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Historical Records. In addition to the donations made direct to the library, a large quantity of books, manuscripts, pictures, &c, presented to the National Historical Collection have been handed over to the library, where they are to be housed. These form a considerable mass of material, and a still larger mass, comprising the Samoan records, has also been deposited in the library. It has been impossible to do more at present than receive and house these valuable collections ; to bo of use to students it will, of course, be necessary to have the whole properly arranged and indexed, and until this is done their great value cannot be appreciated. There is, however, more than enough to do to keep the present staff fully employed in completing the classification and cataloguing of the Turnbull Collection ; and, for the present at least, these historical materials must be allowed simply to accumulate. A biographical section has been started, all newspaper notices of old settlers or people of note being preserved and arranged. To the notices, portraits—of which there are many hundreds in the library—-will be added. It is hoped to make a similar topographical section, so that the place history of the Dominion may be put on record as details become available. FIRE-PREVENTION. Owing to the shortage of labour and material this important work is not yet finished, little advance having been made on the work reported last year. It is hoped that the completion of the work will not now long be delayed. Miscellaneous. The library was formally opened by the Hon. G. J. Anderson, M.P., then Minister of Internal Affairs, on the 28th June, 1920, some forty-five gentlemen being present on invitations sent out by the Government. Rules have been drawn up; and a considerable number of readers have taken advantage of the privileges afforded, among them being several permanent students. The. hours have been fixed at from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, and from 7 till 9 on Monday and Thursday evenings. Whilst the most assiduous workers so far have devoted themselves to New Zealand history, the majority of the readers have asked for English literature. There have been many inquiries for works on sociology generally, law, natural history, and other technical subjects, there being, it is evident, a considerable demand for a technological library in Wellington. It should be understood that, primarily, the Turnbull Library must continue to specialize in oceanic history, topography, and ethnology. Under the generous recess-privilege system in existence in connection with the General Assembly Library, students of current sociology and politics have access during a large portion of the year to a mass of most valuable material ; and it is desirable, for financial reasons alone, that duplication should be as far as possible avoided. Permits have been issued to between fifty and sixty readers, and for the convenience of many who cannot come during the day the library has been opened on two evenings in the week, fair advantage being taken of this. . . Over four hundred visitors have signed the visitors' book. l The visitors have included many from Great Britain, America, Australia, the islands of the Pacific, besides residents in New Zealand. The staff has worked exceedingly well, for, besides the routine work of classifying and arranging the books and attending to visitors and readers, there is a considerable and growing amount of correspondence not only from New Zealand, but from countries abroad. Many inquiries are received regarding prices and values of books, prints, &c, and there are promises of the library becoming a centre of great and very useful activity. Charles Wilson, Advisory Director. Johannhs C. Andersen, Librarian. The Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.

VI. REPORT OF THE ACTING OFFICER TN CHARGE, WAR FUNDS OFFICE. War Funds Office, Wellington, 18th June, 1921. The financial year ended 31st March, 1921, has been largely occupied by development of the comprehensive scheme designed with a view to the consolidation of patriotic funds, their conservation, and judicious administration at the hands of the executives of the provincial societies. The principal functions of operating societies being to provide " relief and assistance to soldiers and sailors and their dependants," "the provision of extra comforts to men in hospital," "the maintenance of convalescent and veterans' homes, clubs, and hostels," and " the upkeep of memorialpark trusts," this has enabled the closing of numerous funds and the transfer of the moneys held to the provincial incorporated societies, which has been effected without detriment to tin-, interests of those for whom the moneys were raised. At the 31st March, 1920, there were 415 separate funds operating in the Dominion, and during the financial year ended 31st March, 1921, no less than 204 were closed, leaving 211 active at that date.