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respect, although an analysis of the books purchased this year shows that 75 # 9 per cent, were works of fiction as compared with 83*0 per cent, in the previous year. If the additions made by the large libraries were not taken into consideration the proportion of novels purchased would increase to 86*8 per cent. In the case of 110 libraries practically all of the books added during the year were works of fiction. It is realized that many books coming under this heading form useful, readingmatter, but it is feared that a large proportion of the books purchased have little or no educational or instructive value. This cannot be considered as a satisfactory state of affairs, as it is clearly not the intention of the Government that the subsidy should be expended in the purchase of such literature, and the authorities whose duty it is to expend the money to the fullest advantage would do well to bear this fact in mind if they wish to retain the sympathy of the Government in connection with future grants. The following table shows the distribution according to the education districts :—

Summary of Distribution of Public Libraries Subsidy.

11. Extract from New Zealand Gazette, 12th November, 1914. Education Department, Wellington, November, 1914. .Notice is hereby given that the sum of £4,000 has been voted by Parliament for distribution to public libraries. The distribution will take place about the Ist March, 1915, and no claim will be entitled to consideration that shall not have been sent in in due form and received by the Secretary for Education, Wellington, on or before the 26th January, 1915. 1. A library to be entitled to a subsidy must be public in the sense of belonging to the public, and of not being under the control of an association, society, or club whose membership is composed of a section of the community only, and if within a borough it must be open to the public free of charge. The receipts for the year from subscriptions and donations must not have been less than £2, exclusive of moneys received from endowments, or from Government, or from Borough or County Councils, or for special building purposes, or as rent, hire, or consideration for the use of any room, or building, or land belonging to the institution, in respect of none of which will subsidy be allowed. The net proceeds of concerts, lectures, or other entertainments on behalf of the current expenses of the library will be regarded as voluntary contributions. A subsidy will not be given to more than one library in the same town. 2. In the division of the vote a nominal addition of £25 will be made to the amount of the income of each library derived from subscriptions, donations, and rates, and the vote will be divided according to the amounts thus augmented ; but no library will receive credit for a larger income than £75 —that is, in no case will the augmented amount on which distribution is based exceed £100. 3. The whole of the subsidy must be expended without delay in the purchase of books for the library. 4. It is particularly enjoined upon the authorities in charge of the public libraries concerned that a due proportion of the books purchased, shall be books having a permanent, value — that is, on books of more than merely passing interest. 5. Application to share in the distribution must be by means of a statutory declaration by the Chairman, or Secretary, or Treasurer of the institution on behalf of which it is made, and must be accompanied by a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the institution for the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1914; and such declaration must be on the form, provided for the purpose, which form shall bo as follows :—

Auokland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay .. Marlborough Nelson Education Districts. Number of Libraries. 91 18 28 18 22 6 22 3 7 61 22 51 34 1 1 Income upon which Subsidy is based. £ s. d. 3,627 1 8 576 2 11 1,350 17 7 1,028 3 3 1,140 14 7 282 2 4 1,057 5 4 232 6 6 279 4 6 2,463 2 6 980 0 1 1,991 14 10 1,193 1 1 45 19 3 35 10 0 Subsidy. £ S. d. 890 17 0 141 10 4 331 15 11 252 12 2 280 5 0 69 6 8 259 13 8 57 1 5 68 11 6 605 2 9 240 15 1 489 5 0 293 3 7 11 5 11 8 14 5 Grey .. Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland Stewart Island Chatham Islands Totals 380 16,283 6 5 4,000 0 0 I