H.—22

18

Out of the books already catalogued in the Oceanic Section close upon one thousand volumes have been sent to the Government Printer—about one-third for binding and two-thirds for lettering, , Comparatively small expense will be incurred with regard to the other portion of the library — that comprising English and foreign literature —as a vast majority of the volumes therein arc well bound, and generally in much better condition than those in the Oceanic Section. Once the binding and lettering of the Oceanic Section is completed, the annual expenditure on binfling and lettering will be very small. Additions to tiik Lnikahv. Shortly after I he publication of last year's report it was found that the laic Mr. Turnbiill had arranged with the famous London firm of booksellers, Bernard Quaritch, Limited, to gel together a collection of literature dealing with the history of the British stage, intending no doubt that such should form a supplement to or complement of the extensive and most valuable collection of Englishjdiamatio literature which he had built up with such infinite care and industrious research. The Government decided that the collection ordered by Mr. Turnbul] should be taken over by the State for the library, and the books have since arrived. The collection includes over live hundred volumes, many of them being rare and valuable works, and constitutes a mass of literature Oil the history of the British stage from Elizabethan times to the present day which is probably Unequalled in any library outside thai of the British Museum. Donations to THE LIBRART, During the year between eighty and ninety volumes and several manuscript biographies have been generously donated to the library by His Honour Mr. Justice, Chapman, the Rev, W. J. ('oniric, Miss J. 11. Edwin, and Mr. E. N. Story. The thanks of the public, are due to the donors. It is to be hoped that the library will become the repository of many historical and literary collections formed by private persons. Future Purchases. Upon the subject of future purchases I recently made special recommendations and proposals to (he Hon. the Minister of Internal Affairs. The general policy should be, I consider, thai only the section dealing with the history, geography, ethnology, and sociology of the Pacific and lands therein should be regularly augmented by purchase and thus kept up to date. Certain sets of important publications and series subscribed to by the late Mr. Tiirnbull are, it is proposed, to be completed. An estimate of the suggested annual expenditure on the purchase of books has been furnished to the lion. (I. J. Anderson, Minister of Interna] Affairs, by me. after consultation with Mi , . J. ('. Andersen, Librarian to the Turnbull Library. FIRK PRESERVATION. The greater part of the work of making the library building fireproof has been finished. Some delay has been caused by the shortage of necessary material and by the lack of workmen. Most of the ironwork is now complete, and only some plastering and finishing now remains to be done. Ol'HNINI! OF THE LIBRARY. The Minister of Internal Affairs has authorized the public opening of the library during the first week of the session. The general public will then have an opportunity of seeing the extent of the splendid gift which (he late Mr. Turnbull so generously made to the nation. Suitable tables, with locked drawers, are being provided for the use of research workers and others using the library, and it is anticipated that full advantage will be taken of the rich mine of information of the discovery and history generally of New Zealand, Australia, and the various islands of the' Pacific which the library will place at the disposal of students. Until such time as it is deemed necessary and desirable to have a printed catalogue, the general detailed card catalogue of subjects and authors will be available for inspection and use. All books on that catalogue, so far as it has been completed, are now ready for reference. The catalogue will be regularly added to at short intervals until the whole Oceanic Section—including pamphlets —has been included therein. For the convenience of students generally it has been arranged that the library shall be open to the public during the afternoon and evening from 2.30 to 5 p.m., and from 7 to I) p.m., the ordinary Government holidays being observed. The Stapp. The library staff consists, as last year, of Mr. Johannes C. Andersen, Librarian (upon data supplied by whom this report has been mainly based), and Misses Gray, Cowles, and Davidson, assistants The specially diligent and intelligent discharge of their duties by the, assistants has been, 1 feel it my duty to saw largely responsible for the tine record achieved in the cataloguing work. Chaklkk Wilson, Advisory Director, Turnbull Library. The tinder-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.