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number of young men to whom the instruction provided by a school of mines would be of immediate benefit, it is evident that in a country known to be rich in minerals the progress of settlement will create an imperative necessity for a thorough course of education in mineralogy and mining. For the wise development of the resources of the country, and the profitable employment of private capital, as well as to secure the working miner against serious danger to health and life, it is important that mining industry should be guided by the advice of competent scientific men ; and if those who prepare themselves by the careful study of the various sciences and arts which are applicable to such industry are duly protected by official registration, or by the issue of certificates after examination, a remunerative career will be opened up, the prospect of which would probably attract many students to a school of mines. In that part of our report which relates particularly to scholarships we shall recommend that Education Board scholarships be tenable at technical schools. For the further encouragement of the school of mines, we also recommend that measures be adopted for giving a preference to ex-pupils of the school in making appointments to those departments of the Government in which their special knowledge would be of value, and for registering and giving official publicity to such certificates of competency as may be issued by the school with the approval of the Government. We believe it will ere long become necessary to adopt the course, which has for some years been followed in Victoria, of refusing legal recognition to mining surveys made by any but licensed mining surveyors. The Provincial Council of Canterbury in the year 1873 set aside a reserve of 100,000 acres of land as an endowment for a school of agriculture. At the time of making the endowment the annual rent of the land was about £1,000, a sum equal to the proceeds of the reserve set apart for superior education, and also to those of the reserve for a technical school and public library. The Agricultural School lleserve has, however, proved to be of much greater immediate value than either of the others; so that the governors of Canterbury College are in a position to make very complete arrangements for opening the school. A farm of 500 acres of land of various qualities, and adapted for three different styles of farming, has been purchased near the township and railway station of Lincoln, about twelve miles from Christchurch. The buildings comprise lecture theatre, chemical laboratory, dining-hall, and separate bedrooms for twenty resident students, together with quarters for the director of the school, and all the necessary outbuildings. Although the curriculum of the school is not yet completely denned, it is expected that the course will extend over three years. The director of the school, besides taking general supervision, will give instruction in theoretical and practical agriculture and in chemistry (especially in its relation to agriculture), and will superintend the chemical laboratory. The Professor of Biology at Canterbury College, half of whose salary is paid out of the funds belonging to the Agricultural School, will" give instruction at the school in botany and zoology. No provision has as yet been made for teaching land-surveying, draining, &c; but if, as we think is desirable, a chair of engineering is erected at Canterbury College out of the surplus funds of the Agricultural School, the professor will be available for the purposes of such instruction. It is intended that the instruction in agriculture shall be practical as well as theoretical; the students are to take part day by day in the work of the farm, and will thus acquire familiarity with the use of implements, with the operations of husbandry, and the management of stock. It is also intended that part of the estate shall be devoted to the purposes of an experimental farm. These proposals seem to us satisfactory; but we are of opinion that the operations of the school should be extended, so as to include systematic instruction in forestry, a subject which is not only nearly allied to agriculture, but also of very great importance to the future welfare of this colony. The resources of the Canterbury School of Agriculture are so ample that it can be made a very perfect institution of its kind, and can afford to offer a considerable number of scholarships to intending students from all parts of the colony. This renders it more easy for us to advise that it is not desirable

School of agriculture.