H.—IE

1878. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION. (LITERARY INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES SUBSIDIES.)

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated Zlst July, 1878. Ordered, " That a return be laid upon tho table showing the names of the public libraries which have received subsidies under ' The Public Libraries Subsidies Act, 1877,' and the amount awarded to each."— Mr. Wakefield.

" Public Libraries Subsidies Act, 1877." Distribution of Vote of £5,000 amongst Education Boards. Education Board. Amount. £ s. a. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,025 7 0 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... ... 10-1 15 0 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... 55G 7 0 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... 179 0 0 Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... ... 97 C 0 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... 312 18 0 Westland ... ... ... ... ... ... 211 4 0 Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,068 17 0 Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,444 6 0 £5,000 0 0

Copy of Circular sent to Education Boards. Sir, — Education Department, Wellington, 21st Eebruary, 1878. I have the honor, by direction of the Minister of Education, to forward a copy of " The Public Libraries Subsidies Act, 1877," and to request the attention of your Board to the second section thereof. The sum voted for the purpose specified in the Act is £5,000. The proportion, according to population, which would fall to your provincial district is £ ; and Government are prepared to intrust this sum to your Board for distribution within the Provincial District of , on the following conditions: — 1. That the requirements of the second section of the Act shall be strictly complied with; and 2. That, if the limits of your education district are altered by " The Education Act, 1877," an equitable distribution of the money will be made by your Board, nevertheless, amongst all the public libraries within the said provincial district the managers of which shall comply with the provisions of the Libraries Subsidies Act. You will therefore be good enough to cause a voucher to be forwarded for the amount abovementioned should your Board undertake its distribution in accordance with the conditions herein specified. In connection with this subject I may suggest the advisability of your Board iucluding in its annual report information relative to public or school libraries within your district. I have, &c, The Chairman of the Education Board. John Hislop. I—H. If.