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student to obtain v diploma in home science or to take this as one of the subjects of the B.Sc. degree. The classes are being conducted in the old School of Mines building, which has been renovated for the purpose, and which has been fitted with a convenient Chemical Laboratory. Miss Hodges, who was originally appointed Professor of Home Science, was obliged on account of ill health to resign the post, and Mr. Studholme. who was then in England, recommended the Council to appoint Miss Boys-Smith, late of Girton College. Professor Boys-Smith arrived in January, and has fully organized a three years' course. Her assistant. Miss Rawson, of Newham ("liege. Cambridge, has also commenced her duties. Veterinary School. Negotiations are still proceeding with the Minister of Education with regard tc a Veterinary School. The Council has been advised to acquire a site of sufficient size to allow of stock being kept under the same conditions as they would be on an ordinary farm. and. with this end in view, the Council is desirous of acquiring a properly near the outskirts of the town of an area amounting to about 25 acres. It is hoped that, if sufficient Governmenl assistance is forthcoming, it may be possible- to commence classes in April. 1912. Buildings and Improvements. The Council has for some years felt that, on account of the increasingly large number of students, the accommodation supplied by the existing buildings is quite insufficient. Students too, when not actually engaged in class-work, have practically no space whatever at their disposal. A strenuous effort lias been made to impqDVe matters, and an enthusiastic Citizens' Committee has been successful in raising almost £4,000, which, with the Government subsidy of .£B,OOO, will, it is hoped, be sufficient to supply two additional class-rooms, and also a convenient students' building containing rooms for study, and a common room for both men and women. Plans of these buildings have been prepared. A very urgent call upon the finances of the University, too, is the necessity for remodelling the present system of drainage, which is now ipiite out of date. The Council is, indeed, forced to move in this matter, having been called upon by the Drainage Board to do so. The expenditure involved will doubtless be considerable, as probably more than £500 will be required. Officers' Trai:'i nil Corps. The life of this corps has been somewhat short. By the administration of the new Defence Act, alterations of such a nature were made that the Officers' Training Corps was no longer needed. and is now defunct. Tht Maternity Home, Forth Street. The value of the practical teaching gained at the Maternity Home in Forth Street cannot be overrated, and the Council is most gratified to be able to report that the home is still used by the students. Should the present privileges granted to these students be in any way curtailed, the only possible result that could ensue would be the lowering of the status of our future medical men. Mining School Scholarships. The revised regulations with respect to Mining School Scholarships were recently discussed by the Council. 1 would desire respectfully to point out that the regulations in their present form appear to be somewhat too severe. Requiring 80 per cent, of a candidate before granting him a scholarship has, in the majority of years, prevented the scholarship from being held at all, although brilliant nun have sat for the examination. It would seem, too, that the subjects for examination need revision, as a student in Otago. owing to the advanced nature of the work, cannot cover all the subjects prescribed ill the first two years of his course, after which the scholar ship would be of little value. It is worthy of notice, too. that Government scholars receive their education free of cost at the Otago School of Mines. This concession was made in virtue of the additional grant of £250 which has commonly been paid by the Minister of Mines, and the Council urges that the full grant, of £750 may be paid during the coming year. Finance. In mv last report I made some reference to the debenture debt of £11,000 owed by this Council. The full amount becomes due in December of this year, and the Council would respectfully urge >har Your Excellency's Advisers may make provision for the payment of this amount. It will be noted from the balance-sheet that the receipts of this year only meet the expenditure, and, on account of the large cost of drainage, it is anticipated that there will be a considerable deficit next year. Your Excellency may rest assured that not only the Council, but also the Dunedin public, consider the welfare of the University to be of supreme importance. This same Dunedin public, too, have more than once contributed large sums of money to assist the University in the expansions of its functions, and the Council feels that this in itself is an additional plea for Government support. Your Excellency will find attached — (a) The report of the Chairman of the Professorial Board ; (b) the report of the Dean of the Medical School; (c) the report of the Director of the Dental School; (d) the report of the Director of the School of Mines; (c) the report of the Curator of the Museum. James Ai.I.BN, Chancellor.