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Assays. —Eighty-one assays were made during the year, and twenty-nine determinations of the value of specimens commercially. Examinations. —At the annual School of Mines Examinations students from I his school obtained the highest marks for the Dominion in five subjects. At the examinations for minemanagers three sat for metal-mine managers' certificates and two for coal-mine managers' certificates; of the latter two, one gained a pass and one a partial pass. The results for bullion-assaying have not come to hand. I have compiled the above information from notes left for me by my predecessor, Mr. J. 11. Williamson, whom I did not meet on my arrival here to take up my duties a few weeks ago. Notwithstanding these troublous times the educational facilities offered by this school of mines are being largely availed of, as the present attendance at the classes is forty-four students, and several more are enrolling this week. 1 have, &c, Sidney Fry, Director.

Professor James Park, Dean of the Mining Faculty, to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir, — Otago University, Dunedin, 15th May ; 1917. For the session 1916 there was an attendance of sixteen students taking the full diploma course, and of these four were returned soldiers. Before the end of the session two of the other twelve volunteered for active service, and were called up a few weeks before the final examinations began. Examinations. —Fourteen students sat for the annual examinations qualifying for the B.E. or A.O.S.M. couise, and all succeeded in passing. War passes were granted to the two students called up in the second term. Diplomas. —During the year the diploma as Associate in Mining was granted to three students, and the certificate of Land and Mine Surveyor to two students. War Service. —With the consent of the University Council Professor Waters volunteered for active service, and left New Zealand early in 1916 with the New Zealand Tunnelling Corps. Since then his lectures and laboratory-work have been carried on by the Director of the school. A considerable number of our graduates 'and undergraduates are associated with Captain Waters both as officers and tunnellers; and from the frequency of reference in general despatches of the good work of the New Zealand Tunnelling Corps in France we may gather that the men from the Otago University School of Mines are worthily upholding the best traditions of their alma mater. Old graduates of the school in considerable number made for London from all parts of the globe on the outbreak of. war, and most of them now hold commissions in the Royal Engineers. To the parents and relations of our old students who have fallen on active service or been wounded the Mining Faculty extends its warmest sympathy. Special sympathy is offered to the relations of Lieutenant W. M. Durant, A.0.5.M., and of Major D. M. Tomlinson, both killed on active service in France, and of Captain W. T. Tomlinson, of the Royal Engineers, who was dangerously wounded. All of these were gallant soldiers and promising mining engineers. Major Tomlinson and Captain Tomlinson surrendered lucrative mining appointments in Korea, and enlisted as privates in the Imperial Forces, London, at the beginning of the war. Changes in Staff. —At the end of the session Professor P. Marshall resigned the Chair of Geology, and in his place the University Council appointed Dr. Benson, D.Sc., who has already taken up his duties. Dr. Marshall was appointed as Lecturer in Geology in the School of Mines in 1900, and was raised to the status of professor in 1908. From the first he proved himself a keen and successful teacher, always unsparing of his time and vital energy in carrying out the work of his department. His successor, Dr. Benson, is a distinguished graduate of Sydney and Cambridge Universities, who, if we may judge by his record, should worthily maintain the high standard of work set by his predecessors. I have, drSO.j James Park, Dean of Mining Faculty.