6 PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



the School of Mines in 1896. The preliminary scientific training 

 was given at the colleges lin the Cape Colony, the first part of 

 the practical training at Kiimberley, and the second part of the 

 practical training at Johannesburg. The University had made 

 the necessary arrangements for conducting the examinations, 

 and all went well until the War broke out in 1899. It was 

 only natural that when peace was restored, the School of 

 Mines, under the new order of things, should gravitate to the 

 centre of the mining industry, to Johannesburg. After some 

 changes and further developments in Johannesburg it exists 

 now as the South African School of Mines and Technology, 

 with a large staff of Professors, Lecturers, Demonstrators and 

 Instructors. Under agreement wth the Council and Senate of 

 this institution, the South African College, and the other col- 

 leges which possess the necessary equipment and facilities, 

 continue to prepare students in the Science subjects of the first 

 and second years" mining course, after which the students 

 proceed to the Johanneslburg School of Mines and Technology. 

 A very large numiber oi young South Africans have gone 

 through this School, and it is most gratifying that the young 

 men who have received their theoretical and practical tiaining 

 in this School have been subsequently very successful in obtaining 

 good position's, and in holding their own. professionally and 

 otherwise, against all-comers. The mining profession evidently 

 appeals to the South African youth, l>ecause the number of 

 students joining this course is not decreasing. 



In consequence of the success which accompanied the de- 

 velo])ment of the School of Mines, the Council of the South 

 African College decided to miake further |>rovision for scientific 

 and technical training, hy establishing an Engineering Depart- 

 ment in connection with the South African College. After the 

 erection of suitable building's, and the appointment of Professors 

 and Demonstrators, this Department conTmenced operations in 

 1904. According to its present organisation, it provides, in a 

 four years" course^including one preliminary year — a complete 

 training for the profession of Civil and Electric Engineering. 

 A special feature of the training of students in this Engineering 

 Department is the regular excursions and greater tours in 

 the vicinity of Cape Town, and through the. more distant parts 

 of the country, under the guidance of one or more professors, 

 for the purpose of inspecting the larger irrigation works and 

 technical and industrial establishments. This engineering course 

 is very well laid out and carried out, a fact which is confimied 

 by the recognition of the Diploma of the Engineering Depart- 

 ment of the South African College by the Institute of Civil 

 Engineers in England. The Department is well attended. After 

 having successfully passed the final examination, many have 

 received the diploma and are now engaged in irrigation works 

 and railway construction throughout the L'nion, and even to 

 the north of the Zambesi. Thev are the recruits for the officers 



