H.—l4.

1885. NEW ZEALAND.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY (REPORT ON).

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Stout, by leave of the House.

The Libeaeian's Beport. Sie, — General Assembly Library, 28th May, 1885. I have the honour, in accordance with your instructions, to submit to you the following report on the work and general administration of the Library during the recess, and on its present position:— The following resolutions were passed by the Joint Library Committee, and confirmed by the General Assembly at the close of last session : 1. That members of both Houses of Parliament residing in or within fifteen miles of Wellington be the Library Committee for the recess ; three to be a quorum. 2. That the following persons have the full privileges of the Library in the recess, viz : (1.) Members of Parliament. (2.) The following persons, holding official positions, viz : The Governor's Staff, Judges of the Supreme Court, Auditor-General, Solicitor-General, Clerks of the two Houses of the Legislature, two Clerk-Assistants of each House of the Legislature, Beader of the House of Bepresentatives, Becord Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Director of the Geological Survey, Chief of the Beporting Staff, Captains of Her Majesty's ships on the Station, Officers of Her Majesty's ships on the Station, Major Cautley, 8.E., Clerk of the Executive Council, Secretary to the Cabinet, the Under-Secretary, Assistant Controller and Auditor, Begistrar-General, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, Government Printer, Secretary to the Treasury, Property-Tax Commissioner, Under-Secretary (Department of Justice), Inspector of Prisons, Superintendent (Post Office and Telegraphs), Under-Secretary (Post Office and Telegraphs), Secretary and Inspector (Customs), Secretary for Education, Inspector-General of Schools, Under-Secretary for Native Affairs, UnderSecretary for Land Purchase, Under-Secretary for Gold Fields and Mines, Under-Secretary for Public Works, Under-Secretary for Defence, Under-Secretary for Bailways, General Manager for Bailways, Colonial Architect, Marine Engineer, Surveyor-General, Under-Secretary for Crown Lands, Government Insurance Commissioner, Public Trustee, Governors of the New Zealand Institute, Assistant Law Officer, the Law Draftsman, the Medical Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum. 3. That students may, at the discretion of the Chairman of the Library Committee, be allowed to refer to any special works in a special room set apart for that purpose. At the first meeting of the Becess Committee, on the 12th November, 1884, the Hon. G. Bandall Johnson was appointed Chairman, and was requested to take steps to give effect to these resolutions. At the next meeting, on the 18th November, the following rules regulating admission to Library during the recess were adopted : (1.) The Library will be open, to those who receive the privilege of admission, from 12 to 5 p.m. daily, save on Saturdays, when it closes at 4 o'clock. (2.) The only room to be used by them will be the entrance-room. (3.) No books may be taken by students or visitors from the shelves. The Librarian or his assistants will supply them with any they may wish to consult. (4.) Any persons taking notes or making extracts must use pencil only. It will thus be seen that the arrangements for the recess this year have been of a somewhat more liberal character than those of the last year or two. The full privileges cf the Library have been extended to a larger number of individuals, and its doors thrown open to the public for five hours daily, instead of two. Over and above this, special facilities have been offered to students, and others engaged in the prosecution of any particular line of study. About forty availed themselves of the privileges thus placed within their reach. Four of these were students. The Hon. the Chairman, the Hon. W. B. Mantell, and Dr. Newman were appointed the Selection Committee during the recess. Meetings were held regularly every month on the week of the departure of the San Francisco mail, and an order for transmission by it prepared. I am happy to be able to report that the arrangements made by the Agent-General last year for conducting the Committee's business in England are giving entire satisfaction. Our orders are executed with the utmost regularity and despatch. A steady and continuous supply of books reaches us from month to month by the direct steamers. Our agents have now overtaken all arrears, and disposed of every order up to the very end of 1884. Since the commencement of the present year four additional orders, of an approximate aggregate value of £200, have been forwarded by the Committee; so that we may confidently look forward to the arrival of one or two additional consignments during the session. The Becess Committee has thus done everything in its power to provide, for the perusal of honourable members during the session, a full supply of the latest publications of the season. The Agent-General, too, has now devised a plan whereby, without unduly taxing his time—already so fully occupied—he is able to give effect to the Committee's wish that he would forward, without waiting for orders from this side, works of such special importance or surpassing interest as would be sure to be acceptable to members. The additions to the Library as a whole have not been quite so large this year as last; but the number of new books added in every department of literature (save that of parliamentary records) is greater than for many years past. From our agents at Home we have received nearly 900