5

B.—B

Professor Blunt also kindly examined for his own prize in Oral French, and awarded it to F. V. Bevan-Brown. Dr. Hight was also good enough to examine for our reading prizes. It will be necessary to add two benches to our chemical laboratories, to allow all the classes to do practical work. The distinctions won by former pupils during the year were as follows : Mr. T. I. Bennett passed the London Matriculation in the Ist Division; Messrs. V. Mahoney, T. McLennan, and J. E. Cull obtained the degree of B.E. ; Mr. H. G. Denham the degree of M.Sc, and the 1851 Exhibition Science Scholarship ; Mr. R. C. E. Atkinson obtained his M.8., Ch.B. (first class) Edin. ; and Messrs. E. H. B. Milsom and A. O'Brien the degree of M.D. at London University, and four old boys obtained their medical degree at Otago University. We have now two companies in the cadet corps, practically the whole Upper School. We have not, however, sufficient uniforms for the increased numbers, and a great many of the old uniforms need replacing, as they are worn out. We require, in fact, fifty new uniforms. The above report, coupled with the report just sent down by the Acting Inspector-General, should give the Board of Governors and the public a fair idea of the condition of the school. Christchurch Public Library. Reference Department. —In this department 231 volumes have been added by purchase and transfer, and 1,195 volumes and pamphlets were presented during the year (list of donations attached), bringing the total number of volumes and pamphlets up to 16,682. In December last the Government presented to the Library all the old Canterbury and New Zealand Association documents, dating back to 1848-49, which are of great value to the future historian. They have been placed in the gallery over the public reading-room, where the public can have access on application. More shelving is urgently needed, but till the building is completed according to the plans there is no room. Three cases containing patents for inventions (abridgments of specifications) were received from the Patent Office, London, the Illustrated Official Journal of Patents being now received regularly by mail. Every opportunity should be taken to purchase books dealing with the early history of New Zealand and Australia ; though there is at present a fine collection, there are several gaps that require filling up, and these books can only be obtained second-hand, and every year they are more difficult to obtain. The attendance in the evening is large, and no damage has been done, so far as can be ascertained, but one book was stolen —viz., Vol. V of Smollett's Works. The newspaper-room is regularly supplied with the following newspapers and magazines: 85 daily, 40 weekly, 17 monthly ; making a total of 142. The daily attendance is large, particularly between the hours of 7 and 10 p.m. During the time the building was closed the walls of the room, lobby, and public lavatory were distempered, and other much needed repairs effected. Circulating Department. —This department was* closed from the Ist to the Bth February for the annual stocktaking, when 167 volumes were found missing (particulars in tables attached). Four volumes were presented. The total number of volumes in this department is now 23,616. The following have been taken off the shelves as unfit for issue : Fiction, 692 ; magazines, 23 ; travels, 7 (2 of which were placed in reference department) ; literature, 2 ; history, 1. A supplementary catalogue, dating from November, 1902, is in course of preparation, and will be ready for the printer about April. The average number of subscribers during the year was 1,896. The magazine-room is largely attended. The music section, started in September, 1905, with 38 volumes of operatic music, has not met with the support anticipated. If it is to be a success in the future, it must be added to at intervals by copies of the latest and best productions. School of Engineering. Electricity, and Technical Science. Report of the Professor in Charge (Mr. Robert J. Scott, M.1.M.E., M.1.C.E.) :— The year has been notable for the number of satisfactory positions obtained by students, and the exceedingly good reports received from those for whom they are working. These positions number 15. and the salaries paid aggregate over £3,000. With the exception of 2, all are in the colony, a fact which should go far towards correcting the impression that there is no opening for the young engineer in New Zealand. The appointments obtained range from that of engineer and manager of one of the principal gasworks in the colony to those of draftsmen in the offices of local firms and public bodies, and also include those of resident and assistant engineers. A lecturer in electricity and electrical engineering was provided for the Thames School of Mines, a lecturer in electricity for the technical classes at Oamaru and Timaru, and an instructor in drawing for the Christchurch Technical Classes. Attendance. —160 students attended lectures during the year, the hour-attendances per week amounting to 1,231. Thirty-five students took the full course for the University degree or for the associateship of the school, and 7 College students attended lectures in electricity and magnetism. There was a slight falling-off in the total number of attendances as compared with the previous year, which is more than accounted for by (1) The unusually large number of students who completed their courses at the end of 1905 ; (2) the competition of correspondence schools, and the establishment of technical schools in Christchurch and other centres. The existence of the latter renders it no longer necessary for lads from other towns to be apprenticed in Christchurch in order