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COROMANDEL SCHOOL OF MINES. The Director, Mr. D. V. Allen, A.O.S.M. (who is also manager of the battery connected with the school), reports as under : — School. I have to report as follows on the work and progress of the school for the year ending the 31st January, 1903 :— Notwithstanding the rather depressed state of our local mining industry, I am pleased to state that the school has passed through a fairly successful year. The attendance steadily increased during the year, as seen by the following table : — Number of Students. Average Attendance. First term ... ... ... ... ... 16 33 Second term ... ... ... ... ... 19 39 Third term ... ... ... ... ... 23 47 There is every reason to believe that the numbers will be maintained during the coming year; in fact, sixteen students have already joined. The Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers has this year offered two prizes of £10 and £5 respectively for the best essays on any scientific topic, competition to be confined to school of mines students. Our course of instruction included theoretical and practical chemistry, metallurgy, wet and dry assaying, mining, &c, land and mine surveying, mathematics, and mechanical drawing. A good deal of useful field-work was done in connection with the survey class. Good work was also done in the laboratory, including analysis of minerals and cyanide extraction tests on gold-ores. Thirty-two assays for the public were done by myself during the year, chiefly bullion and goldore assays. My thanks are due to Mr. R. E. Jamieson, who for some time acted as instructor in mathematics. The annual school of mines examinations took place last December. Eleven of our students presented themselves, and the certificates obtained were five first, seven second, and four third class. Last year one student sat for the first-class mine-managers' examination, and was successful in passing therein. For this year's examination we have four candidates for first-class minemanager and two for battery-superintendent. The results, however, will not be known for some time. Numerous donations of rocks and minerals have been received, including a large collection from the Waihi School of Mines. Our school was well represented in the Gold Jubilee Exhibition, and obtained first award for its collection of minerals. A 2 in. water-pipe has been laid on to the school, and it is intended to erect a small Pelton wheel to drive a rock-section grinder for the geological class. Batteey. During the year twenty-two parcels of ore were treated at the battery. These comprised 79 tons of general ore, 6-| tons of tailings, 301b. of concentrates, and 6951b. of picked stone. The total yield of retorted gold was 1,048 oz. lOdwt., valued approximately at £3,050. A much-needed want has been supplied by the construction of a new water-race, which carries ample water for all purposes. The race delivers into a wooden tank, from which independent pipes supply the tables, berdans, and engine. The oil-engine gave less trouble than formerly. Past experience has proved that it is better not to attempt to run both the stamps and berdans together, as the work is too heavy on the engine. Great credit is due to Mr. Hugh McDonald, the amalgamator, for the zealous manner he has carried out his duties. Report of Council. In presenting a general report of proceedings during the past year, and in reviewing the work accomplished in comparison with previous periods, the Council—fully considering the decreased population of the district—have great pleasure in reporting to the members and general public of Coromandel as to its efficient state, and upon the favourable results both in the school and the Government examinations. During the year, with the assistance of the Mines Department in allowing us a special grant, we were enabled to replenish our stock of chemicals and other requisites ; so that the several branches of instruction have been carried on without inconvenience to the Director or students. To further extend the scope of instruction, the Council purpose erecting a grinding and facing plant, which will be very advantageous in geological classification and research. A portion of the plant is already in hand, the same having been procured by the school in connection with its exhibits at the late Auckland Exhibition. As motive power it is proposed to erect a small Pelton wheel, to be connected with the county main water-supply, the particulars and cost of which have been satisfactorily arranged. It will be again necessary to materially add to our general stock of school materials and apparatus, so that during the coming year we may be enabled to successfully carry out the full course of instruction. In furtherance of these matters the Council purpose again approaching the Mines Department for assistance. The visiting committee's monthly report remarks very favourably upon the general working of the school, and upon the attention and deportment of the students ; and the Council are of opinion, 9—C. 3.