3

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partially reconstructed, but a new library was not included. There the matter remained. At length, in the last days of the session of 1886, on the initiative of the Premier, the Assembly voted the modest sum of £5,000 for the erection of a library building. Designs were drafted after the best experience available; committees and sub-committees sat repeatedly to consider them; and every detail of structure and material was canvassed by busy men who gave their costly time in furtherance of an object they had at heart. Tenders were then called for, but, none having been accepted before the close of the financial year, the vote has necessarily lapsed. It would be idle to complain. A Government cannot erect buildings with money it does not possess, and among the necessities of a young colony there must be many that are more urgent than even a parliamentary library. Yet one remembers that a poor nation like Prussia, in an hour of defeat and humiliation, could conceive no more hopeful project than to found a university which has become one of the greatest seats of learning in the world; and it is just possible that, even from a commercial point of view, a country may make less remunerative investments than in an institution which is to instruct its law-makers and equip Jts administrators. J. Collier, Librarian.

Appendix A.'—Balance-sheet. £ s. d. I £ s. A. To Balance from last year .. .. 62G 1 6 By Books, binding, and freight .. .. 931 17 7 Repayment (for stamps) .. .. 10 0 0 English periodicals and newspapers .. 85 18 2 Annual appropriation .. .. .. 000 0 0 Australian newspapers and periodicals .. 23 18 'J Fees received on account of private Bills 110 0 0 New Zealand newspapers and periodicals 34 14 0 Insurances .. .. .. 87 10 0 Binding colonial papers .. .. 97 19 0 American periodicals and newspapers .. 7 17 0 Binders' stamps .. .. .. 4 17 6 Printing .. .. .. .. 6 10 0 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 5 9 8 Balance .. .. .. 59 9 4 £1,346 1 6 :jj:'—LJLJ?

Appendix B.—Donations. Campbell, Major— Dickenson, E. Summary of the rules and procedures of foreign Parliaments. Canada, Govebnment op the Dominion of — Trail, Mrs. C. P. Studies of plant-life in Canada. 1885. Dominion Annual Eegister. 2 vols. 1884 and 1885. Chapman, P. E., Esq., and others — Imperial and. colonial parliamentary papers. 85 vols. Company of Leatheesellebs of the City of London — Black, W. H. History and Antiquities of the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers. 1871. Fobtescce, Hon. J. W. — Fortescue, Hon. J. Eecords of stag-hunting on Exmoor. 1887. Gibbes, Sir E. 0., Bart.— Imperial parliamentary papers (N.Z.j. Correspondence with Governor Grey. New Zealand Company's Eeports, Nos. 12, 16, 17, 18 (2 copies), 19, 20, 22, 23. A collection of voyages to the Southern Hemisphere. Vol. I. Adam, J. Twenty-five years of emigrant life in the South of New Zealand. Whitworth, E. P. Martin's Bay Settlement. New Zealand Constitution Act. Hobne, Captain— A true account and declaration of the horrid conspiracy against the late King. London, 1685. Johnson, Hon. G. E.— Wilson, J. A. Life and times of Te Waharoa. Full history of the Maungatapu murders. Gregory, E. Sketch of the residence of James Morrill among the aborigines. (Transmitted to the Parliamentary Library, Queensland.) Pope, J. H., Esq.— Wells, B. History of Taranaki. SwEDENBOBG SOCIETY Swodenborg's works, books relating to Swedenborg, and other publications of the Society. 50 vols. Wallace, J. Howaed, Esq. —■ Wallace, E. Antitrinitarian biography. 3 vols. {Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, Nil; printing (1,850 copies), £2 15s.]

Authority: Geobgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB7.