GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT (REPORT ON), FOR 1882.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1883 Session I, H-12

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1883. NEW ZEALAND.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT (REPORT ON), FOR 1882.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Sik, — Government Printing Office, Wellington, 27th June, 1883. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the operations of the Printing Department and Stationery Store for the year 1882. Since the date of my last report the office has received a welcome addition to its plant by the arrival of the new type ordered from England. Its arrival, though delayed, was in sufficient time to enable me to use it for this session's Hansard, and it is being gradually brought into use for other parliamentary work. I propose to store as much of the old type as can be spared in other premises, so as to be available for use in case of fire. THE ELECTRIC LIGHT. The duties of compositors require as large an amount of light as can be obtained, and, in. endeavouring to meet this requirement, a large number of gas lights had to be laid on in each composing-room. During session time, when the work-rooms are crowded, the use of so many lights had the effect of increasing the temperature of the rooms at night by 15 or 20 degrees, and greatly increased the risk of the men contracting colds and other diseases on emerging from the office into the open air. In other respects it was also objectionable, as so much gas burning seriously vitiated the atmosphere, and consumed the oxygen so needful for the preservation of health, resulting not unfrequently in the loss of services of employes through sickness at times when they could ill be spared. These facts having been represented to the Government their sanction was obtained to the introduction of the electric light, and it is with much satisfaction I am able to refer to the partial accomplishment of this object in my annual report. The new illuminator was used for the first time on Friday, the 25th May, on which occasion the office was visited by the Hon. the Premier, all the members of the Ministry, and a large number of the leading citizens of Wellington. The tests which the light has been subjected to since its introduction have proved highly satisfactory. Its suitability for printing establishments can hardly be disputed—especially in a building such as the one now occupied by this department, where large numbers of men are crowded into small and not over-well ventilated rooms. Of the two descriptions of lights—the arc and the incandescent—the latter is most suited to our requirements. It is of less intensity, requires less powerful currents, and is more grateful to the senses. The light used is Edison's patent, and its " installation " has been accomplished under the superintendence of the electrician of the Edison Electric Light Company, Mr. Snow. A special shed, measuring 30 feet by 20 feet, has been erected for the engine and dynamo-machine, the motive-power being obtained from a portable steam-engine of 10-horse power. A local journal (the Neiu Zealand Times) published a full description of the apparatus, from which I extract the following particulars : " The dynamo-machine consists of two pillars about 4 feet 6 inches high and 8 inches in diameter, which stand less than a foot apart, and are connected on the top by a heavy piece of wrought iron. They apparently join at the bottom, space being cut here to admit of the insertion of a bobbin measuring some 12 inches in diameter and about 2 feetin length. The pillars are the two poles of a powerful electro-magnet, and consist of a core of soft iron wound with wires. The bobbin is the armature of the magnet, and it is by the rapid rotation of this between the two poles of the magnet that electricity is generated. Two mains connect the. dynamo with the lamps. A regulator—a most ingenious contrivance —by which the strength of the current can be regulated according to the number of lamps which it is desired to burn, is in connection with the field-magnets. By throwing in more or less coils the magnetism of the field can be increased or reduced at will,, according to the number of lamps to be lighted, and the expenditure of steam-power can be regulated accordingly. The bobbin makes 1,200 revolutions per minute when driven at full speed, additional velocity being gained by means of a countershaft. The wires leading from the dynamo

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are No. 10, and are thoroughly insulated, and kept apart a distance of 2 inches, the small branches which lead direct to the lamps being alone allowed to come closer. Wherever a branch has been taken off special provision has been made for safety against fire by the insertion of a leaden plug. Should the current prove too strong for a branch this plug simply melts away, thus disconnecting the branch without interfering with any other part of the works." The number of lamps actually used is 63, but the nominal power of the dynamo-machine is calculated for 60 lights only. The lights are distributed as follows: In two of the composingrooms, 26 and 24 respectively; in the three reading-rooms, 5; in the engine-room, 5; and in my own office, 3. When the permanent fittings are erected, and a slightly larger dynamo-machine substituted, the lamps now used could be redistributed, and, with the addition of about three dozen more, would afford sufficient lighting power for the remaining rooms. The lamps will require to be renewed periodically, but, as they are calculated to burn for 1,000 hours, they will serve our purpose for two years at least; and, as the " life "of a lamp is said to be capable of prolongation to nearly double the number of hours stated, if used with care, one set may be made to do duty for three or four sessions. The cost of each lamp at present is 65., but no doubt the price will ere long be considerably reduced, as I am informed they can now be manufactured at a cost of Is. each. They are calculated to give about half as much light again as a good bats-wing burner; but I am quite within the mark in saying that they afford twice the illuminating power of the gas lights hitherto used, and, what is of great importance, the light is steady and free from flicker or pulsation. While undoubtedly a clearer, purer, and cooler light is obtained by the use of electricity, it is interesting to know at what cost it is produced as compared with gas. To obtain reliable information on this point I have caused careful observations to be made since its introduction into this office, and find that, when using the light for five hours of an evening, the cost for 63 lights is 2s. If d. per hour. To obtain the same illuminating power from gas would require the consumption of 440 cubic feet per hour, which, at 10s. per 1,000, would cost 4s. 4-fd. The value of the complete "installation" is £331, to which must be added the cost of the engine, £375; the erection of shed, belting, shafting, &c, and fitting-up the lights, £160; and moiety of ground-rent, £7 10s.: making a total of £873 10s. Computing the interest on this sum at 7 per cent, it would amount to £61 2s. lOd. per annum, and, as it is estimated the light will be required for about 500 hours during the year, the cost for coal, &c, would be £53 2s. 6d.; making a total of £114 ss. 4d. The gas consumed for the same number of hours would cost £109 7s. 6d., thus leaving a balance in favour of gas of £4 17s. lOd. But, when comparing the cost of the respective lights, the improved conditions under whicE the men work should also be considered as constituting an important factor in the calculation, for undoubtedly they are placed in a position to do considerably more work than could reasonably be expected from them with the lights they have hitherto used. The following table shows the quantity of coal used for electric-light purposes on three different evenings:—

