C—2b

2

On the West Coast.

In Otago.

To carry out this scheme for the next three years, I believe such a man as Mr. Montgomery engaged all the year round, and myself or Professor Bickerton or Professor Brown, of Auckland, engaged continuously for six months in the year, would be sufficient for the Middle Island, especially if supplemented by help at Eeefton and Boatman's, Lyell, Skipper's, and Macetown from a mining engineer in practice. Mr. Montgomery is thoroughly qualified to take a leading part in carrying out this scheme. Indeed, with Mr. Montgomery as my colleague, to take charge of the West Coast, and with my own laboratory assistant for six months of the year, I would undertake to carry out all that would be necessary under the scheme for the next three years. At the end of that period it would probably be found desirable to concentrate and consolidate the local schools into four thoroughly-equipped schools of mines for Otago—namely, at Lawrence, Naseby, Cromwell, and Queenstown; and four for the West Coast, at Westport, Greymouth or Kumara, Eeefton or Boatman's, and Hokitika. The North Island would also be provided for in the same way, according to its requirements. It will bo an easy matter to conduct these larger schools of mines when once they are established. One teaching staff—say, Mr. Montgomery (or some one similarly qualified) the whole year, and myself and my general assistant for six months per annum—would be sufficient for the four Otago schools. A similar staff of two good men would conduct the West Coast schools, and a third staff (from Auckland College) would conduct the North Island schools. Professor Bickerton, of Canterbury College, will probably be willing to do on the West Coast the work that lam proposing for myself for Otago at the end. of, say, three years. Ido not think, however, that it would be advisable to organize these more ambitious schools for a few years yet, until some progress has been made under the scheme that I am proposing as sufficient for the next three years. By that time I believe there will be a strong public feeling in favour of concentrating the schools as above. There will also be abundance of students ready to avail themselves of the advantages offered by the superior schools. I am very sanguine of the immediate success of the smaller scheme —the existence of so many local clubs insures that; and it will be my object during the next three years to create such a feeling in favour of a further advance that the miners, as well as the local bodies, will willingly aid in every way to get provision made for the establishment of these more ambitious schools of mines.

Mr. Montgomery. 'rofessor Bll and Assistant. Lao! ** Hokitika, Kanieri, * Bimu ** Eoss ... ** Kumara, Dillmanstown ... Waimea, ** Stafford ** Greymouth, * Brunnerton * Nelson Creek, Ahaura, No-town * Paroa, Maori Creek ** Eoefton, Black's Point ... ** Boatman's **Lyell... i=* "Westport, ** Waimangaroa * Charleston, Addison's Flat Dollingwood Mokihinui 4 weeks 2 weeks 4 weeks 2 weeks 3 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 4 weeks 2 weeks 1 week 3 weeks 1 week 3 weeks 1 week f j 1 I I 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 1 week 1 week Totals ... 34 weeks 10 weeks

Professor Black and Assistant. Mr. Montgomery. ** Lawrence, Bluespur, Wetherstone's, * Waitahuna Waipori ... Clyde, Black's... linker's, * St. Bathan's ** Cromwell, ** Bannockburn, Nevis ** Queenstown, ** Skipper's, Macetown, ** Arrowtown... ** Naseby, Hamilton's, Hyde, Kyeburn 4 weeks 1 week 2 weeks 1 week 3 weeks 3 weeks 3 weeks 3 weeks 1 week 2 weeks 1 week 3 weeks 4 weeks 3 weeks Totals ... 17 weeks 17 weeks