School of Mines.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 22 May 1914, Page 3

School of Mines.

DIRECTOR S REPORT. The following is the first report presented to the Council of the School of Mines by the director (Mr J. Lamont): —- I have to report to you on the progress made with the classes to date. The classes commenced on the 6th utto. At present there are thirty nanus on the roll, and the number of students taking the different

A third course was arranged, but as only one person came forward it was abandoned. The majority of the students are young men less than 23 years ol age, and all seem anxious workers, and with the experience gained in the mine together with the theory of mining taught at the school, I have no doubt, that a class cf colliery' manager, which the Dominion much requires, can be turned out of theHuntly School of Mines. Another point which, in my opinion, insures the success of such a school of mines is the fact that, whilst the output of gold is declining in this country the coal output is rapidly increasing. This the Government of the country must soon take notice of, because, with untrained 'ov badly trained managers in collieries much of the natural resources of the country, in the form of mineral, is lost in the working, the dangers to miners and other workers is increased, and the capital of the owners is at stake. The natural conditions under which the mining of coal is carried on varies in the same and in different localities, and also in the different parts of the world. Coal is quarried at some places, whilst at other places it has to be extracted at depths of 400 fathoms : the seams may be 30 inches thick or they may be 60ft.; the*seams may be lying horizontal ; they may be vertical orundulating. All coal-mining areas have thenown natural conditions, and the hauling, pumping, winding, etc , etc., require methods to suit the special case. The colliery manager is the individual who is expected to procure the coal under any circumstances, at-'a profitable cost of production, and in a marketable condition and also with the maximum of safety to employees. He is the individual whose advice lias to be in all the different branches of the work in connection with the colliery, and not only to he able to advise, but able when called upon, to actually perform the different duties in connection with coal mining. He, in the present age, is required to be conversant with the most up-to-date, and most economical classes of machinery, steam, electrical, air, gas, and hydraulic. He is required to be a civil engineer to a certain degree, and much more which I won’t mention here, but, concisely, he is to be able to prospect a property, prepare plans, and adapt methods to suit commencement, working and ending of a colliery, although the end may be a hundred years hence. The duties of the colliery manager, I here relate, so that the members of the “ School of Mines ” committee may better understand my purpose and aim of instructions,and also my duty to the students attending the cla’sses. Owing to lack of facilities the work of the classes has all been of a descriptive character so far. Another disadvantage, which is to be expected, and which I shall be dealing with for soma time is the different degree of advancement of the students. However, to the best of my ability I shall tend, to keep all employed at profitable class of work and at the same time disturb as little as possible the systematic courses laid down in the syllabus presented to the committee at the opening of the school. From Mr P. G. Morgan, Director of the Geological Survey Department, I have received specimens of 12 fossils, but until the schoolrooms are built and show cases arranged such materials are better stored safely away.

subjects is as under: — Course I, Mining I. 12 Students Maths. I, 12 Course II Mining II. 7 Math, II, 17 Mechs. and Steam I, 13