E.—7a

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91. Why was the entrance examination abolished ?—Because many desirable students would not face the examination. 92. Was the examination of a very strict nature? —No. 93. Has the system of admitting students without examination worked satisfactorily ? —Yes. 94. How many outdoor students have you ?—None at present. 95. What fees are charged to such students?—£s per annum. 96. Do you consider that the facilities offered in this respect have been taken advantage of? If not, what, in your opinion, is the cause? —Not very much. Farmers do not realise the advantages of higher education, and object to the loss of their sons' labour. 97. What supervision are outdoor students subjected to? —They must live in a house approved of by me, and are subject to all the school regulations that may be applicable. 98. What is the nature of the farm-work done by the students ? —They do all the horse-work— ploughing, harrowing, rolling, &c. Ido not allow them to steer the drill or feed the horses; but with this exception they do everything, including shearing, dipping, and drafting sheep. Extra labour is engaged at harvest-time for stacking. 99. Are they required to take part in all the work of the farm, manual and otherwise? —All but weeding the garden and cleaning the pig-sties. They load dung, &c, in stock-yards, clean horses, &c. Sometimes they have to clean the pig-sties as a penalty. 100. Have you labour penalties?— Yes. 101. Do the students attend the sale-yards for the purpose of gaining experience in the buying and selling of stock? —Very seldom. When stock are sent up two students generally go with them. The expense is one reason for not sending them oftener. 102. Are students paid for their labour?— They have been. 103. Do you not consider that the performance of farm-labour is a part of the education of students ? —Yes. 104. Then, why should they be paid for it ? —I have given my views in a report to the Board dated the 29th January, 1889. [Letter read.] 105. Why was payment suspended?—l do not know. 106. What time is devoted to workshop instruction, and how is it carried out ?—A carpenter and blacksmith come twice a week, and three or four students get tuition in turn. 107. Can you tell from your system of farm-account keeping whether the farm proper has been worked at a profit or loss ? —Yes. A profit-and-loss account is prepared every year. 108. Do you annually furnish a profit-and-loss account to the Board?—No; the Board only recognise the accounts kept at the Eegistrar's office. 109. Have your profit-and-loss accounts been published for general information ?—No. 110. Have the suggestions which it may be presumed have been made by you to the Board from time to time received the attention you considered they deserved ?—Yes : at any rate until lately they have received every attention. 111. Are typical breeds of sheep and stock kept on the farm?— Not to the extent I should like. Want of means has prevented more being done in this direction. 112. Are the farm- and other out-buildings suitable to the requirements of the school ?—Yes. 113. "What is your opinion as to the suitability of the College buildings, as they now stand, to the requirements of the colony? —I do not think you could have anything better. 114. Are all the buildings in good repair ? —Yes. 115. How much land is set apart for experimental work, and what grants, if any, are made for this purpose ?—None at present. Some experiments have been made with the ordinary farmlabour. 116. What results have been obtained from the experiments made, and have they been published for the benefit of the colony?— The results have been published in my annual reports. 117. Do you consider the experimental work as carried on embraces all that might be done in this direction ?—Certainly not. 118. Is any work performed by the College staff other than teaching, such as making analyses, testing seeds, peripatetic lectures, &c. ?—Analyses are made and seeds are tested for any one who desires it. No charge is made for this work. 119. Do the Board employ practical examiners?— Yes. 120. How long do they continue in office? —Only one appointment has been made. 121. How often do they visit the farm?—-Four times a year —viz., at harvest, threshing, ploughing, and shearing time. 122. Do their functions extend to the periodical examination of the farm-accounts ? —No. 123. Have their reports been acted upon?— They only once recommended work to be done—viz., repairing gates, &c.—which item I placed on the estimates, and the work was carried out. 124. What provision is made for giving instruction in forestry and practical gardening ?— None at all. 125. Mr. Overtoil.] Could not something be done in' the way of practical gardening without extra expense ?—Not without further expenditure. 126. Mr. Murphy.'] Then for want of means this part of the school-work has to be abandoned ? —Yes. 127. You said you considered the present buildings suitable to the requirements of the school. Do you not think the heavy expense for attendance is caused by the construction of the buildings? —Yes; the building might have been better planned if it had all been erected at one time ; but it contains sufficient accommodation. 128. Mr. Overtoil.'] Have the students had any experience in stock-driving ?—Very little. When stock are sent for sale they go by the road, and students always accompany them. 129. What form do Mr. Hill's lectures take ? —Lectures on anatomy and pathology, and if any