H.—22

11

In the compilation of the register the assistance rendered by the Post and Telegraph Department both in the collection and tabulation was most valuable. Under the Act the responsibility for furnishing a schedule was placed on the individual, the forms being distributed and collected per medium of post-offices throughout the Dominion. The fact that over 303,000 schedules were obtained is a splendid testimony to the zeal with which Postmasters and letter-carriers carried out their work. With the exception of the small staff which could be provided from tTiis office, the Postal Department also supplied officers for the tabulation-work at Wellington, and 1 cannot speak too highly of the courtesy and assistance received from officers of that Department in this huge undertaking. The office is gradually improving and developing the statistics of the Dominion, and I hope that in the near future they will present a complete and accurate survey of all our social and economic activities. Malcolm: Eraser, Government Statistician. . The Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.

11. REPORT OF REGISTRAR-GENERAL. Registrar-General's Office, Wellington, 2nd May, 1916. The work of this office is steadily increasing, as will be seen from the following comparative table of business for the last five years : —

hi addition to the above, the work of the office includes the registration of medical practitioners, dentists, officiating ministers, and Maori births, deaths, and marriages, and a considerable amount of searching done free of charge for the Pensions, Education, Labour, and Defence Departments. The revenue of the office also shows a steady advance, that for the year 1915-16 constituting a record. ' The revenue for the last five years ended 31st March is shown hereunder :— 1912. 1918. 1914. 1915. 1916. £13,966 £14,240 ..£14,355 £14,163 £16,865 F. W. Manspield, Regis! rar-General, The Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.

111. REPORT OF DOMINION ANALYST AM) CHIEF INSPECTOR OF EXPLOSIVES. Dominion Laboratory, Wellington, Bth June, 1916. A. The Dominion Labohatokt. Staff. The Agricultural Chemist and his two assistants were transferred to the Department of Agriculture early in the }'ear to re-establish the Chemical Division of that Department, which had been merged in the Dominion Laboratory since 1909. All chemical questions, therefore, relating to farming and kindred interests now come directly under the Agricultural Department. All the single men of military age employed in the Laboratory have volunteered for active service. Three were accepted, and are now abroad with the Expeditionary Forces. One resigned after enlistment, but the positions of the others are being kept open, pending their return. The absence of these men has thrown extra work on the remaining officers, and though the shortage was relieved to some extent by the appointment of two cadets, it is only by energetic and full co-operation that the staff has been able to maintain the work of the Laboratory without serious curtailment. Work. There has been considerable increase in some branches of the work as a direct result of the war. The water supplies of the various camps have been frequently tested, and the water on the transports occasionally. A few articles of food supplied under contract to the Defence Department have been examined, and in some eases found to be much below specification. This was particularly so with jam. Some drugs and medical supplies for use on transports have also been analysed. Analyses have been made to assess the value of the numerous consignments of scheelitc shipped to Great, Britain by the Director of Imperial Supplies.

Year. Births. Heaths. Marriage Notices received and Certificates issued. Marriages solemnized. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. 1915 .. 26,354 27,508 27,935 28,338 27,865 9,534 9,214 10,119 10,148 9,965 9,160 9,504 9,132 9,589 10,483 8,870 9,189 8,846 9,326 10,262 (approximate).