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Governing Body. At the annual general meeting held at the School of Mines in February the following officers were elected for 1906 : President, Mr. G. S. Clark ; Vice-president, Mr. R. W. Powell; Treasurer, Mr. E. F. Adams ; Members of the Council—Messrs. W. Baker, G. Comer, H. G. Gillespie, H. D. M. Haszard, H. Lowe, M. Paul, J. Rickaid, G. Warne ; Mr. Albert Bruce is permanent Hon. Secretary. Staff. The staff at present consists of 0. Gore Adams, A.0.5.M., F.C.S., &c, Director; W. A. Given, M.A., 8.E., Assistant Lecturer ; J. G. Lancaster, M.Sc, Lecturer on Electricity ; T. J. Mountain, L.S., drawing master. For the first half of the year Mr. A. H. V. Morgan, M.A., was assistant lecturer, but resigned when he was appointed Director of the Waihi School of Mines. Mr. Morgan had been assistant at the Thames School of Mines since 1902. Mr. E. G. Wright, who was appointed Lecturer on Electricity m 1902, was, owing to m]unes received whilst experimenting with Rontgen rays, granted six months' leave of absence from June 1905. At the end of the year an extension of six months' further leave was granted him. It is with extreme regret that I have to record that he died in England from appendicitis in March, 1906. By his death the school has lost an extremely energetic and enthusiastic worker, and one who always did his best for the school and the students. It is my pleasant duty to thank the staff—past and present—for the efficient manner in which they have carried out their duties and for their interest in the welfare of the school. I also wish to thank the Council for their support and assistance in all matters tending towards the furtherance of the school's interests. COROMANDEL SCHOOL OF MINES. Report of the Council. Your Council have pleasure in reporting that the School has been maintained in a state of efficiency during the past year, notwithstanding that the district has generally been depressed, necessitating the departure of many who no doubt would have made satisfactory students. It is a matter for regret that more of the young men permanently residing in the district do not grasp the opportunities for gaining scientific knowledge that would prove of advantage to them in many walks of life in the years to come. However, it is satisfactory to note that a number of new students have enrolled already this year ; we would urge them to pursue their studies with diligence, as it is alone by attention and persistency that success can bf> expected. We trust that better results will be achieved by the students at next examination than was the case at the last. In Mr. Allen we have a careful, attentive, and capable Director, and students should remember that it is hardly fair to him that they should be irregular in attendance and display a lack of earnestness in their studies. During the past year the electrical apparatus has been augmented out of a special grant made by the Minister of Mines, and the institution is now well equipped in every department. Some months ago the books ordered from England for the School Reference Library arrived, and these have been augmented by a number of interesting and instructive works published by the Government and donated to the School; the thanks of the Council and students are due to the Hon. Minister of Mines (Hon. James McGowan) for securing this valuable addition to our library absolutely free. We have now a very fair library, comprising at least one standard work on every subject taught in the institution, and it is hoped the books will materially aid students in their studies. The Public Battery has been overhauled and put in an efficient state during the past few months, and latterly has given every satisfaction. We sometimes hear remarks about our charges being somewhat high, "but we would point out that it has never shown a profit, hence it is obvious that mine-owners and tributers are not unfairly treated. Any improvements or repairs from time to time have been executed out of Government grants. For details of work done at the battery, we would direct attention to the battery manager's report. Report of the Director, Mr. D. V. Allen, B.Sc, Etc. The past year has proved an uneventful one in the history of the School. We commenced the first term with 23 students, and an average class attendance of 40 ; the numbers for the second term wer ■ respectively 20 and 33, and for the third 17 and 30. Considering the decidedly languishing state of local mining operations, these figures may be taken as satisfactory. Regular classes were conducted in the following subjects, viz.—Mathematics, mining, &c, theoretical and practical chemistry, senior and junior assaying, surveying, metallurgy, and electricity, while a good deal of useful field work was done with the theodolite. A considerable amount of experimental work was carried on in the chemical laboratory. The stock of the'assay and chemical departments has been replenished and additional electrical apparatus obtained. The results of the annual Government examinations held last December can scarcely be considered satisfactory. One first, five second, and three third class certificates were obtained. One student from our school was successful in passing the first-class mine-managers' examination. During the year twenty-eight samples of ore were assayed for the public. Several standard works on the various subjects taught in the school have been purchased. These, together with a number of useful publications donated by the Mines Department, have proved a welcome addition to the School library. Some .nineteen. students have already joined the School, several for their first time; and altogether the prospects for the coming year are fairly good.