3

H.—l6.

and declined to allow books to be taken away. With the view of obviating a difference of opinion which had practical inconveniences, the following Besolution was submitted to and passed by the Joint Library Committee: "That literary workers or students of a special subject may, at the discretion of the Chairman, be permitted to take out books on that subject." The rule was so drawn up as to give open legislative sanction to the privileges enjoyed by the limited class of readers to whom (what may be called) a surreptitious use of the Library had. for a session or two before been conceded. It was never intended (the subject not having been discussed in Committee) to grant any extension of these privileges. An extension has, however, in practice been made. The term student, originally restricted to persons working for ulterior literary objects in a specific line of inquiry, has been understood as applying to matriculates of the University reading with a view to graduation and to graduates reading towards further graduation. To such as these, whom the nonexistence of University teaching in Wellington makes almost solely dependent upon books, the opening of the Library has been a real boon. With them no difficulty can arise : the bond fide character of their studentship can be readily verified. The difficulty of administering the rule begins with quite another class. Gentlemen, and ladies too, who read books of a better kind than the common, not very unnaturally conceive that the designation student applies to them, and claim to be admitted to the Library on that footing. It is for the Joint Committee to determine whether such persons shall be granted the access that they demand. But it cannot be too plainly understood that the rule when drawn up was not intended to apply to this class, which might easily be extended to include readers of almost every kind of books, and so come to embrace the whole of the population to which an Athenaeum or a Public Library appeals, and 'that it could not have been administered otherwise than as it has been without a breach of trust towards the Committee which was induced to pass it only on the understanding that its application would be closely limited. It bad been intended, in both of the previous annual reports, to make some reference to the necessity for enacting a Colonial Copyright Act, but the time did not seem to have come. A request from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, made at the instance of the authorities of the British Museum, is likely to bring the subject within the pale of practical politics. Ten years ago the question was examined in all its bearings by a Boyal Commission, and it is understood that the passing of an adequate measure has been delayed only by the block that has arrested nearly all Imperial legislation and reduced the English Statute-book for each year to half its former size. It might not be advisable for this Colony to anticipate a law that would be applicable to the whole Empire, but there is one thing that it can and ought to do. Many pamphlets of very great value for the early history of the Colony have been issued—they were never really published—at local presses, and, except for a stray copy here and there, have disappeared. Pamphlets of similar importance continue to be so issued, in order (but for the vigilance of librarians) to meet the same fate. What is urgently wanted is the enactment of a municipal law providing that at least one copy of every Colonial publication shall be deposited in a central library. That library can be only the Parliamentary Library. The question of a National Library need not be raised. Should the Library of the General Assembly develop or, as is more probable, bifurcate into a National Library, books deposited under a Copyright Act could be transferred to the larger institution. I have, &c, The Hon. the Chairman, Joint Library Committee. J. Collier, Librarian.

Appendix.—Donations. Association for Promoting the Extension of the Contagious Diseases Acts— A collection of reports and pamphlets. Chief Commissioner, Crown Lands, Christchurch — Fifty Imperial Parliamentary Papers, 1831-57. Edinburgh University Senatus — University Calendar, 1886-87, 1887-88. 2 vols. Fitzherbert, Sir W., K.C.M.G.— Photograph of Members of the Colonial Conference, London, 1887. Gillies, Mr. Justice— Jennings, L. J. Mr. Gladstone : A Study. London, 1887. Milne, J., Esq., Auckland— Farrer, Sir T. Free-trade versus Fair-trade. Ed. 3. London, 1887. Monckton, Sir J. B. — Medal struck in commemoration of the visit of the Colonial and Indian representatives to the City of London, 25th June, 1886. Native Minister, Hon. the — White, J. Ancient history of the Maori. Vol. I. Wellington, 1887. Four copies. Pyre, V., Esq., M.H.B.— Farrer, Sir T. Free-trade versus Fair-trade. Ed. 3. London, 1887. Gowing, B. Bichard Cobden. Other Cobden Club publications. Bichardson, Hon. E. — Harven, E. de. Nouvelle-Zelande. Idem. Nouvelle-Zelande au point de vue economique de la Belgique. Albinus, B. S. Tables of the skeleton and muscles of the human body. Large folio. London, 1749.