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Photographs and Microfilm The collection of negatives now exceeds 100,000 and is probably the largest in Australasia. Because of the rapid rate of development, cataloguing is far from complete, but a temporary system gives ready access to most material. The use of these photographs grows steadily as knowledge of the resources and their potentialities grows. Most of the additions have been by presentation, the most important being those of Miss Thelma Kent, donated by Mrs. C. Kent, of Christchurch (New Zealand scenery) ; J. H. Kinnear, by Mrs. M. Kinnear, of Auckland (sailing-ships) ; Schmidt studios collection, by Mr. Dunstan Ely, of Auckland (New Zealand notables), W. A. Price, by Mrs. W. A. Price, of Auckland (New Zealand towns) ; Samuel Head, by. Miss Head, of Christchurch (press photos all over New Zealand) ; and the Weekly Press photos, by the Christchurch Press. As far as possible, where original MSS. of historical importance are not themselves available, the practice is being followed more and .more of obtaining photographic copies on 35 mm. (micro) film. This is being extended to the copying of rare printed books as well. The supplying of texts to readers at a distance, both in New Zealand and overseas, is being done in this medium, though upon occasion by photostat or other comparable methods. This is a growing side of the Library service, and probably presages a revolutionary development in the recording and preservation of research materials in the future. This work is at present done by other Governmental services, and up-to-date reading facilities for such film is available at the library. Manuscripts Section The physical arrangement of the manuscripts has been practically completed, and all sets of papers are now in folders on the shelves, roughly indexed and ready for mere detailed analysis. As at present np full-time staff is engaged on this work, the process is likely to be protracted. Nevertheless, the material is conveniently usable and is of frequent value in reference work, apart from the researches of students. The miscellaneous manuscripts and " signed letters " series have been brought up to date, checked, and indexed, and the formal cataloguing of bound MSS. is in progress. Of new acquisitions, the following are important: The papers, personal, official, and scientific, of Sir Julius von Haast, comprising substantially the background of the monumental biography published by Dr. H. F. von Haast in 1948 ; the private papers of James Edward Fitzgerald, upon whose life is thus shed much new light; the miscellaneous reliquiae of James Cowan, of which the greater part have been published ; the MS. diaries of James I. Wilson and his son, Andrew Wilson, surveyors in the Auckland and Waikato districts, 1855-76 and 1910 respectively ; the diary of Rev. John Aldred, 1846-90, who was a Wesleyan missionary in New Zealand in 1840 ; a diary and account book of Jane Anne Moorhouse, wife of William Sefton Moorhouse, for 1868-69 ; letters of J. D. Bidwell and John Powdrell, Hawkes Bay, 1857-59, from Mr. A. 13. Powdrell, Hawera. From the French Legation, through the interest of M. A. Gazel, came a photographic copy of that part of de Surville's journal relating to New Zealand. Mrs. A. C. W. Mantell-Harding presented several sketches and watercolours done by Dr. Gideon Mantell at an early age. The Mantell collection, presented twenty-two years ago, is one of the richest ornaments of the Library, and this new association is doubly appreciated. Further letters written to Rev. Henry Williams were presented by Mr. Algar Williams, of Christchurch. • Through the courtesy of Canterbury College a volume of typed copies of letters between the Richmond and Atkinson families was deposited here. Printed Books, Acquisitions, and Donations The selection of books, new and old, is careful and within well-defined fields. Of older works, particular satisfaction is felt in the addition of twelve volumes of fifteenth 7 x century printing from presses in German, French, and Italian cities not hitherto

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