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assistant demonstrator would be necessary, for the reason that in these subjects, more especially in petrography, each student requires special individual attention and instruction in microscopic examination and the preparation of rock-sections, and one man cannot possibly do this work and yet cover the ground prescribed in the calendar in the time available during the session. From the foregoing it will be seen that should, of the large number of students to be admitted for next session, more than twelve qualify for entering the session after next any of the above three classes, by passing the annual examination in mathematics and chemistry according to the Council's ruling, and the entry up to twelve goes by priority of application for entry to the school, then those above that number will have to wait for admittance to these classes till the succeeding session. Being free, however, to take other classes included in the curriculum, they can so arrange that their time for study is fully occupied during the interval. From conversation I had with many of the new applicants I found that a number of them are very deficient in necessary preliminary knowledge, and have, I am afraid, little chance of passing in mathematics and chemistry at the end of the first year's course ; but, though I pointed this out to them, their intention of joining the school remained unshaken. On consideration of all circumstances, the pressure for entry to the school will most probably be confined to next session; but, should it be repeated to the same extent for the session after next, a limit would have to be placed on the number of admittances, otherwise the resources of the school in accommodation, apparatus, instruments, &c, would be totally inadequate : they would, in fact, require to be more than doubled in order to meet all the necessary demands for proper teaching. For the purpose of rendering his lectures more interesting and instructive to the students, the lecturer in general geology, Dr. Don, prepared at his own expense about two hundred lanternslides, illustrating geological features and occurrences in various parts of the world, many of them, as he informed me, being copied from the admirable reports and monographs of the United States Geological Survey. He also followed the same valuable course as last year regarding practical instruction in field geology, by making, with his students, three field excursions, of which he most liberally paid the greater portion of the expenses. The first excursion during one day took in various places of interest on the Otago Peninsula, especially the Blowhole and the limestone quarries of Sandymount, and the interesting occurrence of auriferous volcanic rock at Hooper's Inlet. The second excursion, which occupied five days during the midwinter vacation, was to Catlin's Biverand Kaitangata. At the former place three days were spent in the study of the fossiliferous beds of Cannibal Bay, Catlin's Eiver, and Owaka, and of the remarkable results of marine erosion on the neighbouring sea-coast. On the return journey a day was devoted to the inspection of the celebrated Kaitangata Coal-mine and the very fine and large mining machinery connected therewith. The third excursion, occupying two days, had for its object the study of interesting geological features around Pahnerston, of the Hampden beds enclosing the celebrated Moeraki boulders— gigantic septaries, so far unique in the world —next, of the fossiliferous series of Oamaru and of the Devil's Bridge. Dr. Don, on behalf of himself and the students, expresses thanks to the General Manager of Railways for extending the concession in railway return-fares from three days to eight days, so as to allow a longer stay at Catlin's; next, to Mr. W. P. Watson, the general manager of the Kaitangata Company, for permission to inspect the mine; and to Mr. J. Shore, the mining manager, for conducting the party through the workings, and in supplying sections of the workings illustrating the faulting of the coal-measures in that district. Dr. Don and the students are also very grateful to Mr. J. Paterson, the librarian of the Dunedin Athenaeum, for permission to occupy his cottage during their stay at Catlin's River. The resignation of Mr. P. Fitzgerald of his post as lecturer in assaying and metallurgy again deprives this department of the school of an able and energetic teacher, who performed his duties with exactness and conspicuous success. As one of our past students he certainly sets, however, a good example by his self-confidence and enterprise in trying to better his position by entering into private practice as an expert, and taking the principal active part in an undertaking to develop some of the neglected gold resources of this province. Regarding the careers of others of our past students, I received during the year the following news : Thomas Butement has been for some time in the well-paid post of manager of a mine at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and he requests to be supplied with some copies of our calendar for the purpose of sending them to boards of directors of mining companies there in proof that our students are properly trained for mining management, whereby he hopes to open a fine field of employment for them in that country. A. Montgomery resigned his post as Government Geologist and Inspector of Mines in Tasmania in order to accept the highly-paid position of Chief Mining Engineer for the syndicate holding the mineral lands of the Kauri Timber Company, North Island. Edward Paterson and F. Stephens still hold good posts in the Transvaal, but may soon return to New Zealand, as they suffer too much in health by attacks of the African fever. W. Fulton left the Transvaal for New Zealand shortly after the outbreak of political disturbances, and soon obtained the appointment of Assistant Engineer in the service of an English mining syndicate in the Auckland District at a considerable salary. H. C. Boydell is manager of a mine in the Coromandel District, North Island ; and D. B. Waters holds a similar position in the Woods Point District, Victoria. F. B. Allen, formerly Assistant Lecturer, has advanced to the position of Director of the Thames School of Mines, and P. Morgan has obtained the Assistant lectureship. Thomas Esdaile, soon after leaving the school last year, obtained a good position at a mine at Lake Austin, Western Australia, for erecting and managing cyanide extraction-works, but as the mine is likely to prove a failure, and his health is badly suffering from the climate, he has resigned his post and is expected to return to Dunedin at an early date. Although the new testing plant has been specially reported on to the mining committee of the Council by Mr. W. Cutten, the lecturer on applied mechanics, under whose supervision it was erected, and also by Mr. Fitzgerald, who conducted its working since its completion, still I may be permitted to add here a few remarks concerning some alterations and additions which I consider would much improve its gold-saving facilities by amalgamation, and next in explanation of the