B.—B

4

Four boys entered for the Senior Civil Service examination, all of whom passed. Of twelve boys who entered for the Junior Civil Service examination eleven were successful, one taking the first and one the fourth place. Public Library. The question of providing additional accommodation for readers and subscribers at the public library has received much attention from the Board of Governors during the past year. It is hoped that during the current year some definite scheme may be arrived at and the requisite powers obtained for erecting a reading-room and for increasing the space allotted to the circulating department. Reference Department. —During the period under review the department has been opened to the public for 295 days, exclusive of Sundays. The attendance of readers has been very regular, but it is a matter of regret that twelve volumes have been abstracted, as per list attached. These losses were discovered at the annual stock-taking, which took place in September. The destructive effect of the gas on the binding of the volumes is very perceptible, and results in considerable extra expenditure for binding and repairs. Some 250 volumes of old New Zealand and Australian works have been purchased at local auction sales, thus adding considerably to the value of the collection previously acquired. The total number of books and pamphlets added since the last annual statement is 844, bringing the total in this department to 12,368 volumes. The subjects comprising this total are enumerated in a list attached. The donations for the year number 111 volumes and pamphlets, which have been acknowledged in due course. Publications have also been presented by the United States of America, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The "Dictionary of National Biography," comprising sixty volumes, as far as published, is now on the shelves. A much-needed improvement in the lighting has been made, the old burners having been replaced by the incandescent. It is anticipated that a considerable saving in the cost will result. Circulating Department. —The total number of books in this department is 18,431, divided up into subjects as per list attached. The number of new books and renewals added during the year is 1,099 ; 443 volumes have been taken off the shelves in consequence of being unfit for issue ; of this total no less than 435 were volumes of fiction. It is probable that 500 volumes of standard popular novels will require to be replaced during the year 1900. The Cassell's Magazine, the National Review, and the Woman at Home have been added to the list subscribed for. The library was closed for the annual stock-taking from the Ist to the 6th January, when sixty-five volumes were found to be missing; some of these have since been returned to the shelves. Fifty-three volumes of old New Zealand and Australian works dealing with the early history of the colony have been transferred to the reference library. The work of compiling a new catalogue of this department is in hand ; whenever current work permits the attention of the staff will be directed towards its completion. A larger building for this department is much needed to provide additional reading-room for the use of subscribers, and also extra shelving. The average number of subscribers for the year was 1,767. The sum of £200 was received from the Gammack Trust up to the 31st December. The death of Mr. Arthur Postle, of Papanui, took place on the 31st December, 1899. After providing for certain legacies, he has left the residue and remainder of his estate to the Christchurch Public Library, to be expended by the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College in the purchase of books for either the circulating or reference library. The following figures show the income from subscriptions during the last seven years: 1893, £757 125.; 1894, £782 2s. 6d. ; 1895, £651 Is. 6d.; 1896, £739 14s. 6d.; 1897, £825 Is. ; 1898, £857 155.; 1899, £889 10s. 6d. Reading-room. —A new reading-room is absolutely necessary for the convenience and accommodation of the public. The daily attendance is very large, particularly during the evening. Visitors, although not permitted to remove the magazines, frequently do so, to the inconvenience of others. The following papers and magazines are placed on the table: English papers and magazines, 21; American papers, 3 ; Australian papers, 9 ; New Zealand papers, 82.

Canterbury Public Library. — List of Magazines, Papers, &c., received.

' Daily, Bi-, and Triweekly Papers. Weekly Papers. Monthly Magazines. Quarterly Magazines. Total. lirculating Department— British.. American Australian New Zealana 1 10 42 10 1 5 53 10 1 7 2 teference Department— British American Australian New Zealand 1 12 4 58 14 2 2 2 2 71 20 2 2 2 leading-room— British American Australian New Zealand 20 20 8 1 5 15 IS 2 21 3 9 82 "i 62 5 66 29 20