a—3.

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August 23rd. —Red precious stones, from Ngapara, examined for Mr. Eobert Paulin, proved to be zircons. September sth.—A white mineral, from Macquarrie Island, examined for Captain Malcolm, proved to be alabaster (gypsum). September 22nd. —Two pebbles, supposed to be precious stones, forwarded by Mr. J. J. Henderson, Hokitika, proved to be—one bottle-glass, the other rock-crystal. October 10th.— A specimen, forwarded by the Hon. Y. Pyke, proved to be copper-pyrites, mixed with pyrrhotite, enclosed in a gneissose rock. The teaching facilities and requisites for the geological classes of the school have, during the year, been materially enhanced and increased by several purchases made, with the Council's sanction, by Mr. D. Wilkinson on his late visit to England. Foremost, and acquired at a very low cost, is a large collection of excellent stratigraphical and palasontogical diagrams and pictures ; next a small collection of fine specimens of fossil shells, &c, typical of geological formations ; and recently there came to hand a little machine for the easy cutting of rock-sections, which will be of great use for the class in petrography. In conclusion, I may mention that the rock and mineral collections of our mining museum have, during the year, been increased by the following presents : — Mr. C. McQueen : A large sample of tin-ore, from Eex Hill, Avoca, Tasmania ; four specimens of lode stone, from the Nugget Tin-mine, Eingarooma District, Tasmania; one specimen of pyritiferous gold-bearing quartz, from Holmes's and White's claims, Barewood. Captain Malcolm: Three specimens of pyrrhotite, from Dusky Sound ; and one specimen of tin-ore, associated with tourmaline, from Avoca, Tasmania. The Hon. Vincent Pyke : Eight specimens of rocks, from Raggedy Eange, Otago. Mr. W. Goodlet: Fourteen specimens of minerals and rocks, from the West Coast of New Zealand ; including two samples of stream-tin, from different localities; rhodonite; a number of crystals of magnetite; and several specimens of massive green margarite (matrix of Oriental ruby). Mr. W. L. Neill: Three specimens of a granite, rich in microcline, from Santos, Brazil ; and several specimens of crystallized pyrite and quartzite pebbles, containing gypsum and barite, from the neighbourhood of Gisborne, New Zealand. Mr. G. E. Don : Several rock-specimens from Gympie, Queensland, and the North Island, New Zealand; and a druse of finely-crystallized quartz from the Waihi Mine, North Island, New Zealand. All these new specimens have been labelled and arranged in the large glass cases, which, having now become rather crowded, offer little room for any additional specimens, so that the provision of a new glass case is very desirable. MINOR SCHOOLS. There are smaller schools of mines, where an instructor attends occasionally, and the advanced students and gentlemen who take an interest in technical education give instruction and lectures. The minor schools are situated at Nelson, Denniston, Brunnerton, Greymouth, Kumara, Waimea, Hokitika, Eimu, and Eoss. The only reports received from these schools last year, showing the progress made, is from Hokitika, where Mr. W. M. Purkiss and Mr. Park have continued to give instruction. The former gentleman conducted the senior and junior classes in chemistry, and the latter held a photographic class. At Kumara Mr. Olden holds chemistry classes, and the Eev. Mr. Woodthorpe geological classes. Great interest is taken in the Denniston school by the miners, who wish to have instruction more regularly, so that many of them could have an opportunity to study the subjects required for a mine-manager's examination. At Eimu some of the advanced students give occasional instruction, but the school is used more for the purpose of analysing any mineral ores which the miners find in the locality. The following is a report of the work done at the Hokitika school, which has been forwarded by Mr. T. H. Gill, the honorary secretary, on behalf of the Committee : — Your Committee have very much pleasure in presenting the annual report of the School of Mines for the year just ended. During the year the work of the school has been carried on in three departments—viz., the senior and the junior classes, and the photographic class. The two first have been conducted by Mr. Purkiss, and the last by Mr. Park. A few remarks under each of these heads are appended. The work of the senior class was carried on throughout the winter months, and, although the attendance fluctuated from week to week, it was on the whole satisfactory. The metals of the first and second groups were treated exhaustively, and all the usual wet tests applied. The want of a suitable furnace has considerably diminished the usefulness of the school, but as this has now been secured and placed in position the work of the incoming year will be augmented by assaying, &c. This will no doubt be a benefit to the district in general, and this school in particular, as, with increased facilities for testing the various ores obtained, avenues of usefulness will be opened up. During the year Mr. Aitken, Instructor of the Eeefton School of Mines, visited the district; but as we were not in session his visit was almost resultless. If Mr. Aitken is to visit us periodically it is necessary that he should come when we are in session, and not during the vacation. The thanks of the school are due to Dr. Kendall for a very able and instructive lecture on " Poisons," which was illustrated by numberless experiments. A feature of paramount importance was the work of the junior class, carried on from May to November. The chemistry rooms were crowded week after week, from 7 to 8 o'clock, by about eighty boys and girls, and the intelligent interest evinced during the course of the lectures, the subdued regret which mantled on the faces of the listeners when the lecture was over, and the very satisfactory examination they passed at the end of the course, augured well for the future of