28 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 
mining centres, although the amount is quite insufficient for the 
purpose. It is highly probable that one really good central School 
would be in every way preferable and much more efficient. 
A School of Mines pure and simple could not possibly have a 
large number of students, while it is a most expensive institution 
to maintain. ‘The best plan is to attach a mining department to 
some existing scientific institution, or to found such with provision 
for instruction in mining. Even at home—with its population of 
35,000,000 to draw from, the Royal School of Mines never had a 
large number of students, and in order to lessen the expense by 
more fully utilizing the staff and appliances it has been recently 
amalgamated with the Normal School of Science. 
Apparently but few, however, are aware that at the present 
moment there are practically two Schools of Mines in Sydney 
atready. 
_ At the University we have provided for a Mining Department 
or School, and instruction is afforded at the present time in all 
the subjects but two, and lecturers would doubtless be at once 
appointed i in those subjects if any students presented themselves, 
but up to now none have come forward, althou gh the existence of 
the department has been made public. 
. Then at the Technical. College, Sydney, under the Technical 
Board, a fairly complete course of instruction in all branches suit- 
able for the miner are given, including mining itself, which is not 
taught at the University, for the reason given ; but the number of 
students is so small that it is almost a question whether the Board 
ig justified in continuing the outlay for this department. 
’ The Board also is giving instruction in mineralogy, geology, and 
other allied subjects needed by the miner in certain of the country 
mining districts, but the attendance of students leaves much to be 
desired. 
' Although the number of persons presenting themselves for 
instruction in mining is not so great as we might expect from the 
appeals which are made from time to time, I do not think that is 
arvery strong reason against trying to meet the actual want; 
