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Mr. J. F. McPadden, Director of the Coromandel School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary. Mines Department ,|Wellington. Sir,— Coromandel, 18th April, 1911. I have thejhonour to report on'the'work of the Coromandel School of Mines for the year ended 31st December, 1910. Attendance. —The average individual attendance was 18, with a class attendance of 43. Examinations. —Seven students sat for the annual Government examinations held in December, and obtained 8 first-class, 7 second-class, and 4 third-class certificates, while 1 student (Mr. F. L. K. Broadgate) secured the only School of Mines Government Scholarship awarded ; this student having gained the excellent average percentage of 73-1 for ten subjects. During the year 101 assays were made for the public. I have, &c, J. F. McPadden, Director.

Mr. J. Henderson, M.A., D.Sc, Director of the Reefton School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary. Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Reefton. 31st March, 1911. 1 have the honour to present my report on the work of the Reefton School of Mines for the year ended 31st December, 1910. The total number of students for the three terms was, 25, 38, and 36 iespectively, and the class attendance for the same periods, 28, 37, and 43. These figures, the best of recent years, reflect the increasing mining prosperity of the district. Instruction was given in chemistry, assaying, blowpipe analysis, metallurgy, mathematics, surveying, and all mining subjects. At the annual December examinations 8 students presented themselves, obtaining 2 first-class passes ; 1 student also passed in the practical examinations. During the past year 213 assays were made, the bulk of these for gold only ; coal and ores of copper, tin, and lead were also reported on. As in former years, prospectors' samples were assayed free of charge. The lending library has been largely used, and students greatly appreciate the standard works donated by the Mines Department. I have, &c, J. Henderson, Director.

Mr. W. F. Worley, Director of the Nelson School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Nelson, 24th March, 1911. I have the honour to present my report on the Nelson School of Mines for the year ended 31st December, 1910. The work undertaken may be grouped under five heads—(l) Teaching mineralogy and blowpipe analysis to boys attending the public school ; (2) making assays and tests for the public ; (3) adult classes for geology and assaying ; (4) giving popular lectures on some subject connected v.-ith geology ; and (5) systematic study of the geology of this district. (1.) Mineralogy and Blowpipe Analysis ( 'lasses. —These classes are still the most important i>i>inch of our work, and interest in them is well maintained. At the beginning of the year I wenty-five lads were enrolled. Eight of these left during the year, owing chiefly to the demand for boy-labour. The usual course of study was followed ; and by the end of the year those remaining in I i ie able to identify, by means of blowpipe, tests all the ordinary ores of commerce, if not too complicated. Three examinations were held during the year, mid cer of merit were presented to those able to pass all three of the examinations, the successful students being H. Newport, J. Marris, and P. Stewart. H. Newport headed the list with 90 per cent, of marks, and was awarded a prize. (2.) Assays made for the Public. —Only seven of these were made, and not one of them was of much importance. This falling-off in assaying-work is due to the pretty general lack of interest in mining development. There are indications, however, that Nelson has reached its lowest ebb in this respect, i (3.) Adult Classes. —One young man took a short'course of lessons in assaying, but not enough to be of any practical use to him. He intended to work as assayer for a mining syndicate carrying on prospecting in the Wangapeka district. One lady student took a short course of lessons in geology, and passed an examination in that subject in connection with examinations for teachers held by the Education Department. (4.) Popular Lectures. —A lecture on volcanoes, illustrated by lantern-slides, was repeated five times during the year in as many different localities. The interest shown in these lectures is highly gratifying, and indicates that much useful knowledge may be disseminated in this way. The lecture for the current year will be on the mining industry of New Zealand. (5.) Geology of Nelson District. —For some time past attention has been given to the geology of this district, but until quite recently no attempt was made to place on record the results of these studies. Now, however, a series of papers on the geology of Nelson is being supplied to the " Nelsonian," the official organ of the Nelson Boys' College. Thi ra are specially written for the College Field Club ; and, with that object in view, they are made suggestive rather than dogmatic, the aim being to stimulate geological research. I have, &c, W. F. Worley, Director.