E.—7.

The Council have received from the Dean of the Medical Faculty a report on the work of the Medical School, which is also appended, together with a report from the Acting Curator of the Museum. The University suffered a serious loss by the death of Professor Thomas Jeffery Parker, D.Sc, F.E.S., who for many years filled the office of Professor of Biology and Curator of the Museum. The following resolution was placed on the minutes of the Council at the first meeting after the Professor's death: " That this Council record its profound sense of the loss which the University has sustained in the death of Professor T. J. Parker, who has been cut off while at the height of his powers and usefulness; and its appreciation of the good services which he has rendered to the University as an able teacher, a skilful organizer, and indefatigable scientific worker during the seventeen years and a half in which he held the position of Professor of Biology in the University and Curator of the University Museum." The Council have to thank the Government for permission to avail themselves of the services of the Agent-General in the selection of the new Professor, and to thank the Agent-General for the manner in which the necessary arrangements were made in London. The three Commmissioners who acted for the Council in London were Professors Lancaster, Howes, and Vines. These gentlemen selected Dr. William Blaxland Benham, D.Sc, Lond., whose testimonials are extremely satisfactory, and who will arrive in the colony about the end of April. Arrangements have been made to carry on the classes until the arrival of the new Professor. Attached to the report is an obituary notice of the late Professor Parker, which appeared in Nature, January, 1898, No. 1471, written by G. B. Howes, F.E.S. E. B. Cargill, Vice-Chancellor.

Annual Eeport on the Otago School of Mines. I have the honour to submit the following report on the School of Mines regarding attendance of students, results of the annual examinations and of the work done during the past session, and future requirements. The attendance number of students was fifty, the largest since the establishment of the school. Forty-six of this number were regular students for the full course, while the other four only attended classes in one or more of the three special subjects,—general geology, metallurgy, and assaying. The number of old students returning for continuing or completing their studies was twenty, and that of the new entries twenty-six. Amongst the old students returned were two who had devoted the previous year to practical mining work, and one of the old students stayed away for the same purpose, though with the intention of returning next session. Of three other old students who did not come back, two have left the country, and one has given up the intention of going through the course. Two of the eight students who left last year on the completion of their studies —namely, W. A. MacLeod, 8.A., and H. E. Stephens—had not been engaged for the stipulated twelve months' practical work in mines, but they afterwards submitted certificates of having fulfilled this condition and thus become entitled to diplomas of associate in mining, which were accordingly granted. The attendance at the different classes throughout the session by the forty-six regular students was very satisfactory, only a few having missed lectures. One of the old students was unfortunately compelled, through serious illness, to miss all the lectures after the midwinter vacation. As he is now getting restored to health he will, no doubt, continue his studies next session. The present status of the forty-six regular students is as follows: Of the twenty-six new students, sixteen passed successfully through the first year's course, including three—one an M.A.— who, on account of previous passing in general university subjects, were enabled to attend the classes and pass in several special subjects of the second and third years' courses. The other ten new students failed in or did not attend mathematics ; two failed besides in theoretical chemistry, and three in mining geology, and one did not attend general geology. Nine students completed the second year's course, while two failed in mineralogy, one of these failing also in mathematics, and the other in theoretical mechanics and practical physics. Nine students—one of five, one of four, and seven of three years' standing—finished their studies during the past session, and are leaving the school, having been successful in passing the examinations in all the subjects prescribed for two of the divisions—namely, of mining and assaying. These students are : — H. Sergeant: He passed well in all the special subjects of the mining and assaying courses, gaining five first and three second classes in the recent examinations, and he is the student before mentioned as of five years' standing; but two of these years he devoted to practical mining work, which entitled him to claim, in addition to the certificate of metallurgical chemist and assayer, the diploma of associate in mining, and this deploma he has received. As he had shown special interest and ability in mirferalogy and petrography I was very glad, by permission of the Council, to be able to engage him as assistant demonstrator for both these classes, which require special instruction to be given to each student, especially in crystallographic and microscopic examinations ; and I have pleasure in stating that he fulfilled his duties to my entire satisfaction. P. J. Macleod, B.A: He passed examinations in all the* subjects of the mining and assaying division, distinguishing himself in the recent examinations by gaining first classes in all the five subjects he attended. He is entitled to claim the certificate of metallurgical chemist and assayer; but requires to spend several months more in practical mining work before he can claim the diploma of associate in mining. G. Bray : Having successfully passed the examinations in all the subjects of the mining and assaying divisions, he is entitled to claim the certificate of metallurgical chemist and assayer; but not having spent full twelve months in practical work in mines, he is not as yet qualified to obtain

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