carefully handled, athough ’ tho figures in practically all accounts were lower than last. year.

Mr. Danby asked if it was possible to account for the falling-off of revenue. Was it a matter of less mining being done, or were the charges too high or the miners getting their crushings elsewhere? Tho director, Mr. H. Crawford, re* (Continued at foot of next column).

plied that the drop “in revenue could be accounted for by the fewer subsidised' men now working. ' This year there were only (50 compared with nearly double that number last year. Election of Officers. • The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —President. Mr. C. S. Donovan ; vice-president, Mr. C. L. Grange; councillors, Messrs. J. H Adams, T. W. Danby, -T. Cnislcy, W. Gvnlmm, L. R. Judd, H ' Lowe, J. W. Smith, A. F. Steedman and E. J. WiltoU - « ''l l A’