H.—22.

Alexander Turnbull Library. Cataloguing.—The number of volumes classified, numbered, and arranged in order on the shelves is now 36,700. Part of the Pacific collection has been rearranged and more fully catalogued. Very little binding has been possible. Additions. —About three hundred and fifty volumes, including three hundred donated, were added to the library ; those added by purchase being continuations of sets. Donations. —The chief of these are the following : 160 volumes from the executors of the estate of the Pvight Hon. Sir Robert Stout, being works dealing with the Shetland Islands and general literature ; the Shetland books should have gone to the Shetland Society in Wellington, but that society preferred they should come direct to this library ; over fifty volumes from the Swedish International Press Bureau, being works of Swedish literature, and descriptive works partly dealing with Swedes abroad ; about one hundred letters of literary men (including MS. of Thomas Carlyle), statesmen, journalists, and military men, from Hon. W. H. Triggs, M.L.C. ; eighteen enlarged coloured photos of the Western Front, &c., from Mrs. M. Ross ; four typescript volumes relating to Dumas and his works, from Mr. Reed, of Whangarei ; nine volumes of their descriptive catalogues bound in half-morocco from Maggs Bros., London ; eighteen volumes of voyages and general literature from M. Crompton Smith, of Wellington; sixteen volumes of their Year-books from the New Zealand Society of Accountants ; seventeen volumes, essays 011 philosophy, from J. McNaught, of Masterton ; six volumes of MS. journal of John 11. Baker, formerly Commissioner of Crown Lands, &c., from his daughter, Miss N. Baker ; autograph diary of Hon. Sir W. J. Steward during his voyage to NewZealand from Mr. D. Coutts, of Paremata. Special reference is made to the four typescript volumes presented by Mr. Reed, of Whangarei, who is an enthusiastic Dumas collector, and whose collection is considered to be the most complete collection outside of France. Two of the volumes presented comprise a bibliography of the Dumas writings, and in addition to incorporating all that there is in the printed Dumas bibliographies, adds much MS. poetry and other matter, a good deal of which is unpublished. The other two volumes are translations by Mr. Reed of " The Whalers," and " The Journal of Madame Giovanni." The former deals with whaling in the South Seas and the latter is a journal of a French woman's sojourn in New Zealand. Neither of these have been translated before.. The Department is gratefully indebted to the above-named donors and to many others for valuable donations. Readers and Students. —Fifty-one new readers' permits were issued, and students have been working regularly in the library through the year, day and evening. The principal subjects studied were New Zealand politics, aspects of Maori life and history, provincial and district histories, and biographies of various New Zealand statesmen. The classics and English literature, including drama and poetry, have also been much used. Visitors. —There were about six hundred and thirty visitors, as compared with about six hundred and sixty in the preceding year. Correspondence. —Many inquiries have been received regarding books and pictures and their values, historical subjects, &e. Inward and outward communications number about 1,600. Rotorua Acclimatization District. Bird Life. —Native pigeon, tui, bell-bird, kiwi, whitehead, grey warbler, and white-breasted tit are to be found in parts of the district in fair numbers. Pukeko is plentiful and the bittern fairly numerous in some of the swamp areas. The fern-bird is to be heard in fair numbers around Tokaanu. There are small lots of paradise duck on some lakes. Hamurana appears to be the only place where black teal are plentiful. California!] quail increased during the year, but Australian quail and Virginian quail have not shown any increase. Pheasants are fairly numerous throughout the district and grey duck are holding their own in the Wairoa, Taupo, and Bay of Plenty localities, and are found in fair numbers in other suitable places. One hundred and seventy-two pheasants were liberated. Opossums. —Twenty-one licenses and two permits were issued, while 1,950 skins were stamped. Thermal Fisheries. Ova.—The number of rainbow-trout eggs stripped at the Tongariro Hatchery Creek was 6,035,400 ; from. Waiotaka, 91,000 ; and 35,000 from the Waiohira. In addition, 20,000 brown-trout eggs were collected from fish trapped in the Waiotaka. Eyed Ova. —Of the eggs collected at the Waiotaka and Hatchery Creeks and eyed at Tongariro Hatchery, 1,790,000 were sold to acclimatization societies. Fry.—Liberations were as follows : Taupo district, 1,164,000 ; Rotorua and Bay of Plenty, 2,486,000 ; Waikaremoana and Wairoa, 407,000. In each case the figures are in excess of last year. Sales to acclimatization societies accounted for 149,000. Growth of Fry. —The 2,500 marked fingerlings liberated in Lake Okaro in March, 1931, have done very well. Specimens were taken during December last which produced a condition factor of 66. These fish were over the tegulation size, and were in splendid condition as is shown by the condition factor.

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