rCL-Rf

XIX

One hundred and sixty-seven tracings for correspondence and special subjects have been made. The output of the lithographic office has exceeded that of any previous year. The printingpower was supplemented by a quad crown machine early in the year, otherwise the demands on the office could not have been met. There are now three machines and four hand-presses fully employed. The total number of subjects taken in hand was 1,687, or 240 more than last year; the total number of complete copies printed was 1,142,767, or 242,956 more than last year; and the number of impressions taken was 1,918,125, or 542,484 more than last year. This indicates the heavy pressure of work throughout the year. For sets-off, corrections and additions, touching up, tinting, and etching 759 lithographic stones have been prepared. One hundred and ninety-seven photographs have been retouched and improved prior to photographing as " process " illustrations. Eight wash-drawings of landscape scenery have been made. The out-turn of work from the photographic gallery by Mr. Eoss and assistant, compared with previous years, shows a decline in the number of plates taken, although the work has increased correspondingly with that of the lithographic office. The decline is, however, only in number, for 18 in, by 24 in. and 30 in. by 30 in. plates have superseded the 12 in. by 15 in. plates, thus enabling a larger amount of work to be disposed of, and effecting considerable economy of cost and time. Details of photographing and lithographic printing done during the year are appended. With regard to the internal arrangements of the photographic gallery, the introduction of the electric light for enlargements by lantern, and a reflector, would be very desirable improvements. With the aid of the reflector negatives could be taken in any weather. Abstract of lithographs printed during the twelve months : — Copies. Head Office... ... ... ... ... . ... 1,142,767 Auckland Office ... ... ... ... ... ... 5,350 Otago Office ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,400 Total ... 1,150,517

Lithographic Printing and Photographing.

Number of subjects taken in hand and printed off, 1,687 ; number of plate-transfers pulled, 121 ; number of maps, tracings, and photographs mounted, 1,070. COEEESPONDENCE. - Mr. W. S. Shoet, Chief Clerk, reports as follows : — As compared with previous years, there has been a considerable increase in the work. This was partly due to special circumstances, such as correspondence involved in dealing with bush-fires relief, and in the administration of the very large number of road votes intrusted to the department. Apart, however, from these, the correspondence, Proclamations, and formal documents, necessarily arising in the administration of land continues to increase, and it would appear that this will probably become greater each year as more Grown land is leased to settlers under present tenures and

Prim -ing. Photographing. Department. Number of C Copies pri lomplete iuted. Number of Separate Printings. ss sg g| ssg ja*j .ePh j3-g _o S © Number of Impressions taken. By Machine. By Hand. Survey Mines Public Works ... Marine Postal Telegraph Government Printer Meteorological ... Public Trust ... Premier's Eegistrar- General Education Agricultural and Stock ... Police... Railway Government Insurance ... Customs Defence Colonial Secretary's 816,270 136,705 15,762 5,650' 34,313 840 2,339 1,398 210 362 3,706 100 1,343,158 197,063 39,943 31,698 420 12,224 6,756 100 1,700 898 25,022 400 47,512 7,200 194,728 5,009 1,000 2,294 1,000 1,677 120 237 42 4 15 ■ 7 1 6 18 7 1 13 4 28 5 1 15 1 734 57 16 3 496 4 50 23 2 6,920 1,425 "6 2 900 750 10,000 400 21,500 1,800 73,480 4,000 1,000 600 148 22 10 12 6 8 2 17 42 9 6 1,094 1,000 12 Totals 1,097,162 45,605 1,918,125 2,202 869 500 50 25