H.—lo

4

fasteners, 864 elastic bands, 12,000 eyelets, 12 letter-clips, 12 dozen pieces red tape, 12 pints red ink, 12 pints copying ink, and 8 reams blotting paper. These were reduced to 2,712, 24, 36, 36, 864, 288, 3,000, 6, 6, 3, 6, and 1 respectively Cancelled and obsolete forms printed on one side only which were originally thrown away as waste paper, are now utilized, mail notices and, in some instances, departmental forms being printed on the unused side. This has also materially assisted to reduce the expenditure for paper. A greater reduction would have been observable in the last indent but for the increase in prices of stationery under the last contract, an increase amounting in the aggregate to nearly 20 per cent. I cannot account for this, as the prices in the English markets have not altered. The annual amounts received by the sale of official publications during the past four years have been as follow: 1877, £561 2s. Gd.; 1878, £668 12s. 4d.; 1879, £887 4s. 4d.; 1880, £1,277 Bs. Agents have also been appointed in all the principal towns of the colony A very satisfactory increase to the store revenue has been obtained by the sale of useless forms and waste-paper. During the year 1880 forty-two tons were shipped to England, and sold at prices ranging from £5 9s. to £7 9s. per ton ; thirteen tons wero also disposed of in the colony, at £4 per ton. In addition to the ordinary store work, the shipping and landing of packages for all departments, with the exception of Telegraph, Marine, Defence, and Pu.blic Works, is done by this department. The numerical strength of the staff lias been reduced. There were six officers and one parcel-boy employed prior to the 31st August, 1880: subsequent to that date, only five and one boy But by a careful classification of stock, and a rearrangement of duties apportioned to each officer, the efficiency of the store has not suffered. Prior to 1879 the salaries amounted to £905, and the rental of sheds to £100 per annum. Now, the amount paid in salaries is £624, and the rental of sheds rendered unnecessary, thus showing a reduction in working expenses of £381, being equal to 38 per cent. In conclusion, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the active and intelligent co-opera-tion I have at all times received from Mr. J C. Woodward, store clerk, since I assumed the management of the Stationery Department, and its present satisfactory condition is in a great measure due to his exertions. I have, &c, GrEO. DIDSBUET, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary Government Printer

Table No. 1. Return showing the Quantity and Value of Paper consumed in the Government Printing Office for the Year 1880.

Quantity. Description of Paper. Amount. Quantity. Description of Paper. Amount. Ems. QrsFoolscap — Coloured, 14 lb. h.m., 18 lb. Dble. copying „ yellow wove ,, blue wove „ coloured £ e. d. Ems. Qrs. £ s. a. 33 5 88 5 79 5 J,977 10 L,820 5 16 5 553 0 37 5 309 10 45 10 161 0 269 15 1 5 13 5 ,, cream wove Demy— Coloured Blue wove and blue laid Dble. yellow wove Hand-made .. Dble. toned Imitation Dble. buff .. Royal — Yellow wove Coloured Hand-made 13 3 0 99 5 6 15 17 0 1,707 0 2 1,016 16 1 10 2 8 398 12 5 127 0 29 15 2 0 1 0 46 10 39 0 Demy— Dble. glazed buff Large post— 8vo., 24 4 to., 24 Dblo. foolscap — Bank Post folio— Cream wove Dble m.o. Large post—■ Cheque Crown— Dble. yellow wove „ coloured Imperial — Brown 132 5 10 4 0 10 0 11 0 0 9 0 27 18 0 23 8 0 22 13 2 197 6 2 36 8 0 241 10 0 229 5 9 16 0 3 12 10 0 5 3 0 5 0 0 7 7 18 0 1 18 4 13 0 19 10 0 L,106 5 20 5 7 15 97 0 10 5 6 10 516 5 0 15 10 6 22 18 3 341 18 6 17 13 7 12 0 6 25 0 3 0 Demy — Blotting Medium — Loan .. Post 8vo.— Turkey mill .. Foolscap — Dble. buff Pasteboards Parchments, 18 x 27 28 x 32 Small cards Large „ 18 16 9 4 4 0 ,, super. Monkton's 2 0 0 13 4 „ super. .. 12 10 Medium —■ Hand-made 28 15 0 73 15 39f gross 4,815 1,200 10,500 18,500 20 5 6 21 17 3 298 18 3 148 0 0 2 2 0 6 3 4 5 0 36 0 20 0 Imperial — Monkton's Hand-made Cartridge 14 6 3 171 0 0 25 10 0 1 5 Royal— Cartridge 0 18 9 £5,892 7 1