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Annual Examinations. —The usual annual examinations for students were held in December, 1893, when very few of the students competed. In these examinations the students of this school have not the same chance as those of the Thames School, where classes are carried on regularly, and it is for this reason that so few attempted the papers at the last examinations. In conclusion, I must thank the Committee for the valuable assistance they have always given, and also those members who have given their services in keeping the classes together, and worked in the interests of the school. OTAGO SCHOOL OP MINES. This school is attached to the University of Dunedin, and is doing good work. Last year nineteen students attended the course of lectures, and out of those who came up for examination there were only three failures —one in mathematics, one in theoretical mechanics, and one in petrography. It will be seen from Professor Ulrich's report to the Chancellor of the University of Otago, on the progress made at the school last year, that many of the students have previously taken high degrees at the University, and ought therefore to be well qualified to readily acquire a knowledge of the subjects taught at the School of Mines. The students at this school have the advantage of being taught in subjects relating to mining by a professor who has not only acquired a theoretical knowledge, but also has been working in the mines, where he gained practical experience. He is also acknowledged to be one of the best mineralogists in the Australasian Colonies. The students are, however, only engaged in their studies for about half the time that those are who attend the Thames School of Mines. The offer by the Hon. the Minister of Mines of three scholarships, tenable for three years, at the Otago University, will enable a comparison to be made of the advantage of early teaching at this school with those attending the Thames and Eeefton Schools of Mines. The Director, Professor George H. F. Ulrich, reports on the progress made by the Otago School of Mines as follows:— I have the honour to submit the following report on the work and the results of the School of Mines during the past session (1893): — In my report of last year I intimated that, in addition to the seven students who had completed their studies, the school would lose five who did not intend to proceed. As it turned out this latter number was increased to seven, so that only eight of the old students remained. I am, however, glad to state that eleven new students entered, so that during the past session the school counted nineteen students, who, save two, attended lectures with great regularity —the two having through illness been prevented from attendance for some weeks, and being the only ones who failed in the examinations in some of the subjects. Of these nineteen students, three entered for special subjects only—namsly, one for general geology, one for advanced assaying, and one for mineralogy and petrography; the remaining sixteen being regular registered students, whose present status is as follows : — Seven of the new students passed through the first year's course of the mining division. One new student for the mining division, who is also studying for the B.A. degree, took what lectures suited his time, and may be said to have passed through the first year's course. Two students, who entered for last year's session with the intention of devoting four years to passing through the three-years course, have passed most subjects of the second year's course. Two students of three years' standing, who would have.finished their studies for the mining division, are those who, as before mentioned, became ill during the session, and having failed in some of the subjects will have to come up- again for examination next year. One student of three years' standing, who is qualifying for the B.Sc. degree, passed in most of the subjects of the mining and metallurgical divisions, and will require another year to finish. Of three remaining students, one, Donald J. Matheson, 8.A., who gained his degree during the session, passed examinations in most of the subjects of the mining and metallurgical divisions, and would complete his studies by attending another session, but I am uncertain of his return. John Chisholm, B.Sc, who gained, during the past year, his degree and a senior scholarship in physical science, passed in the remaining subjects of the mining, metallurgical, and geological divisions, and was granted the diplomas of associateship of the metallurgical and geological divisions. On producing satisfactory evidence of having gone through a twelve-months course of practical work in mines, he will also be entitled to the diploma of associateship of the mining division. It deserves mention that in the recent examinations in the six subjects which completed his mining course he passed first-class in five and good-second-class in one, whilst he also obtained a first-class in advanced physics, in which science he is preparing for honours. Percy G. Morgan, M.A., after two years' engagement in practical mine-work, attended lectures and passed the examinations in several subjects required to complete the third year's course of the mining division, and was granted the diploma of associateship of this division. With regard to past students I have to state the following:— P. Fitzgerald, who left the school last year, after passing examinations in all the subjects of the mining division, but who had not at that time completed the twelve-months course of practical mine-work, did since submit satisfactory certificates of having fulfilled this requirement, and became therefore entitled and was granted the diploma of associateship of the mining division. C. McKeller, who left the school last year, after passing examinations in all the subjects prescribed for the surveying division, produced the required evidence of having, for six months, been engaged in practical surveying work, and was therefore granted the certificate of the surveying division. P. Marshall, M.A., B.Sc, who, during his last year's attendance at the school, and with the intention of qualifying for honours in geology, specially studied mineralogy and petrography, and prepared a paper on a geological subject, was awarded first-class honours by the English examiner. 3—C. 3.