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present from teaching these subjects at the University. Fresh applications were called for for the position of Lecturer in French, and Mr. George E. Thompson, M.A., was appointed. In place of Dr. John Macdonald, whose resignation as Lecturer on Materia Medica was reported last year, Dr. E. E. Blomfield, M.D. (Lond.), was appointed for a term of three years. Local Scholarships. —Several scholarships were awarded—namely, the Sir Walter Scott, tenable for three years, the Macandrew, and the Stuart. On the recommendation of the Professorial Board it was decided to award an annual prize from the Macgregor Prize Fund, and regulations submitted by the Board were approved and will be printed in the University Calendar. Medical School. —A valuable supplementary report on the working of the Medical School was received from the Dean, Dr. Scott, and the Council had a meeting with the members of both Houses of Parliament and with the Hospital Trustees, to try and arrange for a representation of the Council on the Board of Hospital Trustees. A proposal brought before Parliament failed to pass, and matters in this particular are the same as before. The Trustees of the Hospital have, however, seen their way to make several concessions on the lines desired by the Council. They have also completed the erection of a new and convenient post-mortem room, and appointed an assistant physician and surgeon. The Trustees have also assured the Council " that they have done in the past, and will continue to do, all in their power to advance the interests of the Medical School realising as they do that the existence of a flourishing Medical School is of great importance to the City of Dunedin and of especial importance to the Hospital." A special meeting of Council was held on the 17th June, when the report appended hereto was presented. Committee on College Classes. —In August the Rev. A. Cameron moved, " That, with the view of increasing the effectiveness of the University, a Committee of the Council be appointed to take evidence bearing on the work of the various classes other than those in the Medical School, and to report to a future meeting of the Council." After a number of sittings the Committee reported as follows:— The Committee appointed by the Council at its last meeting to take evidence bearing on the work of the University classes have the honour to submit the following interim report:— An examination of the University register shows that the attendance at classes is about stationary. For the past eight years the total number of students in attendance has been : 1894, 211; 1895, 226; 1896, 234; 1897, 257; 1898, 269; 1899, 241; 1900, 257; 1901, 227. Thus, for this year the total students in the University are fewer than in any year since 1895, and only one more than in that year. The following table shows the distribution of the students in the various faculties:— Mining. Medicine. Arts and Law. Total. 1894 ... ... ... .. 21 ... ... 211 1895 ... ... ... ... 27 65 134 226 1896 ... ... ... ... 38 77 119 234 1897 ... ... ... ... 50 83 124 257 1898 ... ... ... ... 47 80 142 269 1899 ... ... ... ... 48 80 113 241 1900 ... ... ... ... 46 73 138 257 1901 ... ... ... ... 38 71 118 227 Confining our attention for the present to the arts and law classes, we find here evidence of a disappointing absence of that steady increase in the attendance at the University which we might well expect in a young and prosperous community. The Committee believe this is in large measure due to the gradual and marked falling-off in the attendance of teachers at the University classes. In 1887, out of a total University roll of 167 students, 68 were teachers. In 1892 there were over 60 teachers in the class-lists; but since that year there has been a steady decrease in the number of teachers taking advantage of the University classes. This year there are not more than 25, including pupil-teachers, Training College students, and teachers engaged in public-school work. Until within recent years the Training College has always sent a large number of its students to the University, but here the falling-off is very conspicuous. In 1892, of Normal School students 21 kept terms at the University. Three years ago only 1 of the pupil-teachers on the roll of the Normal School kept terms, and last year 5 attended the University. This is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs, and one which the Committee think ought to be looked to at once, in the interests both of the University and the teaching profession. The Committee find that there are several very substantial reasons for this falling-off, which we summarise under the following heads : — 1. The period of training at the Normal School has been reduced from two years to one. This has prevented many from attending University classes, as they saw no hope of continuing University work with a view to keeping terms after leaving the Training College. 2. Since the reduction in the vote in aid of training colleges the amount of the bursary given to students has been wholly insufficient to provide for maintenance and also for the payment of University class fees. 3. In recent years the Normal students have been required to give more time than formerly to practical and technical subjects, and this has made it more difficult for them to undertake University classes and at the same time carry on their duties at the Training College efficiently. In view of the foregoing facts, it is evident that a very considerable break has been made in the connection between the Training College and the University. This is all the more unsatisfactory, as the tendency of educational reform in other countries runs altogether in the direction of securing greater university privileges to teachers and a wider recognition of their course of training.