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REPORT OF DIRECTOR^ABRIDGED). Sir, — I have the honour, by direction of the Board of Governors, in pursuance of the Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Act, to submit the following report on the work of the institution for the year ending 31st December, 1916. Mr. George Rennie resigned his seat on the Board owing to his leaving the district, and the Hon. D. Buddo, M.P., was eleoted to fill the vacancy. Forty-two students were enrolled in 1916, being the lowest number in attendance for many years. The smaller attendance is due to the war, every available student having enlisted as soon as he became eligible. 1 am glad to be able to state that the work of the students, on the farm and in the College, was on the whole satisfactory, Although, as pointed out last year, the war had an unsettling effect on many of the students, and hindered them concentrating their whole interests in College work, the competition for scholarships and prizes offered by the Board was as keen as ever. Twenty-three students left during the year, and four completed the of three years, and of these three passed all their examinations and were awarded the diploma of the College. We are again indebted to a number of public bodies and friends for presenting the College with 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. In response to a letter from the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister in Charge of the Returned Soldiers Department, the Board agreed to provide facilities for returned soldiers who wished to obtain an agricultural education. It was further decided to offer five scholarships of the value of .£2O per annum to returned soldiers, provided the Board was satisfied as to the fitness of the applicants to follow the College course. A communication was received from the Director of Education in regard to providing a coui'se in agriculture for teachers in training. The Board replied that it would be pleased to provide the agricultural training, and would like to confer with the Minister of Education and the Director of Education on the matter, but up to the end of the year no reply had been received to this offer. An arrangement was made with the Engineer in charge of the Lake Coleridge hydro-electric scheme to supply the College with power and light. Hitherto power and light have been generated by an oil-and-petrol engine. The Lake Coleridge current was laid on in September, and has Avorked most satisfactorily. The work of obtaining pure strains of cereals is still being carried on, but very little progress can be reported owing to the abnormal conditions prevailing during the last two seasons. The spring of 1916-17 was almost as bad as that of 1915-16, and it was impossible to get any comparative results from the plots. We hope for a good season in 1917, when we may be able to make a definite pronouncement in regard to several other strains of wheat. The College and farm buildings have been kept in good repair. The farm has also been maintained in its high state of fertility. Results may not indicate such a condition, but the unsatisfactory returns are due to a repetition of the drought of 1915, the rainfall recorded at the College from the middle of August to the end of December being the lowest for the thirty-odd years that the records have been kept. All classes of stock have been kept at their former high standard. In regard to the stud stock, this is best demonstrated by the number of awards won at the two principal shows in Canterbury. . At the end of the year an invitation was issued through the Press to farmers and others interested in the College work to come ami inspect the buildings and farm. Over a hundred farmers responded. The attendance was much smaller than it would have been had the season not been so unfavourable and the date unsuitable to many. I have, &c, To the Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. R. E. Alexander, Director.

ACCOUNTS AND BALANCE-SHEETS. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st December, 1916. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. ... , ~ , . ,„,» 1 •trm in 4 Salaries of staff .. .. .. 1,848 13 3 Balance, Ist January, 1910 .. •• i.ow i* Maintenance of students and staff .. 2,457 13 0 ;: . ; ; « \i » r xr (inoiuding part of Director ' s i ■. (includingr*ow prizes) 114 7 .. .. .. .. MM 8 8 Sales of dairy-produce and wool .. TM IB 7 students , books _ PurchaS6S .. . . 27 17 6 Students tees .. ',585 0 7 Buildings—Repairs and renovation .. 313 011 Grain salos .. .. • • College contingencies .. .. .. 273 10 4 Insurance of college-Rebate .. ' i<J * Travelling-expenses of students .. 31 111 Implements-Sale of motor, &c 10 U 0 575 18 0 Interest, Deposit Account 01 I * Churches and sports-Donations .. 12 0 0 Interest on mortgages.. 742 o y parm 18 6 2 Live-stock sales • • • • '<n a a Insurance on college buildings .. .. 67 10 2 Laboratory-Refunds and fees 81 » i Tnsuranco on f* rm buildings, iniplePrize and certificates 2 979 4 3 ments, &c 36 211 Rent of reserves .. •■ •• <s,wi» » or™ m i a im a a Students'maintenance (rebates and mend- Lloratory. '■'■ ■■ \\ 28 10 l ingfees) .. •• •• •■ ~, n Library .. .. .. .. 22 15 4 Stationery and exchanges. 113 0 Mm 334 18 3 Farm trade accounts * D Orchard and grounds . . .. .. 181 4 5 Farm wages (refunds) .. 519 0 Prizes and certificates. . .. 32 19 4 Saddlery tees .. ■ • Printing and advertising . . .. 14 14 0 Rates .. .. .. .. 258 611 Seeds .. .. .. .. 153 10 2 Stationery, postages, telephones, exchangos 76 13 6 Saddlory (material and instruction fees) .. 70 10 6 Farm trado accounts—Foddor, sacks, &c. 569 14 6 Travelling-expenses of Board .. .. 36 0 0 Workshops—Wages and material .. 188 2 7 Credit balanco, 31st December, 1916 .. 1,991 5 9 £11,983 18 10 £11,983 18 10