DEPARTMENTAL EETUENS, ETC. The usual returns will be found appended to this report. They consist of: (1.) Balance-sheet of the department for the year 1882; (2.) Eeturn of the printing and binding executed; (3.) Number and classification of the employes; (4.) Quantity and value of paper and parchment consumed; and, (5.) Value of work performed at the Lyttelton Gaol. The Gazette advertisements, subscriptions, and sale of Government publications show a satisfactory increase, and amounted to £3,009 2s. 7d. While referring to Gazette advertisements, I may state that not one-fourth of the existing mining companies comply with the 135 th section of "The Mining Companies Act, 1872," so far as the publication in the Gazette of their annual statements is concerned, although heavy penalties are imposed for failing to do so. During last year only sixtyseven companies submitted statements for publication. I cannot ascertain how many are registered, but it is estimated there are fully 300 companies in existence. The return of employes shows the number of all classes engaged in the department during each month of the year, the average per month being 113. The total number of pointers' accounts examined during the year was 4,790, from which deductions to the amount of £157 16s. 9d. were made, being at the rate of 7fd. off each account. The number of railway tickets for the colony, printed and issued under the superintendence of the stereotyper, was 1,828,560, and these were supplied to 482 separate stations. I mentioned in my last report that the manufacture of rubber stamps was carried on in connection with the stereotpye branch. The number supplied to the various departments during last year was 304.

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tantity eonsi ied Date. Description of Goal. Time during which Light used. Cost per Hour for Sixty-three Lights. In getting up Steam. From time of Lighting up. Total. "une 14 'une 15 "une 18 Greymouth Newcastle (slack) Newcastle (screened) lb. 127 120 126 lb. 520 600 558 lb. 647 720 684 h. m. 4 30 5 0 5 0 s. 2 2 2 d. 2 2 Of

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STATIONERY STOEE. The operations of the stationery store have been carried on satisfactorily, without any addition to the staff, notwithstanding a considerable augmentation in the work of the department. The requisitions received show an increase of 2,926 over the previous year, being 10,135, as against 7,209 in 1881. The receipts from the sale of publications amounted to £1,768 Bs. 3d., being an increase of £382 16s. over those of the previous year. There is a slight diminution in the quantity of waste paper exported, 40-J- tons having been shipped to England during last year, and sold at prices ranging from £5 10s. to £6 10s. per ton. The value of the last annual order for stationery, &c, sent to England was £10,063. The system at present adopted for procuring these supplies might, I think, be improved upon. The goods received are generally of inferior quality, and in some instances when articles of a particular make were Ordered inferior descriptions of other manufacturers have been substituted. The goods are professedly examined before shipment and passed by an inspector employed by the Agent-General. Ordering direct from the manufacturers would doubtless be found preferable to the present system, and be worth while trying as an experiment. In the last contract for stationery entered into by the Agent-General, the fact of a paper-manufacturing firm having obtained the contract at prices equal to an advance of £685 on what they had previously offered to supply the same goods if ordered direct, may be quoted as an illustration in favour of the plan now proposed. The storage of large quantities of stationery, &c, in the buildings at present used is attended with considerable risk, the structure not having been originally designed to carry the weight it has now occasionally to bear. A thorough inspection of the building by the Architect would be advisable. I have, &c, Gbo. Didsbuby, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. . Government Printer.

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Table No. 1. Balance-sheet of the Government Printing Office for the Year ending 31st December, 1882.

