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R E P 0 E T. Sir, — I have the honour, by direction of the Board of Governors, in pursuance of the Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Act, 1896, to submit the following report on the work of the institution for the year ending 31st December, 1911 : — The attendance of students was maintained at the limit of accommodation throughout the year and altogether fifty-four students were enrolled, the same number as last year. lam glad to be able to report that the progress of the students in residence in 1911 was, on the whole, most satisfactory, both as regards work in the College and practical work on the farm. As usual, a number of students from the College competed in the judging competitions for young farmers, promoted by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association at their November show, and among a large number of competitors the students won the bulk of the prizes. Twenty-two students left the College at the end of the year : of these, four completed one year, seven left in the second year, and eleven completed the full three-years course. Of the latter number, seven satisfied the examiners and were awarded the diploma of the College. Their names and addresses are as follows :L. N. Haines, Roxburgh ; J. Martin (Gold Medallist), Martinborough ; E. W. C. Nieolson, Ngaruawahia ; F. 0. Schmidt, Christchurch ; G. L. Stedman, Napier ; S. C. Woodrough, Christchurch ; D. T. Wood, Kaikoura. A number of public bodies and friends of the College, including the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, G. W. R. Osborne, Messrs. Pyne and Co., Messrs. Booth, Macdonald, and Co., Lincoln College Old Boys' Association, and others, have presented the College with very valuable trophies to be given as prizes to the students. These gifts are very much appreciated by both, staff and students, as they stimulate a very wholesome spirit in the general work of the College. J. A. Barti'um, M.Sc, resigned his position as Housemaster and Lecturer on Mechanics, Surveying, &c, to rejoin the Geological Survey Department. His place has been filled by the appointment of Mr. H. M. Budd, M.Sc, Otago University. The experimental work on the improvement of cereals, being carried out under the superintendence of Dr. Hilgendorf, is progressing satisfactorily. The results obtained so far have induced us to extend the experiments, and we hope in two or three years to be able to distribute pure types of wheat and oats, which should be superior to the present so-called varieties. The college and farm buildings have been kept in good repair during the year. The bulk of the painting and repairs to buildings is done by students, so that a dual purpose is effected- —the buildings are kept in order and the students get useful teaching in the painting and repairing of buildings, which should be exceedingly useful to them in after-life. Upwards of £700 has been spent in permanent improvements. A new wool-shed, at a cost of about £500, has been erected, the bulk of the work being done by student-labour. There is about 2,800 square feet of floor-space in the shed, and holding-room for about five hundred sheep; nine stands for shearers, wool-tables, and wool-room. Arrangements have also been made for lighting the College with electricity, and driving the shearing and milking machines by motors. A start has been made with the work, and a power-house has been erected in a suitable position behind the College at a cost of almost £200. The College farm has been maintained at it high state of fertility : all the operations are carried out on a commercial scale. An effort is made to test any new method of treatment or any variety of farm plant noted during the year. These trials, and the great number of crops and varieties grown, have a very high educational value to the students, and at the same time are most interesting and instructive to visitors to the College. • The farm stock has maintained its high level of merit; as an evidence I append a list of prizes gained by the College stock at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's November show : One champion ; one reserve champion ; six first prizes ; five second prizes ; two third prizes ; seven V.H.C. tickets; ten C. and H.C. tickets. A small consignment of stock was also exhibited at the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association's show with equal success. An important addition to our stud stock has been made during the year by the importation from England of one Shorthorn bull, two Southdown rams, one Shropshire ram, two Border Leicester ewes, and three Shropshire ewes. The purchase of these imported animals taxed our resources rather heavily, but the Board of Governors consider the results will justify the expenditure, as the College studs are largely drawn on by stockbreeders throughout New Zealand, so that stock-breeders generally will benefit by the infusion of new blood. The farm with its crops and stock was inspected by over two hundred farmers, including a deputation of sixty from Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Associations south of the Rangitata, invited to the College in the middle of December, and the opinion was generally expressed that the College was fulfilling its object, in that it was teaching the students the principles of scientific agriculture, and showing how these could be applied to a farm run on a commercial basis. 1 have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. R. E. Alexander, Director.
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