School of Mines Students

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1055, 1 August 1904, Page 2

School of Mines Students

Annual Dinner

The first annual dinner given by the Waihi School of Mines Students, whioh took plaoe in Meyer's Hotel on Saturday night, was in every way a success. It was a largo and representative- gathering of the students of the school, about seventy sitting down to dinner. The primary object ot tho function —which, as stated by tho gentleman who responded to tho to.ist of tho Waihi School of Mines, was to encourage good fellowship and interest in the work of tho institutionwas undoubtedly achieved. In tho course of the evening much was said by the sovoral speakers that would be helpful to tho members, end net as an incentive to their efforts to acquire of know* ledge in theoretical mining. Tho monu was as follows: l-isii: Boiled Fillet of Schuiipper, Oyster Sauce, soup : Consomme it la Oystor Soup Royale, ENTRKBS: Veal Cutlets, Tomato Sauce, Brains nu Gralin rouLTRY; Btilcd Fowl, Caper Sauce,, Roast Duck, Broad Sauoo, WlNis:

Ronst Sirloin of Beef. Y-irkahiro Pudding, . Stuffed S:icl;inn Pig, Haunch of Mutton, Hoi' Ourrant Jolly, Boiled O.x Tonguo, Carrots, sweets : Plum Pudding Brandy Sauce, Peach Pie, Gooseberry Pool, Spanish Cream, .?o!co il la Macodoinc, Italian Trifle, Napoleon Pastry, Cheese Straws. Tho Chairman, Mr. P. Stewart, proposed the toast of 1 ' The King," tho drinking of which was accompanied by tho National Anthem. Mr. Bongo, in proposing tho toast of " The School of Mines," referred to the necessity and advantages of such an insti" tulion in a mining town. Ho had been associated with the School of Minos sinco its inception over eight years ago, and the assistance given by tho Government had been most generous, and reflected great cradit on them, To wlmtover appeal had been mado in tho shapo of grants, tho Government had given ft willing oar, In referring to the staff, bo said, that thoy wot'o fot'tunato in having such a capable director as Mr P. G, Morgan, Ho was heart and sjul in his work, With regard (o the inauguration of the student?' annual dinner, ho considered it was a capital idea, find that good would follow in its train, Mr. Thomas Gilmour, Prosidont of the School of Mines, in responding, said ho was ploasod and gratified to see so many of tho students around him, So had come to Waihi in 1891, nearly fcurtoen years ago, and a few years later thoy had got their School of Mines, which had sinco progressed steadily to its presen standard, of efficiency, The school was doing good and useful work, and tho present gathering was a good omen of its future. Tho speaker referred to the proposal to remove tho Otago School of Minos at Dunodin to Auckland. Ho pointod out thai a number of students who attended tho school there had conjo to W'lilii lo comploto their education, by engaging in pratical mining. Ho had an idea that the Minister of Mines was in 1 favour of having the school romoved to 1 Auckand, The school was not now in tho 1 rglit placo. Mr. Paul, replying on bohalf of " The Visitors," said that as mi ox-Sohool of Mines student he was very ploasod indoed to be present. Speaking on tho question of tho advantages of tho school, ho related 1 his experiences when he first became a ! student. It w as quito a mistaken idea that one required a first-class oducation in ot'dor to be successful in the study of theoretical mining, Any man with an average oducation could piss any of the oximinalions.

Mr, Morgan, tho Director, gavo an in* (cresting address on the work done by tho School of Mines siuco its inception in July, 1897. During this and the soven following yours thorn had boon an average attendance of oi) students,' varying from 43 in 1898 to 67 in 1903, Ho found, it impossible to state the osnot number of stu-i dents who had passed through tho sohoolj but it was close on 250, out of which number no less than 50 were now tirst.clnss roino managers or battery superintendents, In addition to these 11 students had hold certificates on onlering tho school, Also, there wcro several who had passod the Customs examination for (assayers of gold, and a dozcu or more had gain* ed ongino. drivers' certificates. Besides all theso 176 first-elans certificates had beon issued by the Council to students who had gained credit in the Government examinations. The speaker, retorting to his first connection 'with the Otago University School of Mines, referred in appreciative terms to tho late Professor Ulricb, who was then director of that institution. Mr Morgan said that ho owod a debt of gratitude to that gentle* man for tho knowledgo ho had gained whilo under him, He expressed tho opinion that through Iho iniluonco of the late Professor the mining industry throughout the colony had been benofitcd to a much greater extent than many wero awaro of. His wide and thorough kuow« lodgo of mining, geology, and mine 4 viilogy had bosn Iho moans of giv rag to this country a number of oapablo mining engineers. Mr Morgan, in refer* ring to his duties, said tho work bad beon often somewhat arduous, but against this, was the knowledgo that a largo per ccntagc of Iho pupils had benefited by attending Hie school. It had always been his endeavour to train the students in tho power of acquiring knowledgo for themselves, font was a truth that tho man who wished to attain to the top of the tree in mining must be a student all his life. In conclusion, the speaker refer* red in eulogistic terms to the work of the prcseut stall', and of past members Mr, Quick, in proposing •• Tho mining industry," spoko of ilio importance of mining, and tho equal importance in this connection of a thorough training in a Fehool of Minos as well as in practical work. In coupling this toast with tho names of Messrs. Paul and Johns lie lllftdo a witty roforcneo | 0 the recent development in tho Waibi Extoudod mine,