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"'.. Dr. 'eintins-Beanch :— Permanent Hands —Wages ,, Overtime £ s. a. 4,940 2 11 638 1 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. Cr. Printing Branch :— Value of work, as per detailed statement Cash Receipts, — ■ Advertisements Gazette subscriptions Miscellaneous Sale of official publications by Stationery Store Land Transfer advertisements Gold-mining lease advertisements Value of manufactured materials, repairs, &c, by office engineer Value of rubber stamps, electros, &c, for other departments £ s. d. .. £ s. d. 17,301 9 11 £ s. d. 5,578 3 11 580 4 11 136 4 6 287 15 8 Extra general hands —Time-hands «{,, Piece-hands ,, Overtime 2,137 13 5 874 3 8 64 8 1 3,076 5 2 1,768 8 3 131 10 3 104 19 0 Hansard hands —Time-hands „ Piece-hands ,, Overtime .. 1,424 2 6 804 8 11 471 8 7 2,700 0 0 642 9 3 136 16 11 86 16 10 Additions to stock Working expenses 779 6 2 75 12 8 84 3 0 295 4 10 150 0 0 | 3,171 12 1 Fuel Gas Moiety of ground-rent 13,463 3 1 liHDiNG Branch: — Permanent Hands —Wages .. ,, Overtime Extra hands —Wages ,, Overtime 1,488 6 4 | 29 5 7 ! 1,122 6 1 14 6 5 j.,o^y i ±\j I 2,517 11 11 Binding Bbanoh :— Value of work as per detailed statement 6,120 10 Additions to stock Working expenses 13 0 0 101 0 10 1,136 12 6 Fuel Gas Moiety of ground-rent 21 0 9 147 12 5 50 0 0 113 0 10 218 13 2 3,985 18 5 Balance t , 17,449 1 6 9,144 10 8 £26,593 12 2 £26,593 12

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Table No. 2. Return of the Value of Printing and Binding executed in the Government Printing Department during the Year ending 31st December, 1882.

Table No. 3. Return of the Number and Classification of the Employes in the Government Printing Office for each Month during the Year ended 31st December, 1882.

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Prii 'ting. Department. Binding. Totals. No. of Copies. No. of Pages. Authors' Corrections. Value. Audit Colonial Architect Colonial Secretary— Gazette Stock Miscellaneous Constabulary Customs Marine Crown Lands Crown Law .. ,. Defence Education .. ,. General Assembly— House of Representatives— Order Paper Appendix Journals Miscellaneous Legislative Council— Order Paper Journals and Appendix Miscellaneous Joint Account Bills Mcmsard Statutes Geological Gold Melds .. Governor's Establishment Insurance Justice Land Transfer Lunatic Asylums Miscellaneous Native Post and Telegraph Money Order and Savings Banks Printing Property-Tax .. Publics Trustee Public Works Railways Registrar-General Stamp .. ■■„,. :■ Vf : Stationery Store Surveys Treasury 21,911 2,220 26 12 Hours. £ s. a. 19 16 9 5 7 0 £ s. d. 33 0 8 0 2 6 s s. a. 52 17 5 5 9 6 8 528,118 111,274 57,750 62,400 51,009 29,005 95,259 2,390 104,988 65,906 2,036 61 97 245 103 252 • 243 87 174 G9 653 4 17 6 16 22 64 71 53 3 2,490 0 4 45 3 8 59 0 4 371 12 11 76 6 2 107 14 11 183 10 11 31 14 4 109 15 4 70 12 6 693 1 11 32 0 8 24 15 4 91 5 1 40 3 5 16 1 9 96 13 9 54 2 8 71 19 4 180 14 6 3,183 2 3 77 4 4 83 15 8 462 18 0 116 9 7 123 16 8 280 4 8 85 17 0 181 14 8 251 7 0 62,571 180,044 275 32,230 464 1,892 561 229 44 1,554 182 14 389 18 8 2,469 17 ' 6 346 3 10 72 5 8 26 9 0 410 18 8 28 11 8 85 17 9 416 7 8 2,880 16 2 374 15 6 158 3 5 43,504 275 4,878 173,520 141,621 103,576 83,510 14,097 14,555 1,137 93,965 153,933 49,571 126,402 20,433 182,060 2,953,211 1,557,744 21,138 360,876 43,356 108,136 281,942 201,807 86,732 71,834 23,332 482,064 142 379 139 322 1,751 2,565 1,148 160 57 8 75 308 33 101 208 '722 977 ■242 37 "148 23 738 133 755 60 65 22 201 18 55 6 13 4,391 3,041 17 2 2 24 14 27 25 50 3 3 51 2 226 29 121 5 107 12 10 238 4 2 40 0 10 121 12 4 1,630 5 5 2,248 15 1 752 5 9 111 12 4 15 2 10 2 18 0 65 2 4 174 18 11 36 11 3 87 15 6 101 2 0 665 6 7 1,189 0 4 280 10 9 22 11 9 153 19 10 18 9 4 608 15 0 103 8 4 1,361 7 8 54 10 10 47 15 3 14 19 0 197 14 10 1 16 4 28 4 11 23 5 0 263 13 0 125 13 3 736 13 7 349 0 5 145 16 3 13 9 10 10 18 9 9 10 0 174 6 8 169 7 4 52 7 6 22 19 9 156 5 7 407 1 0 128 13 3 7 5 7 293 18 6 18 19 6 103 2 4 125 7 6 139 18 1 6 2 8 400 6 4 44 19 4 275 9 3 109 9 2 266 9 1 63 5 10 385 5 4 1,755 18 8 2,985 8 8 1,101 6 2 257 8 7 28 12 8 13 16 9 74 12 4 349 5 7 205 18 7 140 3 0 124 1 9 821 12 2 1,596 1 4 409 4 0 29 17 4 447 18 4 37 .8-10 711 17- 4 228 15 10 1,501 5 9 60 12 6 448 1 7 59 18 4 473 4 1 "26 Totals 8,806,559 18,080 10,856 17,301 9 11 6,120 10 2 23,422 0 1

