E.—ll

2

aspect of each of the several subjects of study in its relations with agriculture has been kept specially prominent. For example, as far as practicable animals for purposes of demonstration and clinical practice will be obtained from farmers in the neighbourhood for treatment in the veterinary hospital; in the course of practical chemistry such matters as milk-testing, buttertesting, and estimation of the percentage of manurial ingredients in artificial manures, among others, will be made prominent; and in practical botany the identification of grasses and seeds of grasses and weeds will be given—with other matters immediately useful to students of farming— special attention. The curriculum, lam confident, affords a most useful training for any young man desirous of qualifying himself to work land to best advantage, and will be found, by such as avail themselves fully of it, in ways many and often, of direct utility and immediate economic benefit. In August a course of manual training in woodwork was added to the curriculum, with Mr. F. W. Sandford as instructor. The course will proceed from elementary lessons in woodwork, systematized and graduated, to farm carpentry—such, for example, as the making of gates, feedboxes, and the wooden framework of various implements. On the farm it has been arranged that the students shall carry out practically the whole work under the direction of the farm overseer and shepherd. No farm-hands as such will be employed, except at special work, such as threshing. When engaged in practical farm-work students are required to apply themselves as diligently as if they were working for day wages, and activity and energetic application are specially encouraged, and, indeed, demanded. It is recognised that young men forming habits should not be allowed, to play make-believe while at work of any kind, and to the best of our ability this is prevented. The Board of Governors fully recognises that the endowments supporting the Institution are not intended to assist in the maintenance and education of such students as are not qualified to avail themselves of the opportunities it offers, or such as from want of diligence and application do not make satisfactory progress, and accordingly all such are required to cease residence. This policy will affect the average attendance for some time; but it will be admitted that the success of the College is at no time to be gauged by the number of students in residence, and that it is to be measured onty by the calibre of the men who leave it qualified. In knowledge of the importance of the farm-work every endeavour has been made to insure thoroughness and efficiency. The dry spring very materially affected results from all crops here as elsewhere in Canterbury, but increased prices have somewhat atoned for the deficiency. All the stock are of good quality, and the stud flocks of sheep especially offer high educational facilities. An experimental farm is one thing, a farm conducted so as to teach the business of farming is another, and this latter we aim at. Consequently, though some experimental work is conducted, it is never carried to a degree that would risk obscuring or evading the farming operations proper, or the financial aspect thereof. I have, &c, William Loweie, Director. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

Statement of Eeceipts and Expendituee for the Year ending 31st December, 1901. General Account. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Interest on capital .. .. .. 1,165 0 0 Balance, Ist January, 1901 .. .. 116 18 8 Bent of reserves .. .. .. 1,590 14 1 Salaries of staff .. .. .. 1,21113 5 Students'fees .. .. .. .. 1,059 12 3 Maintenance of staff and students .. 1,173 3 8 Studetts'books .. .. .. 23 11 11 Board-room furniture .. .. .. 218 2 3 Maintenance of students and staff—Sale of Printing and advertising .. .. 168 5 11 fat, refund of Director's board.. .. 38 8 1 Students'books .. .. .. 18 4 5 Grounds—Sale of firewood .. .. 3 4 0 Insurance, College, including guarantees.. 33 9 0 Studtnts' travelling-expenses — Fare re- Buildings, College—Repairs and repainting 46 14 2 funded .. .. .. .. 2 0 0 Grounds and plantations—Labour, trees, Laboratories—Refund for breakages .. 4 3 4 &c. .. .. .. .. .. 49 13 10 Orchard—Sale of fruit .. .. .. 15 0 Library—Books purchased, printing magaContingenciep, College—Freight refund .. 0 11 8 zinc .. .. .. .. 28 8 6 Buildings—Refund for breakage.. .. 0 6 0 Students'travelling-expenses .. .. 21 12 0 Stationery, &c—Bank exchange refunded 0 2 6 Travelling expenses —Members of Board .. 32 17 8 Balance .. .. .. .. 81 3 3 Legal expenseß .. .. .. 31 8 0 Pnzes and certificates .. .. .. 15 13 6 Laboratories —Purchase of chemicals and apparatus .. .. .. .. 46 11 2 Orchard—Labour, &o. .. .. .. 62 16 8 Workshops— Wages .. .. .. .. 50 17 6 Materials and tools .. .. .. 16 17 6 Manual training—Fees and tools .. 52 711 Examination expenses .. .. .. 61 10 6 Experimental work .. .. .. 34 11 6 Scholarships .. .. .. .. 80 0 0 Contributions to Churches .. .. 20 0 0 Contingencies (College)— Sundry expenses 94 10 1 Sp"cial votes .. .. .. .. 63 19 6 Sta'ionerv, stamps, and telegrams .. 90 6 6 Transferred to Farm Account .. .. 129 8 3 £3,970 2 1 £3,970 2 1