THE FATE OF RECORDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 68, 13 December 1907, Page 7

THE FATE OF RECORDS.

Interviewed yesterday, Mr: A. J. Rutherford, Clerk-Assistant- to tho House of Ropresentatives, said that an inspection of the collar in which a quantity of old records of the House woro stored, had rovoalcd that very little damage had been done thoro. Tho lire had crept along the woodon beams of tho ceiling, but tho records wore untoushed. Only a very small quantity of water had gained admittance. Mr. Rutherford has found, 111 going through the Journal notes that wen* saved, that a gap of about a week oxists. He can only surmise that tho missing papers were lost out of the bundlo during the salving operations. As it is on theso notes that dependence is now placed for a record of tho proceedings of the House, it means that unless the papers turn up, tho Journal for 1907 will not bo complete. Mr. Kuthorford lost a considerable quantity of personal property in tho liro, including somo valuable jewellery. Ho estimates his total loss at £105.

It is not expected, said Mr.'j'. Mackay (Government Printer), ypstcrday, that there will bo any great difficulty in supplying copies of back nuhibors of Journals 'and Hansards for tlioso that have been lost. There are reserve supplies that can bo drawn upon. ' In regard to Statutes, the loss will hardly be felt, as the consolidated issues of all tho Acts of New Zealand will bo completed by noxt session. Tho Journals of tho House for the session just passed were completed up to September 17 1 last. Tho Journal was more oxtensivo this year than for many years previously oil account of tho largo quantity of Committeo work that had been transacted.