The answers are poor; one candidate, for example, states that "the most economical way of greasing the wheels of a train is to drop candle grease into the bearings". The poorness of the answers is probably due to the fact that lubrication is not carried out so systematically at ore mines as it is at collieries.

Q. 17. Explain the action of the plunger pump used in mines and state its advantages over a bucket lift. (Sketch required.)

A metal miner ought to have been able to answer this question without difficulty, seeing that pumping engines are provided at nearly every metal mine. It was, however, rarely attempted.

Q. 19. Why are the working places of quarries usually arranged in steps or terraces? (Sketch required.)

The answers are very poor. Much ignorance is shewn regarding the nature of open-workings, and in the sketches the beds are invariably represented as horizontal.

Q. 20. Give a detailed description of the various kinds of candles used by miners, stating their relative advantages and disadvantages. The answers are poor. Candidates do not appear to be acquainted with the size and weight of candles, and rarely point out the advantages of one kind over another.

STAGE 2.

Results 1st Class, 111; 2nd Class, 447; Failed, 180; Total, 738

In this Stage, the papers, as a rule, shew that there have been most careful training on the part of the teachers and accurate and painstaking work on the part of the candidates. They are fully up to last year's standard.

BRANCH A.

Q. 21. Describe fully any deposit of fireclay, oil shale, or stratified ironstone with which you are acquainted.

This question is answered very badly. Those who attempted it described fireclay, oil shale, and ironstone in the most elementary manner. Oil shale is generally stated to be "clay or mud consolidated by time or pressure.' Every student who has attempted this question uses these actual words with only the slightest variation, and all appear to be ignorant that the term "oil shale" should be confined to shale containing sufficient petroleum to permit its extraction by a process of distillation.

Q. 22. Give particulars of the results obtained in the search for coal under the secondary rocks of this country.

This question is less frequently attempted than any other, and there is not a single answer shewing an intelligent appreciation of what the question means. Many of the candidates shew a lamentable lack of knowledge of Elementary Geology, and many give theories as to the formation of coal, and the most elementary geological descriptions of Mesozoic rocks. Only three or four candidates appear to have heard of the search for coal in the south-eastern counties of England.

Q. 23. Describe one of the coal-cutting machines of the disc type. (Sketch required.)

The answers to this question are generally good, but with few exceptions the sketches are poor. The question is a popular one, and the construction and mode of operation of coal-cutting machines are well understood. Indeed the answers are better than those to similar questions in previous years. Either this portion of the syllabus is receiving more attention from teachers or the machines themselves are coming into more general use,

Q. 24. Describe the method of "spilling" or "forepoling" for driving through loose, watery, or running ground. (Sketch required.)

Except that many candidates describe the method of sinking by spilling instead of driving by spilling, the answers are quite satisfactory. The confusion of spilling in sinking with driving through loose ground extends even to candidates from the north of England where the process has been largely employed, and where the term "spilling" is usual. spilling" is usual. "Piling" is perhaps a more visual term in other localities. Some excellent descriptions are given by candidates who obviously have had practical experience of the

process.

66

Q. 25. What is meant by the term self-acting incline"? State the conditions under which such "inclines" may be used, and the precautions to be adopted for the safety of persons employed in connection with them. (Sketch required.)

The answers shew that the working and arrangement of a self-acting incline and the precautions demanded by the Coal Mines Regulation Act are well known. In some cases, however, there are hazy ideas as to the conditions under which such inclines may be used, and very crude ideas as to the gradients.

Q. 26. Describe an aerial ropeway. In what circumstances is this method of haulage most suitable? (Sketch required.)

Very few candidates have heard of an aerial ropeway. Most regard it as meaning an endless rope over the tubs. Some have vague ideas of the system and of the circumstances in which it is most suitable, but there are very few really satisfactory answers.

Q. 27. What are the chief causes of the deterioration of winding ropes, and what remedies are used?

The answers are full and accurate. Corrosion is usually given as the chief cause It is extraordinary to find in many cases the friction caused by the rope passing over the pulley and the strains and jerks due to starting the load put down as the chief causes of the deterioration of winding ropes. These strains are not nearly so common as often believed. A good windingengine man starts his cage without the least jerk, and a good enginewright sees that both ropes are adjusted to the proper length so that no slack rope exists at the moment of lifting. In reference to corrosion, the common idea appears to be that it is entirely due to acid water. Ordinary oxidation is not mentioned and it is assumed that oxidation takes place only in wet shafts, it being forgotten that the rope is continually subjected to the action of rain and of moisture in the atmosphere.