Mr Johns, replying (o the toast, briefly referred to the recent reef development "it he Wailn Extended mine, which he said would be an important factor in the futher development of the field, Referring to tho advances to be derived fain a theoretical knowlodgo of mining, ho said that while thoro could be no doubt as to t.,0 value and importance of ii scientific education, it would bo admitted that it was necessary also to eouibine with it a practical knowlodge, and while speaking on the subject ho would relate an iustanco of this which came miner his personal observation. The case m question was in connection with a student at « School of Mines who had passed his examination and had gained a miuo managor'a oorlifi* cate, and yet was unable to tell the differ' euce between sandstone and quartz in tho "two o! a mine. This no doubt was an exceptional ciuo, but it served to show how necessary it was that praotice and theory should go band in hand in a young man's mining education. He was very pleased indeed to seo so large a gathering round tho table that night, as it augured well for the success of similar annual functions. It was a good thing to meet together to Bpend a social evening, for it was likely to be the outcome of much benefit to the uiembors, Mr Paul, in responding, referred to

mining on tho Thames, where, be said, rauoh was looked for from boring operations.

Mr Johns proposod tho toast of tho " Borough ConnciL" In tho courso of his remarks ho compared tho state of things as they existed a fow years ago with the preßont. Ho roforreil in praisoworthy torms to tho Councillors, and the amount of work that had been dono in tho borough in so short a time, and deprecated abusing thorn, Mr. Gilniour, in responding, ■ expressed thanks for the niiwinor in whioh tho toast had been drunk. He said tho Borough Counoil had not beon a happy family in tho

past, but now thoy wore gotting on very well. When the railway got through, which was now within measurable distance, tho upkeep ol the Paoroa-Waihi main road would bo considerably lessened, Mr Henderson, whoso name was coupled with tho toast, in response said ho had always taken an intorcst in educational rnattora, and ho was glad to sav that the Borough Counoil wus always willing to support local institutions, such as tho Sohoolof Minos, publio library, etc, Ho also touched on the subjects of tho water supply aud lightiing of tho town, Mr George Loslio, in proposing tho toast of tho School of Mines staff, said that moro studonts should entor for examine., tiona, It was not fair to the teaching stall when only a fow ontered, Ho urgod upon tho students to work harder and do greater oredit to tho Btafl', Mr Morgan, replying, referred to Mr' Leslie's remarks, and said a fair proportion of the students did take part in tho examinations, but there was room for improvement. Messrs Seelyo and Wright also responded, The latter eulogised the students for the intelligent interest they took in their work. He recognised ( that the Waihi studonts were a diligent body, and urged the necessity for including science with primary education. Mr J. Banks proposed the toast of" The Council of the Waihi School of Mines," In the courso of his remarks ho said the staff wero very fortunate to lmvo snch n good Council to back up (heir efforts. Messrs Bengo and Henderson responded, and wiahod the school every success, Tho health of Mr George Jackson, who is ono of the oldest and most assiduous students at tho school, and who is shortly leaving lor Egypt to lako an important appointment, was piopo«ed by Mr, W. Ridings, Tho toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr, Jackson replied feelingly, and said hu deeply regrottcd loaving so many kind frionds. Tho health of tho Chairman, Mr. Stewart, was proposed by Mr. Gilmour, 'lho toast was drunl: heartily, Mr, Stewart expressed his thanks for tho hearty mannor in whioh they had honored him. During the ovoning songs were contributed as follows:-"Tho Hielanman's Toast," by Mr.J, Henderson; "The Midshipmite" and'' Island of Droams' 1 by Mr, H. Mitchell; " Asleep in tho Deep" and "Vanity," Mr, W.E, Wilt liams, A cornet solo, "The Last Rose of Summer," by Mr, Hewson, was vory nicoly given. Mr, Christian played tho accompaniments throughout the evening in a most capable mannor, Tho enjoyable evening wa3 brought to aoloso about midnight by tho singing of " Auld Lang riyno,"