SCHOOL OF MINES

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9204, 31 March 1938, Page 2

SCHOOL OF MINES

FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING PROGRESS OF STUDENTS EXTENSIVE LABORATORY WORK The forty-first annual meeting of the Waihi School of Mines was held in the school buildings on Tuesday evening, the president, Mr W. H. Johnston, presiding. The chairman, in opening the proceedings, said he was pleased to see present members of the community other than students. Not much public interest had been taken in the annual meetings, and in this respect he would be glad to see the community taking a little more interest.

ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report of the council was read by the secretary, Mr M. R. Wynn, the text of which was as follows: —

“We have much pleasure in presenting our report on the school for the year ending December 31 last. The average number of students at the combined schools, Waihi and Waikino, was 41, with a class attendance of 73. When tlio decrease in the number of students is taken into consideration, the class attendance is quite satisfactory.

“At the annual examinations held in November, 2S candidates sat in 10 subjects, the total number of papers handed in being 39. There were 13 first-class, 12 second-class and seven third-class passes, making a total of 32. In addition to the school passes enumerated, two electrical students were successful in passing the first grade in electrical engineering of the City and guild of London and another student passed the theoretical examination required for his wireman's license.

RADIO CLASS

“Early in the year, a radio class was inaugurated by Mr Keith M. Wriglev, of Waihi. Fifteen students were enrolled, and excellent attendances were registered throughout the year. The syllabus included the principles of electricity, radio theory and practical radio. The greater number of the students attending the closs built their own sets during the course of the year. The final lessons touched on the theory and functioning of various television and cathode ray valves and the fundamental elements of television. GENERAL STAFF

"As in previous years, the council wishes to place on record its appreciation of the manner in which the director and his staff have carried out their duties. The past year lias proved a strenuous one for all, as in addition to the record number of assays made for the Mines Department, prospectors and others, the director has continued extensive extensive experimental work in oil flotation, on parcels of cinnabar ore from the Kaiholie district, then the usual large amount of general laboratory work was carried out. At Waihi, Mr A. T. Crosher continued to act as electrical instructor and Mr T. C. Walters as drawing instructor. Early in the year, Mr 0. Morgan was appointed laboratory assistant, replacing Mr D. Haszard, who accepted a position with the Martha Gold Mining Company and later with the Mt. Kasi Mines, Fiji. At the Waikino branch school, Mr G. H. Metcalfe carried out the duties of instructor in assaying. FINANCE

“The nett receipts for the year were £9OO 12s lOd, and the expenditure £929 7s lOd. The balance in hand at December 31 last was £2Ol Is 3d, being- £2S 15s less than at the commencement of the year. The Mines Department and the Waihi Borough Council have contributed their usual grants and subsidies .thus enabling the school to function, providing educational facilities in the various branches of mining, metallurgy, electricity and allied subjects We wish to record our sincere appreciation of the continued assistance of these bodies, and the courtesy at all times shown by their officers. The council has done its duty by careful management and is pleased to report that efficiency, with wise economy, has been the aim and result in every department. ADDITION TO LIBRARY “During the year extensive additions were made to the school library in the form of thel atest metallurgical volumes. This was made possible by the generosity of the Hon. Minister of Mines, who approved of the sum of £2O being expended for the purpose. The books were chosen by the inspector of mines from a list submitted by the director. SCHOOL BUILDINGS

“The school buildings have received very necessary attention, contracts let during December of the previous year, for painting and renovating same were completed in March. Again we are indebted to the Mines Department for timely and valuable assistance and wo thank those responsible for the donation of £SO towards the cost of the work carried out.”

The chairman moved the adoption of the report. l\lr M. F. Haszard said he had much pleasure in seconding the motion and would like to say a few words in connection with the school. In (he first place, he would congratulate those students who had been successful in their last examinations and the council on the good work that had been achieved by the school, agd the continuous gqod work that had been going on for the past forty years. He, himself, had been a student 'lO years ago, and had always been in close touch with the institution. Mining men all over the world had had their start in the Waihi School of Mines, and they were 1 fortunate in having the directors 1

they had, starting off with the late Mr P. G. Morgan, the present director’s brother. He felt they had been particularly fortunate in having Mr Morgan as head of the school for so many years, whose sound theoretical and practical knowledge in all its branches afforded to students the best training that could be got in the early stages. There was no other place in New Zealand that young students could get a better grounding in theoretical and practical mining than at the local school and he knew many who had done exceedingly well when they went our into the world.