Q. 28. What horse-power is required to lift 18,000 gallons of water per hour from a dip working 1,500 yards distant from the shaft, the average gradient of the road being 1 in 5? The friction in the pipes is to be neglected.

This is a favourite question and the correct answer (8181 horse power) is frequently given, and the working neatly and systematically shewn. The popular mistake is to neglect to reduce the gallons of water per hour to gallons per minute. It is curious to find candidates taking the trouble to determine the hypotenuse by Euclid's 47th proposition, or by finding the cosine of the angle. One candidate, after doing the latter correctly found the horse power to be 289,332.

Q. 29. What effect has "splitting" the air on the ventilation of mines, and what benefits are to be gained by increasing the size of airways?

This favourite question is answered very intelligently. The chief advantages of splitting the air are realised, and there is a general knowledge of the benefits to be gained by increasing the size of the airways.

9291.

M 2

Q. 30. Describe the construction of a travelling belt for coal picking and conveying. Explain how the belt is driven, and what arrange

ments are made for taking up any slack on the belt. (Sketch required.)

All sections of this question are well answered, but in a few cases there is a little confusion as to the terms "conveying" and "slack" used in the question. Some few descriptions are given of the conveyor recently introduced for use underground at the long wall face, and in some instances taking up "slack" is misunderstood to mean small coal.

BRANCH B.

Comparatively few candidates entered in this Branch, and as usual several of these evidently should have entered in Branch A.

Q. 31. Describe any one important deposit of ore, or of slate, or of rock salt with which you are acquainted.

This question is rarely attempted and there are only a few good descriptions given.

Q. 32. What are gossans"? How are they formed, and what indications are afforded by them?

There are some good answers to this question from Cornish candidates. Q. 33. Describe an arrangement for automatically rotating the drill in a compressed-air percussive rock-drill. (Sketch required.)

When attempted, this question is well answered with good descriptions and sketches of the rifled bar and rack mechanism.

Q. 34. Describe the method of "spilling" or "forepoling" for driving through loose, watery, or running ground. (Sketch required.)

This question is well answered, notably by candidates from an ironmining district.

State the

Q. 35. What is meant by the term "self-acting incline"? conditions under which such "inclines" may be used, and the precautions to be adopted for the safety of persons employed in connection with them. (Sketch required.)

This question is well answered by the metal-mining candidates.

Q. 36. Describe an aerial rope-way. In what circumstances is this method of haulage most suitable? (Sketch required.)

One would have expected all the candidates in Branch B to have attempted this question, as this method of transport is in very many cases specially adapted for metal-mining districts. There are, however, but few good answers.

Q. 39. What effect has "splitting" the air on the ventilation of mines, and what benefits are to be gained by increasing the size of airways?

This question is not so well answered as it was by candidates in Branch A. Metal-mining candidates appear to be imperfectly acquainted with the practice, and simply refer to air-sollars and brattices used to divert and direct air currents. The virtues of larger air-ways are, however, fully realised.

Q. 40. Describe the construction of any form of gyratory rock- and orebreaker. (Sketch required.)

This question is rarely attempted. The answers are very poor. The gyratory rock-breaker appears to be but little known, candidates usually describing jaw-crushers only.

STAGE 3.

Results 1st Class, 88; 2nd Class, 178; Failed, 218; Total, 484.

Compared with 1905 there is a remarkable increase in the number of the candidates, and, although the proportion of first class papers is slightly below that of last year, a general improvement is noticeable. A number of candidates, however, entered who should properly have contented themselves with Stage 2. Such candidates do not realise that in this Stage a high standard of knowledge is expected.

The great majority of the candidates select the coal mining Branch A. The instruments for ascertaining the inclination and direction of bore holes (Q. 41) are well described. Q. 42, on blasting in a dusty mine where gas is sometimes found, is well answered in very many cases, but in others there is a surprising ignorance of the requirements of the Coal Mines Regulation Act. There is remarkable variety in the explosives recommended, the most popular being ammonite, carbonite, saxonite, roburite, westphalite, electronite, and bellite. Failure to read Q. 44 carefully has led to the introduction of superfluous details regarding the Kind-Chaudron method of sinking. Q. 45 is a favourite one, and there are some excellent detailed answers. The answers to Q. 46 shew that recent Continental progress has been carefully followed. In answering Q. 47, on winding with an endless rope, some candidates describe methods of haulage, but there are good descriptions of the Koepe and Craven systems of winding. Q. 48, on electric pumps, is not a very popular one, but when attempted is well answered. The problem (Q. 49) on ventilation is usually accurately solved, the correct answer being 62:36 per cent. Q. 50, on precautions in using electricity, is not answered as fully as might reasonably have been expected. The special rules established under the Coal Mines Regulation Act regarding the use of electricity in mines do not appear to have been adequately studied.

