H.—2o

1888. NEW ZEALAND.

PRINTING AND STATIONERY DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Printing and Stationery Department, Sir, — Wellington, 15th June, 1888. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the operations of the Printing and Stationery Department for the year 1887. New Printing Office. It was hoped that the new Printing Office would have been ready for occupation before the commencement of the present session, but the erection of the engines and boilers, and of the necessary fittings for the various rooms, have taken longer than was anticipated. I expect, however, to be able to move in during the month of July. Even had the fittings and engines been ready earlier, the building would scarcely have been in a fit condition to occupy, as the walls in several of the rooms are still very damp. Some of the machinery has been removed, however, and the machine-room partially occupied. The building is admirably designed for the purpose required, is well lighted and ventilated, and is heated by Asbury's hot-air process, which secures an even temperature of about 60° in every room. The electric-light plant has been procured and erected under the advice and superintendence of Dr. Lemon, and will be ready for testing in a few days. The pendants are connected with the leads by hooks and eyes, and are consequently portable, and can readily be moved from one room to another if desired. The illuminative power of each lamp is 16-candlc, and provision is made for 260 lamps being used throughout the building. The new engines and boilers were manufactured by Messrs. Cable and Co., of Wellington, and, after undergoing the usual tests, have proved to be in every respect suitable to the requirements of the department, and both in design and construction are alike creditable to the firm who supplied them. The danger from fire is provided against by the adoption of Asbury's heating process, which obviates the necessity for open fireplaces, and by the use of electricity instead of gas for lighting purposes. Water-pipes are to be laid on to each flat, provided with sufficient hose to reach the whole of the rooms. Further safeguards are also provided against the spread of fire by placing the approaches to each flat in the courtyard by means of circular iron stairs, and also by placing the lifts (which, in the recent Post Office catastrophe, served as funnels for drawing up the flames) outside the walls of the building. It is now over twenty-three years since the department occupied the present site, and to meet its growing requirements during that period no less than nine additions and alterations have been made to the premises. The inconveniences and discomforts so long experienced by the members of the staff will render the removal to the new building a most gratifying event; and I venture to hope that the improved facilities and conditions under which the work of the department will be conducted will have the effect not only of increasing the productive power of the establishment, but of materially lessening its cost. Annual Returns. The balance-sheet appended to this report shows that work to the value of £27,393 18s. lOd. was executed during the year. This result affords some idea of the extensive operations carried on within the department. The cash receipts from Gazette advertisements