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372. You are the only permanent officer? —I am the only one permanently employed. The others also are permanent officers. 373. They do not work during the recess ? —They have no work to do for Hansard except finishing the index. 374. How many of them are there whose time is at their own disposal during the recess ?—Six. 375. Do they receive a certain salary for the work they do ?—Yes ; £300 a year. 376. What becomes of these gentlemen during the recess ? Do they give attention to other things, as reporting, and so forth ?—Yes. 377. But you are permanently at work during the recess ? —Yes. , 378. Is not that a mistake ? Is not your time at your disposal as much as the others ?—No. 379. How is that ?—I am Secretary to the Civil Service Examination Board. 380. That is not in connection with ,the Hansard staff? —No; the Mansard ceases when the Hansard work is done. . 381. Then, your time is occupied as Secretary to the Civil Service Examination Board?— Yes; I have been Secretary to the Board since its establishment in 1869, for which I have received no extra salary. The Examination Board gives me a bonus of £100 a year for preparing the examination papers—in English, arithmetic, history, and geography for the junior; and for the senior examinations, Latin, French, sometimes Greek, algebra, geometry, and shorthand. The reason for doing that was that the Board, which is chiefly composed of heads of departments, found that they had not the time to do the work, and if any one outside were employed to do the work it would cost a considerable sum more. As I was found capable, they got me to do it, with the sanction of the Government. That was in 1870. Since then I have prepared all these papers. The Board examines over two hundred candidates every year, as can be seen by reference to the annual report of the Board, which is presented to Parliament. As each candidate pays a fee of 10s. 6d., which goes into the Public Account, the cost of preparation of these papers and the revision of the answers is more than covered. Many of the primary and secondary schools use these examination papers for test examinations; and the Judges of the Supreme Court accept the senior examination in some subjects as a general-knowledge pass-examination. 382. Is shorthand-writing one of the tests?—lt is not a compulsory test; but special advantages are held out to candidates for proficiency. I might be permitted to say, with regard to the secretarial duties, for which I do not receive any extra remuneration, that they have been so great during the past year or two that I have not been out of Wellington for more than a day within the last two years. 383. Do I understand you that there are no means of utilizing the gentlemen on the permanent staff?— That is a question that I cannot answer ; it would be a question for the departments to answer. I may also state that I have had on many occasions also to report special cases in appeals in the Supreme Court, and other duties of that sort without extra remuneration. 384. Suppose one or more of the other gentlemen of the staff were asked to report such cases, would they do so.? —They would require extra remuneration. 385. When Hansard Eeporters are employed on Commissions, or by a Minister while travelling, or for anything of that kind, what is the rate of pay ? —I think that, generally, they make special arrangements. I have had nothing to say to it. I believe the rate of pay has been two guineas, and Is. per folio for transcribing ; or it may be a guinea a sitting for secretarial and reporting duties : but I cannot speak with certainty upon that. Ido know that accounts have been referred to me to say whether the charges were right or not. Any charge that did not exceed two guineas a sitting and Is. a folio I always considered right, because that is the professional charge.

Friday, 2nd July, 1886. Mr. D. T. Smith in attendance, and examined. 386. The Cliairman.~\ You are Assistant-Librarian ? —Yes. 387. Will you give the Committee the date of your appointment, and how long you have been acting?— Since July, 1871. 388. Are you in charge of the library during the recess ?—Only as assistant. 389. Have you been acting as Librarian?— Yes, I have been acting as Librarian twice. 390. What assistance have you during the session?—We have one who is called the "mailman," and another for looking after the fires, making up packages for members, and generally assisting. 391. During the recess what assistance have you?— None, with the exception of my junior, McColl. For about a month after the session the two lads are kept on to finish up the work that is necessary to be done. They are taken on about two or three weeks before the session begins. 392. Who has charge of the library during the recess ? —The Chief Librarian. 393. Mr. Garrick.~] Does the work of the library necessitate the attendance of the Librarian and an assistant during the recess ?—Yes. 394. Do I understand by that answer that the library is fully used during the recess ? —lf you mean by the question whether the library is open to the public, I might state that all heads of departments have the entree. There are others who, by making application to the Chairman, obtain the entrSe. Heads of departments have the liberty of taking books out, but not the visitors. 395. Is the library fairly used during the recess ?—Yes. 396. So much as to necessitate the attendance of the Assistant-Lbrarian ? —Not so much for that as the work of the library itself ; the same work is going on during the recess as during the session. 397. Is any other assistance necessary during the recess than that of the Assistant-Librarian and Librarian ?—lt has not been so considered hitherto. 3—l. 10.