In the metal-mining Branch B. the papers are few but of excellent quality. Q. 52 has elicited some good descriptions of the operation of shotfiring and of the precautions for obviating the evil effects of dust and smoke. There are, however, some very vague ideas as to the composition of blasting gelatine. Q. 55, on working thick beds of ore, is well answered, and some excellent sketches are given. Q. 56, on magnetic separators, is well answered by Cornish candidates, who appear to have studied such machines in operation. In answer to Q. 57 there are some good descriptions of the Whiting hoist.

HONOURS.

Results; 1st Class, 23; 2nd Class, 47; Failed, 58; Total, 128.

From the fact that there are 54 more candidates in Honours than in the previous year, it is evident that the attention devoted to higher technical education in the mining centres continues to increase. There is a notable absence of candidates from metalliferous mining districts. The majority of candidates appear to have had the practical experience required by the Act of 1903 of students presenting themselves at examinations for colliery managers' certificates. Certainly the candidates generally give clear proof of extensive practical experience; whilst a gratifying feature in the examination is the fulness and intelligence with which the questions based on recent investigations are answered. Important papers read before the various mining institutes and the reports of H.M. Inspectors of Mines have obviously been diligently studied. Compared with the previous year the general improvement is marked. There are fewer candidates of exceptional brilliancy, but more of average merit; and even among the unsuccessful there is a complete absence of the utterly unfit.

Report on the Examinations in Physiography.

EVENING EXAMINATION.

WHOLE OF STAGE 1.

Results 1st Class, 163; 2nd Class, 139; Failed, 49; Total, 351.

Although there is a great decrease in the number of candidates sent in for the examination the numbers shew no falling off from the high standard of last year. We find that the percentage of Failures is about the same as in 1905, and the proportion of First to Second Classes similar to that of last year.

It is evident that, under existing conditions, very weak candidates are not now sent in for the examination, as was the case in former years, and that those who sit have been really well taught. Quite a large proportion have obtained very high marks, and a few have even reached the maximum. The answers to the questions in the First Series shew that the experiments and illustrations suggested in the Syllabus have been employed by the teachers and understood by the students. In the replies given to all the questions there is an absence of the kind of language, so prevalent formerly, which indicated that the students had been "crammed" from text books. On the contrary, we now find clear evidence of much intelligent and patient teaching, and the results are given in terms which show that the candidates are not repeating statements learned by rote, but have learned to think for themselves.

The following remarks apply to the way in which the several questions are answered :

Q. 21. Water, in a Florence flask, is warmed over a spirit lamp, coloured particles being thrown into it from time to time. State what is seen and the explanation of the phenomena.

The answers to this question are, on the whole, very satisfactory. Many candidates give intelligible diagrams, and the descriptions are usually correct, the most prevalent error being a reversal of the direction of the currents at the sides and the middle of the flask. A few candidates misunderstood the object of the question, and describe the downward movement seen on the application of heat to a flask with a narrow tube attached (due to the expansion of the glass before the liquid). Of course, such an effect would be scarcely perceptible in a vessel with so wide a neck as an ordinary Florence flask. On the other hand, some students show great intelligence in describing everything that is seen, such as the collection and rising, first of air-bubbles and then of steam-bubbles in the liquid as it is warmed.

Q. 22. Explain what happens when a piece of potassium is thrown into a vessel of water.

This question was selected by a much smaller proportion of the candidates than the preceding one, and the answers are, on the whole, less satisfactory. In very few cases is the whole sequence of the phenomenathe rapid movements of the fragment, the assumption of the globular form, the bursting into flame of marked colour, the gradual diminution in size and final disappearance of the fragment, and the alkaline character given to the water-correctly and fully described. The causes of the movement and the production of flame are very seldom well understood.

Q. 23. Describe and illustrate by diagram two different forms of lever.

More than half the candidates selected this question, and the great majority of these give clear and correct answers. The examples are well selected, and intelligently described, and the diagrams are, as a rule, satisfactory.