I i 1-3 3 be u a & I o a t4 1 p 3 >-2 m Overseers Readers Compositors Machinists, pressmen, paperwetter, cutters, and engineer Bookbinders, including one overseer .. .. Females in Binding Branch Apprentices, machine- and errandboys .. *.. Assistants in Publishing Branch Stereotyper Totals 3 2 17 5 t 7 ' 13 36 1 1 85 3 2 31 3 2 26 8 2 25 3 3 36 3 3 49 3 4 50 3 4 50 3 4 43 3 3 36 3 2 33 3 2 37 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 13 8 13 I 9 i 13 9 i 14 11 14 12 15 12 15 11 10 10 17 10 17 11 17 35 1 1 37 1 i ! 38 1 1 41 1 1 41 1 1 40 1 1 38 1 1 37 1 1 37 1 1 40 1 1 39 1 1 99 96 I I 97 113 130 122 114 117 129 132 113

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Table No. 4. Return showing Quantity and Value of Printing Paper, &c., consumed in the Government Printing Office during the Year 1882.

Table No. 5. Return of the Value of Printing and Binding executed at the Lyttelton Gaol during the Year ending 31st December, 1882.

By Authority: Geoege Didsboby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB3.

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Quantity. Description. Amount. Quantity. Description. Amount. Ems. qrs. 3 0 83 0 36 0 45 5 5 10 12 5 8 0 57 0 6 0 160 10 2 0 10 5 1,730 10 ,335 5 30 5 14 10 402 15 Post folio — Hand-made Double cream wove .. „ money-orders 8vo., note, large 4to., letter Foolscap— Coloured, 15 lb. 18 1b. „ hand-made, 18 lb. .. Turkey-mill, 18 lb. .. Buff, double Bank ,, Copying „ Yellow wove printing Blue wove „ Coloured printing, double blue ■ I it yellow „ „ cream wove £ s. d. 4 7 0 98 4 4 21 12 0 6 8 3 1 3 10 4 16 0 6 12 0 65 11 0 5 19 0 44 2 9 10 0 2 6 1 1,569 18 5 C73 3 9 19 3 2 5 16 0 292 0 0 Kms. qra. 638 0 41 10 42 0 1,126 5 58 0 42 10 74 0 17 10 29 0 10 10 30 10 91 15 5' 0 11 10 16 10 142 0 13,000 55 gross 85 15 Demy— continued. Toned, double Bufi Imitation hand-made Eoyal— Yellow wove printing Coloured Hand-made Hand-made, suporfme Imitation hand-made, superfine Medium, hand-made Imperial, hand-made Cartridge, imperial, 60" ,, dble. demy, glazed, bufi Medium, hand-made, loan Brown, imperial Blotting Foolscap, bufi, glazed Cards, double large Pasteboards Rolls parchment, 18" x 27" 28"x32" £ s. d. 542 6 0 21 2 0 45 3 0 516 4 0 31 3 6 124 6 3 260 17 0 32 7 6 66 14 0 49 17 6 38 17 9 96 6 9 7 5 0 14 1 9 12 7 6 42 12 0 5 17 0 30 5 0 318 15 0 109 10 0 43 0 163 15 357 0 117 15 Demy— Coloured Blue laid Yellow wove, double Hand-made 26 3 2 104 7 9 272 4 3 176 12 .6 £ 5,767 9 9

Department. Value. Railways.. Government Printing Office Her Majesty's Gaol, Lyttelton Her Majesty's Gaol, Mount Cook, Wellington Miscellaneous £ a. a. 247 17 3 547 17 3 46 1 9 25 4 0 37 0 6 Total £904 0 9