Schools of Minks.

Of the candidates who have successfully passed the examinations for managers1 certificates many have been educated at the Colonial Schools of Mines, of which there are several. Dunedin possesses a well-equipped university, or rather university college, for its right to confer degrees was some years ago given up in favour of the New Zealand University, and of this one branch, under the direction of Prof. Ulrich, F.G.S., is devoted to teaching mining in a very complete and detailed manner. Like similar establishments, not situated in a mining centre, it has suffered somewhat from the expenditure of time and money necessary to complete the course, but of late years the council has done much to popularize the lectures, and the teaching staff is largely increased,

In addition to this means of distributing knowledge, the Government, about the year 1886, inaugurated a scheme of peripatetic lectures under the guidance of Professor Black, D.Sc., of Dunedin, and a staff of assistants. The idea was at once enthusiastically taken up. Government subsidies were augmented by private subscriptions, and laboratories were built and furnished all over the colony.^* After the first excitement had worn off (and indeed this happened in at least one instance before the first load of chemicals had been unpacked), and when people had discovered that there was no royal road to knowledge, the attendance fell off lamentably, but still, the seed sown has not been devoid of fruit. At the Thames (Auckland) and Reef ton (west coast of the South Island) permanent schools have been established in charge of resident instructors. The total expenditure during 1800 was £1,392, while since their formation £12,986 has been spent, £3,000 of which was paid as a subsidy to the Otago School.