C.—3.

then on copper. If this is borne out by other experiments, it would show that the copper could easily be kept out of the bullion in the precipitating-boxes. Again, in the treatment of the parcels from Broken Hill Mine, at Waiomo, when there was a little copper-pyrites in the ore, the extraction of gold was 93 per cent, of the assay-value, while only 21 per cent, of the silver was recoveredi The whole of the experiments show that the cyanide solutions act on the gold in a fairly satisfactory manner, but the percentage of silver recovered depends to a great extent on the quantity of sulphides in the ore. REEFTON SCHOOL. During the past year the school at Reefton has not been so well attended. This in a great measure is due to the depression in mining which has prevailed in this district. It, however, gives me pleasure to state that mining properties in this district are at present looking better than they have been for several years, and. this will no doubt give an impetus to everything connected with mining in the place. The attendance became so small that it was considered desirable to let Mr. Aitken divide his time between Eeefton, Brunnerton, and Denniston, where there are schools at each place. The progress made at any of these schools cannot be expected to be high, as nothing short of continuous teaching will give the students a thorough practical training. It will, however, give the miners at each of these centres an opportunity of studying for their examinations as miningmanagers and battery-superintendents. During last year there were about twenty students at schools in the Eeefton district, but this does not mean a regular attendance. .About twenty attended at the Brunnerton School, and fifteen at the Denniston School. The following is the report of Mr. E. M. Aitken, the lecturer and teacher of the schools on the West Coast, on the progress made during the last year : — I have the honour to furnish my report on the work and progress of the Beefton School of Mines and its branches during the past year ending 31st March, 1895, which, I regret to say, does not show a great improvement on that of the previous year. There is no doubt that Eeefton, and, in fact, the whole of the West Coast, has gone back considerably during the past two years, and that the schools of mines have fallen with the place. However, the attendance at the various classes, although not very large in some cases, has been fairly regular ; and I may saiely say that in many of the classes very good work has been done. At the Eeefton School, the principal classes have been in assaying and metallurgy; the chemistry classes were fairly well attended, but those in mining and mathematics have fallen off considerably. Special classes were held for those preparing for mine-managers' and engine-drivers' examinations. The attendance at the outside classes— i.e., Brunnerton and Denniston—is improving steadily, and some good work has been done at these schools. During the past year I have spent the greater part of my time in Eeefton, and most of my spare time has been taken up in assaying and testing for the public, and experimenting on the treatment of tailings by cyanide and concentration. The following table will give an idea of the average attendance at the different classes and schools during the past year : — Class and School. Average Attendance. Eeefton—Assaying and metallurgy ... ... ... ... ... 14 „ Practical chemistry ... ... .. ... ... 9 „ Theoretical chemistry ... ... ... ... ... 9 „ Geology and mineralogy ... ... ... ... ... 3 „ Land-and mine-surveying ... ... ... ... ... 11 „ Mining and mathematics , ... ... ... ... 8 „ Drawing... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Brunnerton —Mining, mathematics, and surveying ... ... ... 20 Denniston—Mining, mathematics, and surveying ... ... ... 15 The total number of individuals attending the various classes would be about 55, Brunnerton and Denniston included. Practical Assaying and Metallurgy. —The students of this class are instructed in the wet and dry methods of assaying, and in the use and composition of fluxes, fuels, reagents, &c, together with the smelting, valuing, and refining of gold and silver bullion, the dressing and curing of copperplates, amalgamation, and retorting. Instruction is also given in the various methods of extracting gold and silver from their ores, such as battery-work, amalgamation, concentration, cyaniding, and chlorinatiou. A large number of assays have been made in this class during the year, and two of the students attending have received appointments as bank assayers, which is evidence of the work done. Practical Chemistry. —In this class instruction is given in the preparation of reagents and salts, testing for acids', and metals, separation and detection of metals and mineral substances, besides assays and analyses by gravimetric and volumetric methods. In this class a good number of analyses of ores, concentrates, alloys, and coals have been made, and a large number of samples treated by cyanide and chlorination. Many experiments were made on the action of alkaline cyanides on metals and ores, and various methods have been tried for the precipitation of the gold from the cyanide solutions. Theoretical Chemistry. —This class was held on the same night as the practical chemistry, the students attending the one attending the other. The students were instructed principally in the non-metallic elements, including atoms, molecules, quantivalence, specific gravity, formula), and the properties of solids, liquids, and gases. The text-book used in both theoretical and practical chemistry has been " Bloxam." 3—C. 3.

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