C—3.

COROMANDEL SCHOOL OF MINES.

Mr. D. V. Allen, A.0.5.M., who is Director of the school and manager of the public battery at Coromandel, reports as under: — The school opened the second week in February, and closed on the 20th December, 1901. Throughout the year we had an average attendance of sixteen students, with an average attendance at classes of thirty-four. This rather small number of students is solely accounted for by so many leaving the district in search of work. Twelve students presented themselves for the Schools of Mines Examination held in December, and the results were very satisfactory. The certificates obtained were eight firsts, three seconds, and eight thirds. The scholarship for competition by students of the North Island schools of mines fell to Colin Fraser, who obtained 75 per cent, in each subject. Great credit is due to Mr. Fraser for the way he has perseveringly worked his way to distinction. In the examination for first-class mine-managers and battery-managers our school was also very successful: four candidates passed for mine-managers, one for coal-mine manager, and one for battery-manager. Forty-six public assays were done by myself during the year. Several valuable specimens were received for the museum. The subjects of instruction were mathematics, mining, &c, surveying, mechanical drawing, metallurgy, chemistry (theoretical and practical), and assaying. The prospects of the school for the incoming year appear to be quite as good as last year. Public Battery Bepokt. During the year ending the 31st December, 1901, thirty-three parcels of ore from various parts of the neighbourhood were treated at the battery. These represented 78 tons 6 cwt. of quartz and 242 lb. of picked stone. The result was a return of 208 oz. 8 dwt. of retorted gold. Several minor repairs have been effected to the mill. The oil-engine gave considerable trouble, the work being too much for it. The Minister of Mines has agreed to authorise £50 to be expended on repairs, and also to enable us to increase our water-supply. When all the improvements are made we shall be in a better position to give satisfaction to the public. WAIHI SCHOOL OF MINES. Mr. P. G. Morgan, M.A., Director, writes : — During the early part of the year the attendance at the various classes was the largest known in the history of the school, but towards the end of the year the unsettled feeling which prevailed in the district, owing to the protracted dispute which arose between the Miners' Union and the mining companies, caused the attendance to fall off considerably. The average number of registered students during the year was forty-seven, and the class-attendance 139, as against forty-nine and 148 respectively for the previous year. The appended table shows the subjects taught and the attendance at the various classes during the past twelve months :—

Table of Attendances for the Year ending 31st December, 1901.

During the greater part of the year assaying and chemistry were, as in former years, the most popular classes, but in the last term the attendance in these classes fell away so much that mining and surveying took the lead. ■ The members of the last-mentioned classes attended very regularly, and made excellent progress. In the other classes those who attended regularly did good work, but the progress of many was impeded by their irregular attendance. It gives me pleasure to say that the conduct of the students has been most exemplary. With hardly an exception, all are most anxious to learn.

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Name of Subject. First Term. Second Term. Third Term. Mining Advanced mining Mathematics Theoretical surveying Practical survey in g ... General geology ... • • • Mineralogy and blowpipe analysis Theoretical chemistry Practical chemistry ... Assaying Metallurgy ... Drawing 13 23 17 11 11 12 18 21 26 8 12 12 22 14 14 2 7 14 12 19 6 16 14 14 6 16 15 4 6 12 3 8 Totals 172 138 97 Individual registered students ... 56 4H 88