B.—B.

The " art and manual" training of the school has been put on a sounder basis; it has been better graded, both as regards artistic and geometrical drawing, and the workshop classes have been placed under the sole direction of the drawing master. About an acre of land purchased by the college, at the back of the school, has this year been rented by the school. The school took a proper part in celebrating the great national events of the year—the proclamation of peace and the coronation of the King. The distinctions gained during the year are as follows : Mr. A. Sims, an old boy, obtained his M.A., with first-class honours in chemistry; three won exhibitions at Canterbury College ; Mr. A. O'Brien, a student of Guy's Hospital, distinguished himself, coming out first in his year at the London University medical examinations and winning several scholarships; three boys won junior University scholarships, three were placed on the credit list of the same examination ; and one won a Gammack scholarship; three boys won senior scholarships given by the North Canterbury Board of Education. Public Library. During the year 1902 the new public reading-room, as well as the additions and alterations to the main buildings, have been completed. The total cost of these works, together with the expenditure on furniture, fittings, &c, has amounted to the large sum of £5,555, of which amount £4,000 was provided by a loan from the Public Trust Department and the balance out of ordinary revenue, leaving the library account with an overdraft at the 31st December, 1902, amounting to £889 Is. 5d., which will probably be wiped off during the next few years. Beference Department.—A valuable addition to the collection of books in this room has been made by the presentation of a complete set of the works of the late Samuel Butler. Thirty-seven volumes were also presented by Dominick Browne, Esq. Six hundred and sixty-two volumes have been added by purchase during the past year, making the total number of books on the shelves 14,113. The total donations for the year amount to 338 volumes and pamphlets. At the annual stock-taking six books were missing. Publications have been received from the Governments of the United States of America, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, and New Zealand. Circulating Department. —Consequent upon the alterations and additions to the building, the circulating library had to be closed for a period of six weeks, being reopened on the 14th April. The internal arrangements have been considerably improved and the books rearranged. The magazines and periodicals, which were formerly laid on the tables in the circulating library, are now placed in a room specially provided for that purpose on the first floor. A complete and comprehensive catalogue has been published during the past year at a cost of no less a sum than £323 12s. 6d. A printed list of the books added to this department is issued monthly for the convenience of subscribers, who, with this list and the catalogue, are kept fully informed of the books available. The result of the annual stock-taking showed that seventy-four volumes were missing. The average number of subscribers for the year was 1,815. Eight additional magazines have been placed upon the tables during the year. Beading-room.— The new room was opened by the Chairman of the Board of Governors on the 2nd May. Judging by the increased attendance, the additional and improved accommodation is greatly appreciated by the public. Four additional newspapers have been provided during the year. School of Engineering, Electricity, and Technical Science. Eeport of the Professor in charge (Mr. Eobert J. Scott, M.1.C.E., M.1.M.E., A.Am.I.E.E.) :— New Buildings. —During the year the accommodation of the school has been increased nearly 100 per cent, by the addition of a new wing. Though use was made of this addition from the beginning of the session, the contract was not completed and the building finally taken over until June, and on the 27th of that month it was formally opened by the Chancellor of the University. This new wing, which is primarily intended to provide accommodation for the teaching of electrical engineering, electricity, and magnetism for the engineering, science, and arts degrees, is a twostoried building, covering a ground space of 80 ft. by 35 ft., and contains on the ground floor an electrical engineering laboratory, equipped with continuous, alternating, and polyphase current experimental plants, a test-room, an elementary electrical laboratory, and an advanced electrical laboratory; these latter being provided with a fairly complete assortment of modern apparatus and instruments. Upstairs there is a lecture-room some 50 ft. by 30 ft. The whole is lighted by electricity. Students. During the year 189 students attended lectures, the hour attendances per week being 1,182£, an increase of 14 per cent, on the number of the previous year. There is a steady increase in the number of matriculated students taking the full course for the University degree or the associateship in engineering. These students, who this year numbered thirty-nine, materially swell the College classes in chemistry, physics, and mathematics, of which they constitute a proportion varying from 28 to 100 per cent, of the total number attending. Being drawn from all parts of New Zealand they would, if taking an arts or science course, naturally attend the university college of their own district. Their presence at the school of engineering is thus a distinct gain to Canterbury College. If the increase alluded to continues at its present rate it will be necessary to consider the advisability of providing still further accommodation, apparatus, and teaching-power, for even under existing conditions the resources of the department are heavily taxed. There may be some difficulty in obtaining suitable instructors, especially for the higher work ; for in engineering it is necessary that the teacher, in addition to having a thorough theoretical knowledge, shall have himself practised for some considerable time in the subject taught. Should, however, the many electrical and engineering works foreshadowed in Christchurch be intrusted to qualified and

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