C.—3.

The annual examinations held during the second and third weeks of December, 1901, were supervised by myself and my assistant. The papers were set by the following gentlemen : Mr. Hayes, P.S.Sc, Inspecting Engineer of Mines; Mr. Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist; Dr. Maclaurin, Government Analyst; Mr. G. H. Pierard, and the Surveyor-General, and were received each day of the examination from Mr. Coutts, Inspector of Mines. A fewer number of candidates presented themselves for examination, but obtained a better proportion of passes than the previous year. There was one candidate for the University scholarship, Mr, C. A. Banks; but, although he gained 75 per cent, or over in eleven subjects, he obtained less than 75 per cent, in one of the scholarship subjects, and was thus disqualified. Mr. Banks* did remarkably well, considering that he is only a two-years student, in scoring 614 marks, or an average of 767, in the scholarship subjects. He secured the President's gold medal with a total of 931 in twelve subjects, an average of 77-6 per cent. During 1901 the following Government certificates have been granted to Thames School of Mines students after examination: One first-class mine-manager's, one second-class mine-man-ager's, and seven battery-superintendents' certificates. In January, 1902, the annual Government examination was supervised at the Thames School by Mr. Goutts, and two candidates for first-class mine-managers' and five for battery-superin-tendents' certificates presented themselves for examination. Goveening- Body. At the annual meeting of subscribers held on the 11th February, 1902, regret was expressed at the deaths of the late President, Mr. B. McDonnell, and of Mr. T. Cautley, a member of the Council. The annual report and balance-sheet were read an& confirmed, and the prizes and certificates distributed. The first of the new certificates of merit granted to students for proficiency in the mining and metallurgy courses was granted to Mr. C. A. Banks. The following officers were elected for the year 1902: President, Mr. G. Denby; vice-presi-dent, Mr. M. Paul; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. Hague Smith; Council, Messrs. B. P. Adams, W. Baker, T. C. Bayldon, H. Haszard, W. H. Paltridge,. E. W. Powell, B. Cartwright; hon. secretary, Mr. A. Bruce. Great satisfaction was expressed at the admirable manner in which the new syllabus has been printed by the Government Printing Office. The syllabus contains a large amount of useful information concerning the school, and is illustrated with six views of the interior and exterior of the school property. The thanks of the Council and myself are due to several gentlemen for donations to the museum during the last nine months : Mr. J. B. Banks, Waihi specimens; Mr. Clark, Waihi specimens; Mr. P. Morgan, andesites and rhyolites; Mr. Trelease, copper and silver ores; Mr. A. G. Williams, guano and other specimens from Surprise Island ; Captain Eobie, island shells; Mr. E. W. Powell, telluride ore; Messrs. Odium, Woolcock, Martin, for miscellaneous samples. It gives me much pleasure to acknowledge the hearty co-operation of the Council and the assistance of the secretary in furthering the interests of the school. The accompanying table shows the special examinations for gold and silver, &c, which have been made during the year at the Thames School of Mines for the Mines Department, and special reference may be made to several of the more interesting ones, as follows : — No. 2839, forwarded by Mr. Robertson, surveyor, consisted of half a dozen pieces of crystalline quartz, containing white and black mica and 15 per cent, of dark mineral which proved to be magnetite. A small amount of gold, amounting to 1 dwt. per ton, was present, as well as 0-2 per cent, of cassiterite or tin-oxide, accompanied with 3 per cent, of wolfram. No. 2863. Five samples forwarded by Mr. M. Webster from Wangapeka. No. 1 : Small seams of rusty quartz, contained 22 gr. of gold per ton. No. 2 : White quartz, carried traces only. No. 3 : Solid white quartz, with much oxide of iron, contained 18 gr. of gold per ton. No. 4: Blocks of white quartz, with massive iron-pyrites, contained 6 dwt. 22 gr. of gold and 3 dwt. 3 gr. of silver perton. No. 5 : This was a fine-grained galena, containing about 40 per cent. of lead sulphide, along with copper and iron sulphides, and 16 per cent, of silica ; it is a rich silver-ore, containing 7 dwt. 13 gr. of gold and 264 oz. 3 dwt. 2 gr. of silver per ton. No. 2864. Four samples from Marlborough, forwarded by Mr. F. F. MacLeod. No. 1, from 3 ft. reef, Devil's Arm-chair: This was a brownish-white quartz, containing 8 dwt* 19 gr. gold per ton. No. 2, from sft. reef, half a mile higher up the hill: The quartz was white, and contained 12 gr. gold per ton. No. 3, loose stone shed between the two outcrops, some white and some brown pieces, averaging 2 dwt. 2 gr. gold per ton. No. 4, from 5 ft. reef, at mouth of Top Valley : this carried 1 dwt. of gold par ton. Further samples from the same district forwarded by Mr. K. MacLeod pointed to the existence of some good ore-bodies, as shown by assays Nos. 2871 and 2878 ; while to confirm the prospects shown by the small samples a ton of the ore from the Top Valley was forwarded to me for treatment, and yielded £2 14s. per ton. The bullion was of good value, and a little gold was visible in the stone. No. 2879. Small piece of quartz forwarded by Mr. E. M. Houston, M.H.E. Said to have been found near the river at Mangonui. The quartz was polished on one face ;it had a bluish tinge, and contained free gold and dark-coloured iron-pyrites. The bullion present amounted to If oz. per 1 lb. ay. of stone, and was worth £2 15s. per ounce. The stone and the bullion in it greatly resembled Thames specimen stone. No. 2883. Three more samples forwarded by Mr. Houston. No. 5 : Small piece of rustybrown quartz, from large reef. No. 6 : Eusty-brown honeycomb quartz (polished on one face), from Glennay's Creek. Nq. 8 : Quartz which had been roasted to find if any silver were present. No gold or silver was found in any of these samples, which did not resemble sample No. 2879 in appearance. No. 2930. Quartz forwarded by Mr. Houston from Mangonui. This was glassy quartz with dark-coloured patches, but no gold or silver beyond a trace was found in it. It resembled No. 2879 in appearance, but was whiter and more glassy, and did not show the same bluish tinge.

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