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ANNEXUBE C. REPORTS OF DIRECTORS OF SCHOOLS OF MINES. Mr. U. B. Inglis, A.0.5.M., Director of the Coromandel School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. g m Coromandel, Ist March, 1917. I have the honour to present my report on the work done at the Coromandel School of Mines for the year ended the 31st December, 1916. Attendance.— A total of twenty-three students attended the classes in one or more subjects during the year, showing an increase of three over last year's number. Instruction was given in thirteen subjects, two students taking the full course for the Mine-managers' Examination. Several students who attended the classes in theoretical and practical chemistry and other science subjects were unable to sit for the School of Mines examinations. One student, Mr. M. A. Macdonald, enlisted and went on active service towards the end of the year. Examinations. —At the annual Government examinations fifteen students presented themselves in theoretical subjects, and one student did two of the practical examinations. The certificates gained were five first class, six second class, and three third class. The students who take assaying, surveying, and electricity, and some of those who take chemistry and other subjects, at the Coromandel School do so purely for purposes connected with mining pursuits. Assays. —The number of ore-samples assayed and reported on in 1916 was 136, of which 128 were done for prospectors free of charge; also, seven samples of fish-manure, three of limestone, and ten of water were analysed at the scbool. In conclusion, I wish to express my hearty appreciation of the manner in which the officers and members of the Council have worked for the benefit of the school during the year. I have, &c, U. B. Inglis, Director. Mr. W. 11. Baker, B.Sc, Director of the Thames School of Mines, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Thames, 26th April, 1917. I have the honour to present my annual report on the work done at the Thames School of Mines during the year 1916. Attendance. —Notwithstanding the large number of students who are in camp or at the front the attendance has kept up to the average, as shown in the following schedule : — First Second Third Term. Term. Term. Registered students ... ... ... ... 31 30 31 Class attendance of registered students ... ... 47 42 41 Elementary-science class ... ... ... ... 40 35 29 Teachers' science class ... ... ... ... 10 1.0 9 Total individual students ... ... ... ... 81 75 69 Examinations. —Forty-one students presented themselves for examination in one or more of fourteen subjects, and obtained fifty-nine first-class, four second-class, and three third-class certificates. Two students also passed the Senior Civil Service Examination in geology. One student completed the second-class Mine-managers' Examination. Sixteen passes were obtained in the practical examinations in chemistry and assaying. One student passed the second-class Engineers' Examination. Battery and Experimental Plant. —The details of the work in the battery have been embodied in a separate report. Thirteen parcels have been treated, of a total weight of 4'43 tons, for a bullion return of £1,401 18s. sd. In every case experiments are made to determine the condition in which the values exist, and a report made as to the probable best mode of treatment. One hundred and fourteen assays for gold and silver, thirty-five analyses for zinc, lead, antimony, and copper, fourteen estimations of mercury, and nine milk-tests were made during the year, besides the assays and analyses necessary for the ore-treatment in the battery. Gas-testing Plant. —Four certificates were granted during the year, making a total of thirty-two. General. —The school library has been augmented by the addition of several books that were purchased, and by the bulletins supplied by the Mining and Geological Survey Departments of Tasmania, Queensland, West Australia, Victoria, South Australia, and the United States. Several specimens have also been donated to the museum. In conclusion, 1 wish to express my appreciation of the work done by the school staff and of the unfailing interest of the President and Council in the welfare of the school. Experimental Plant. Twelve parcels of ore have been treated, ranging in weight from 281b. to 2 tons, and in value from Bs. per ton to £7,200. The total weight of ore treated was 9,927 lb. (dry weight), for a yield of gold and silver valued at £1,401 18s. sd. Almost the whole of this return was obtained from picked stone treated for the Occidental Gold-mining Company. In the treatment of this class of ore all the pulp after amalgamation is

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