a—3

22

Experimental Plant. A table of the parcels of ore treated in the battery follows : —

Lot P. 190 was treated by cyanide, the others by amalgamation. Three other lots were received for treatment: one was too poor to proceed with, and the other two were ashes, old pots, &c, from smeltings, and were treated in the berdan. The percentage extraction was not determined on these. Governing Body. The annual general meeting was held at the School of Mines on Wednesday, the 15th February, 1905. The President, Mr. M. Paul, presided. The following officers and members were elected for 1905. President, Mr. William Baker; Vicepresident, Mr. G. S. Clark ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. E. F. Adams ; members of Council —Messrs. George Comer, John Ensoll, Henry Lowe, Matthew Paul, George Warne, E. F. Murphy, and R. W. Powell. Mr. Albert Bruce is permanent Hon. Secretary. The staff, consisting of Mr. A. H. V. Morgan, M.A., assistant lecturer ; Mr. E. G. Wright, lecturer on electricity ; and Mr. T. J. Mountain, licensed surveyor, drawing-master, have all performed their duties in a most efficient manner. My thanks are due to them for this, and for the hearty support they have afforded me. The Museum. M This is well stocked with exhibits, and is open to the public every Thursday afternoon during the school session. Visitors to the district are admitted at all reasonable hours, on application at the school. COROMANDEL SCHOOL OF MINES. Report or the Council. Your Council have much pleasure in submitting the following report upon the past year's operations : — The number of enrolled students may be regarded as satisfactory under existing conditions, the students generally have evinced a keen and intelligent interest in the various class-work, and the results of the December examination show they have a thorough grasp of the subjects. During the past year the school apparatus has been materially added to by the acquisition of a complete set of appliances for illustrating the science of electricity and by the purchase of a first-class microscope for the benefit of students especially in the subjects of petrology and geologj ; these purchases were made out of a special grant made by the Mines Department for the purpose. A dynamo was purchased at the same time and the class-room, laboratory, balance-room, and premises generallj installed with electric light out of ordinary funds ; the complete installation serves a two-fold object: by giving students ocular demonstration of how electricity is generated for practical purposes, and by lighting the premises at a minimum cost. The school is now well equipped for providing instruction in all subjects embraced by the very wide syllabus we have adopted, and students enjoy the greatest advantages for the acquisition of knowledge in most scientific subjects. As a means of bringing the public at large more in touch with the institution your Council arranged a series of free popular lectures ; the first was given on the 2nd August, when the public were afforded an opportunity of witnessing the first electric light in Coromandel, and the Director (Mr. D. V. Allen) gave a short lecture upon the subject of the electric light. The second lecture eventuated on the 23rd August, when Mr. Allen delivered a most instructive address upon electricity and magnetism. On the 15th September, Mr. John Reilly, 8.A., C.E., delivered a most interesting lecture upon " The Metric System of Money, Weights, and Measures." The final lecture of the series was delivered on the 7th November, by Mr. John Hayes, Inspecting Engineer of the Mines Department, upon " The Ventilation of Mines." The Council tender their thanks to the gentlemen named for their able and instructive lectures, and consider it would be a wise step to arrange another series during the winter months. One of the drawbacks which students have laboured under in the past has been the absence of a good reference library, but it is hoped this disability will be removed in the near future. The executive of the late Gold Jubilee Exhibition donated a substantial balance to the school for the object named, and your Council has ordered a number of works of reference, there being at least one dealing with each subject of instruction, which should shortly arrive and fill a much-felt want. The outlook for the coming year is encouraging, as a number of new students have enrolled; and there is evidence of an increased interest in the institution, which it is hoped will be maintained. It is with regret that we have to record a vacancy in the office of Vice-president by the death of Captain Hodge, who did much for the welfare of the school during many years; and his memory should be revered as a benefactor of the school. It is likewise with regret that we have to intimate the

Laboratory No Description. Locality. Sender. Weight, Dry. Value Bullion Value per Ton. 8avea - P er oz - I Percentage saved. Gold. Silver. Value. P. 186 Quartz, with some mineral White quartz, clay, iron-oxides, black manganese-oxide Quartz, with ironoxides Waimangu S.C., Whangamata Huanui Claim, Waitekauri J. Richard.. Lb. 4,222 £ s. d. 49 17 0 Oz.dwt. 133 3 s. d. 12 5 90-5 72 88 P. 188 J. Campbell 4,770 5 14 4 20 15 11 3 97'6 87-7 95-9 P. 190 Lord Plunket Claim, Whangapoua Maratoto T. Barron .. 1,400 3 0 4 1 3 11 2 36 24 34 P. 191 Coarse sand from buddies W. S. Styak 1,950 5 12 0 22 11 4 2§ 99 95-5 97-5