The report was adopted. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, which showed the expenditure for the year had exceeded the receipts, said that since the Waihi Borough Council bad reduced its annual grant from £l5O to £IOO, upon which the Government paid a £ for £ subsidy, the annual payments could not be overtaken out of ordinary revenue, and they had to fall back on their reserve account. In due course this would become exhausted. However, it was possible the Borough Council might re-eonsider the restoration of its grant of £l5O. That extra £SO, with the Government subsidy of £ for £, just made the difference of carrying on without any fear of the future. The motion was seconded by Mr J. L. Gilmour and carried.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

The director’s report was then read by the secretary as follows: “The attendance of students at the Waihi school during the year averaged 11, with a class attendance of 73. At Waikino the only class held was in fire assaying, conducted by Mr Metcalfe with two students. About half a dozen students travelled from Waikino to attend the classes held at Waihi in electrical engineering, mechanical drawing, mathematics and metallurgy. In addition Mr K. M. Wrigley held a class in radio engineering with an average attendance of 15 students.

ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS

“At the annual examinations conducted by the Mines Department at the end of the year 13 first-class, 12 second-class and seven third-class certificates were gained. Four candidates sat for first-class mine managers’ certificates but only one (Mr A. E. Waite) was successful. Two students (Messrs Alan and Evan Mackie) completed further stages in the examinations in electrical engineering conducted by the City and Guilds of London Institute. Two students gained certificates as secondclass engine drivers, and one the bullion assayer’s certificate issued by the Customs Department.

LABORATORY

“A large amount of assaying and analytical work was again performed last year. A total of 64 0 samples was dealt with, chiefly assays for gold and silver, but many analyses for the base metals, copper, lead and zinc, were also made. A bulk sample of mercury ore from Ngawha Springs, near Kaikohe, was submitted to gravity concentration tests on our small experimental Wilfiey table. Samples of scientific interest were a new mineral from the Martha mine, determined as “inesite” by the Dominion Laboratory after analysis; and a Jurassic fossil from a quarry at Motumahao identified by the Geological Survey Department as Inoceramus haasti.

GENERAL “The school buildings and plant are in good condition and the machinery ran without trouble throughout the year. The grounds are also in good order. In conclusion, I wish again to record my appreciation of the help of the other members of the staff, and of the harmonious relations that continue to exist with the president, secretary and members of the council.”

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said it was a very acceptable one and the council could congratulate Mr Morgan on it. The council had just concluded its fortieth year and those who had attended the first annual meeting little thought that they would be attending the forty-first. Only one mine existed in Waihi to-day that was in existence forty years ago, and that was the Martha. It had always been an endeavour to conduct the school on good, useful lines and this had been accomplished. Not only had the school turned out dozens and dozens of successful men, but they also could be found in every mining country in the world. There was no similar institution in New Zealand as good, and this had been largely due to the very capable and excellent directors. He hoped to see annual meetings for many years to -come. (Applause.) The motion was seconded by Mr A. Walsh and carried.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: Patrons, the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Mines, and Mr J. Thorn,. M.P.; president, Mr W. H. Johnston; vicepresidents, Messrs J. L. Gilmour and M. F. Haszard; council, Messrs W. Morrison, A. F. Lowrie, C. Kingsford, W. J. McConachie, F. Clifton and A. E. Waite; students’ council, Messrs A. Walsh and E. Mackie; auditor, Mr W. M. Wallnutt. Following a general invitation of

re chairman, Mr R. B. Dunlop said

he would like to pay tribute as representing the students, to their director, and he was speaking on behalf of 100 per cent, of the students. His few words were being made very easy for him by the utterances of Mr Haszard. The students knew Mr Morgan’s sterling qualities and how he made the students’ little troubles his own little troubles. They all had an unbounded appreciation of Mr Morgan as director, and his patience and forebearance had been outstanding during the past 12 moptlis, ■ Mr Waite, in adding his tribute, said he could unhesitatingly endorse Mr Dunlop’s sentiments. They all felt under a great sense of gratitude

for Mr Morgan’s unfailing courtesies and patience.

Mr Morgan, in simple terms, thanked the council and students for the very kind things they had said about him. He had been in the school a long time, but the council had been longer. The success of the school had been due to their wise counsel. The keenness of the students and the help they had given him had also been a factor. THE PRIZE-WINNERS

The prizes were distributed as follows: Fire assaying, T. Marshall; theoretical chemistry, D. Lawson; mathematics (junior), D. Lawson, mathematics (practical), E Mackie; qualitative analysis, O. Morgan; mining, A. E. Waite. Certificates won were also distributed, the names of the recipients having been already published.