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examined the blue books of Tasmania, find from the estimates therein, that the expenditure for theGovernment Printing Establishment in that Colony amounts to Four thousand two hundred and fifteen pounds (£4,215, Os. Od.J per annum. I have the honor on behalf of the Commission to request you would be so good as to inform me what amount of plant was originally ordered for the Government of Tasmania, what the cost of it was, and what per centage per annum it has been found necessary to allow for wear and tear. Also ] what amount of house room the Press Establishment occupies. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, William Fox. Tasmania. N.B.—A letter of similar tenor was forwarded at the same time to the Chief Secretary South Australia.

No. 3. THE ASSISTANT COLONIAL SECRETARY, TASMANIA, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, NEW ZEALAND. Colonial Secretary's Office, Tasmania, 17th May, 1862. Sir,— I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th ultimo, soliciting information respecting the Government Printing Establishment of this Colony; and in compliance with your request, I herewith forward to you copy of a memorandum by a gentleman who has been connected with the office from the commencement, and to whom your communication was referred, in the absence of Mr. Barnard the Government Printer. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, B. Travers Tilly, Auckland, New Zealand. Assistaut Colonial Secretary.

Enclosure in No. 3. MEMORANDUM ON PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT IN TASMANIA. The cost of the original plant in London, for this department, in 1838, (calculated on a very small scale,) amounted to £1200 19s. 3d. Since then, from time to time, it has been supplemented to the extent of upwards of £3000. Supposing the amount of printing and binding required by the Government of New Zealand to be about the same as for Tasmania at this date, the cost of type, fittings, &c, for an office, I should estimate at about £5000. The wear and tear for twelve years on that amount would be about one half the original cost. The present Government Printing Office of Tasmania (which is most defective) consists of eleven rooms, occupying an area of 3107 superficial feet. The intended new Government Printing Office (estimates and plans for which have been prepared) will occupy 9171 superficial feet. I would here remark on the desirability, in the formation of a printing office, of having space as well as material, both of which resembles capital, in the management of a printing office, and will give an ample return in the saving of labour. As an illustration of the advantages to be derived by a Government having its own office, I instance this department, the printing and binding for which during the year 1801, exceeded in value £10,000, at a cost to the Government of about £4,200, But it must be understood that everything depends upon competent management. I shall have much pleasure in affording any additional information that may be deemed requisite. I have, &c, J. W. Rob arts, 3rd May, 1862. Government Printing Office.

No. 4. ASSISTANT COLONIAL SECEETAET, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, NEW ZEALAND. Chief Secretary's Office, Adelaide, May 22nd, 1862. Sir, — I have the honor, by desire of His Excellency Sir Dominic Daly, and in furtherance of the request conveyed in your letter of the 4th April last, to enclose a report from the Government Printer of this Province, embodying the information required by the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, 0. K. Richardson, New Zealand. For the Chief Secretary.

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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENQUIRY ON