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Examinations. At the annual class examinations 11 students sat for 26 subjects, from which were obtained 10 first-class, 8 second, and 7 third-class certificates, only one paper failing to obtain a certficate, whilst no failures were recorded. In five subjects students were first in New Zealand—viz., mining, wet and dry assaying (senior), mineralogy, and junior theoretical chemistry. The average number of marks of all the papers sent in by members of the local school was 64 - 3 per cent, nearly —a much higher percentage than any other school in the colony. President's Medal. Mr. Charles Harsant obtains the President's gold medal, with an average of 74-2 per cent, in five subjects. He was first in the colony in four out of five subjects. The medal was to be gained by the student who obtained the greatest number of marks when his aggregate was multiplied by his average. Positions held by Present and Past Students. By attending the school quite a number of students have been enabled to obtain good positions in various parts of the world : the undernoted are a few of them : (1) Mr. E. A. Barry, battery-superin-tendent, Pilgrim's Rest, South Africa ; (2) Mr. G. A. Chappell, chief assayer, Talisman Consolidated, Karangahake ; (3) Mr. C. Ansley, member, Bewick, Moreing's staff, Avoca, Victoria ; (4) Mr. D. Sheehan, mine-manager, Tairua Broken Hills Gold-mining Company (Limited) ; (5) Mr. J. C. Maynard, assistanat engineer, irrigation-works, Johannesburg ; (6) Mr. Tasman Hogg, battery-superintendent, Gladstone Gold-mining Company (Limited), Waihi; (7) Mr. Bain Hogg, battery-superintendent, Mildura, Western Australia ; (8) Mr. Frederick Cordes, sampler and assayer, Western Africa ; (9) Mr. John Christie, assistant assayer, Talisman Consolidated, Karangahake. In the four years that the school has been in operation 106 class certificates in all have been awarded, and in the first three years, eighteen first-class mine and battery-superintendents' certificates have been obtained ; two other students have to pass in one subject only. There have been no failures in the mine-managers, and but two in the battery-superintendents' examinations. Added to which, one student has been successful in obtaining His Majesty's Customs Certificate in bullion-assaying, and another has been granted a second-class stationary-engine driver's certificate. Electrical Classes. By the kindness of the Thames and Waihi Schools of Mines we were fortunate enough to obtain the services of Mr. Wright as instructor, and the class opened with thirteen students. The balance of electrical appliances ordered from Home should shortly arrive and be the means of adding to the interest already shown. Auckland School op Mines. The Council notes with pleasure that a school has been formed in Auckland, which should be of great benefit to students at this end of the Island, and hopes to see the day when entrance to the course in mining engineering may also be obtained through the schools of mines, without having first of all to pass a Matriculation Examination. Conference of Directors. Several suggestions have been forwarded to the Government by the respective directors of schools in this district, amongst them being a recommendation to reduce the number of marks to 70 per cent. in each, or an average of 75 per cent, in all subjects for a scholarship examination ; and, secondly, that each school should teach from the same text-books, so as to arrive at a uniform syllabus. The Government adopted the local school's standard in marking for class certificates—viz., 70 per cent, or over for first-class, 55 per cent, or over for second-class, and 40 per cent, or over for third-class. Installation of Gas. During the year gas has been installed throughout the school, making a great improvement. In conclusion, the Council feels that too much cannot be said in favour of the work of the Director, Mr. Macduff, and the members feel that much of the success that has been obtained is due to the individual interest he takes in each student. NELSON SCHOOL OF MINES. The instructor, Mr. W. F. Worley, submits the following report:— Mineralogy and Blowpipe Analysis Class. This class, with the exception of a break of two weeks, was in session from the 11th February till the 15th December. The work undertaken was similar to that of previous years, but rather more attention was devoted to the study of mineralogy. There were fifteen boys in this class, and each boy was taught to identify by means of the blowpipe —with sometimes a confirmatory chemical test — ores of antimony, tin, lead, bismuth, zinc, copper, chrome, iron, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. Several tests were also made for arsenic, sulphur, sodium, potassium, strontium, barium, and calcium. Panning off auriferous black sand for the recovery of the gold was also practised. In mineralogy the class was taught to determine the hardness and the specific gravity of minerals ; and also to observe the colour, streak, lustre, and fracture. Ores of iron, lead, copper, and chrome were then systematically studied, attention being given to the base element in the ore as well as to the important metal.

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