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ever, that the establishment of a chair of engineering would render the two lastmentioned lectureships unnecessary; whilst it would have the further effect of bringing into existence a school of engineering. We learn from the Calendar of the Otago University that a collection of apparatus, models, specimens, and diagrams for the School of Mines has already been obtained. These requisites were ordered from Europe in accordance with specifications drawn up by the director of the school, and include typical collections of minerals, rocks, and fossils, mathematical instruments, assaying apparatus and reagents, diagrams, and a series of models, of which some represent machines and appliances used in mining, and others are illustrative of important branches of mining work. The reply made by the governors of Canterbury College to the letters addressed to them by the Government, with respect to the establishment of a school of mines, was to the effect that provision was already made for instruction in chemistry, in electricity, heat, and other branches of physics, in metallurgy, assaying, and mineralogy, in mathematics, pure and applied, and in geology and palaeontology; that, in order to afford a complete curriculum to students of a school of mines, it would be necessary further to make provision for instruction in practical mining, land-surveying, engineering, and mechanical drawing; that a teacher of these subjects might divide his attention between the agricultural school and the mining school; and that the governors would undertake to make such additional provision, if a subsidy of £150 per annum were granted towards maintenance, and a sum of £300 to defray the first cost of a set of models and a metallurgical collection. The Government assented to this proposal, and in January, 1878, paid to the governors of the College £300 for models, &c, and the subsidy of £150 for the first year. A second year's subsidy of £150 has also been paid. The governors have not yet taken steps towards making the appointments necessary to give effect to their proposals, because they have not yet received the necessary models and other appliances, the delay being due to the death of the Registrar of the School of Mines in London, who was to have purchased them, and to whom money was sent for that purpose in 1878. We are of opinion that it would be better to strengthen the School of Mines at Dunedin than to attempt at present to establish a second school in any other part of the colony. We have had under consideration a representation made by a deputation of miners to the lion. Mr. Gisborne (then Minister of Mines) in September last, at Goldsborough, as to the desirability of establishing a school of mines on the west coast of the Middle Island. It appears to us that the circumstances of the colony do not warrant the outlay that would be involved in the institution of an efficient school of mines standing alone, and unable to avail itself of the services of professors in the faculty of arts; and that from the school at Dunedin young men will be sent out year after year competent to undertake assaying, and to give instruction in mineralogy, in. the less populous districts where mining industry prevails. The gradual .extension of the geological survey may also be expected to meet the wants referred to by the deputation. It should be remembered too that specimens of minerals can at any time be sent for examination and analysis to the Government Geologist, at Wellington, or to the Professors of Chemistry at Canterbury College and the University of Otago. We have been unsuccessful in our endeavours to ascertain the number of young men who are devoting themselves to studies preparatory to professional practice as mining engineers, mining surveyors, and assayers; and in the absence of any system of official registration we cannot obtain any satisfactory account of the number of persons now engaged in such practice. The census returns of 1878 show that about 14,000 persons were, at that date, engaged in mining; and a return supplied to us from the office of the Registrar-General states that twentythree persons returned themselves as mining engineers. It must be borne in mind, however, that ordinary surveyors, engineers, and chemists sometimes undertake work which can be properly done only by men who have made a special study of mines and minerals ; and, moreover, that the name of mining engineer, or mining surveyor, is not unfrequently assumed by persons who have no scientific knowledge whatever, and who depend entirely upon what they have picked up in the practical work of mining. But, though it is not possible to make a definite statement of the

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