D.— No. la,

REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT.

5

the number of hands engaged during each month throughout the year, and in what capacity they have been employed. Among the youths included in the last column but one of the Table are"three apprentices, who arc bound under indenture to the Government Printer for a term of six years; Clause V. of " The Master and Apprentice Act, 1865/' enabling any officer in the Government service having the special direction or control of persons of any particular description of trade, to take apprentices, should he deem it desirable to do so. The work of printing the Duties Stamps, performed by this Department, has not been quite so heavy during the last twelve months as in the two previous years. A Return showing in detail the number of Stamps printed, and specifying the several denominations, will be found appended (Tabic D.), from which, it will be seen that the total number of Stamps printed during the year was 1,026,700, representing in value £32,908 15s. The Stamp dies are beginning to show indications of wear, and before many months are over it will be necessary to provide a new set. Considering the amount of work they have had to perform, and the description of metal they are made of, they have worn remarkably well. The statement of the receipts of the Department for the past financial year enables mc to show a very satisfactory increase over that of the previous year. During 1867-8 the gross receipts amounted to £491 Is. 2d., while during 1868-9 they reached £716 18s. 7d., being an increase over the previous year's receipts of £225 17s. sd. lam fully justified by the great increase m the number of Gold Mining Companies, and from other sources, m estimating the gross receipts for 1869-70 at £1,000. The following is a statement of the receipts for the past year under the several heads specified :■ —■

Table D.

The average monthly receipts for the year, therefore, have been £57 10s., while those for 1867-8 averaged £40 18s. sd. The supply of printing paper is an important item in connection with the Printing Department The quantity of paper consumed during the year, and the cost of the same, are shown in the Return marked E. appended to this Report, on reference to which it will be found that it amounted in value to £2,992 7s. 3d. A considerable reduction m the price of printing papers to be supplied during the year 1869-70 has been effected, by the system of calling for tenders seven or eight months in advance, and separating the printing papers from the miscellaneous stationery. This plan is adopted in most of the Australian Colonies, and, upon my pointing out its advantages to the Government, it was introduced here. When reporting on the Stationery tenders in December of last year, I had occasion to remark, with reference to the tenders for printing papers, " that the plan of separating the general stationery from the supplies required for " the Printing Department, and allowing the contractors sufficient time to import the articles " from England after the acceptance of the tender, has enabled a larger number to compete, " and has resulted in a saving of £249 14s. 9d., or at the rate of 10 per cent., on the present " contract rates for the same descriptions of paper." A considerable saving in the consumption of paper and m printing might be effected it the number of Parliamentary Papers required for circulation were reduced. The ordinary number of each paper printed during the Session is 1,150, being nearly 400 more than is printed off m Victoria. A great number of these papers arc circulated gratuitously throughout the Colony and elsewhere ; but now that proper arrangements are made for their sale, the gratuitous circulation might be considerably reduced, as instances have come under my notice of parties who were quite willing to purchase them if not supplied at the Government expense. The amount of correspondence on business matters connected with the Gazette and the various agencies is becoming very voluminous. The number of letters received by me during the last year was 694, exclusive of all correspondence with the respective Agents m the Provinces. These letters entail a considerable amount of labour upon the head of the Department, who, unassisted by a clerk, performs the duty of replying and otherwise attending to them. The transactions are also of such a character as to render it necessary to keep a set of books m addition to the ordinary cash book kept by all Receivers of Revenue—an undertaking which adds considerably to the duties of the Government Printer.

Table E,

Amount. Gazette Advertisements and Subscriptions Sale of Statutes Sale of Parliamentary Papers Sale of Hansard Sale of other Publications Miscellaneous Receipts ... £ s. d. 189 4 1 221 13 0 30 17 11 80 0 11 159 0 0 36 2 8 Less Commission 716 18 7 26 6 7 Paid into Bank to credit of Public Account 690 12 0