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The natural history collections benefited by some horns of Indian mammals and some snakes, presented by Colonel JR. Bagnall; many fishes, including a conger eel (Muster J. Kershaw) ; large tunny, Chimaera (New Zealand Fisheries, Ltd,) ; mudfish (Mr. J. Miller), and Australian lung fish (Mr. E. Johansen). Several New Zealand birds were received from various donors, mostly found dead after storms. A number of foreign birds were also received. Mr. G. V. Hudson presented a series of specimens of New Zealand cicadas. Through the kind assistance of the Trade and Tourist Commissioner for New Zealand in Canada, eight cases of rocks and minerals have been received from the Department of Mines, Ottawa. There were many other specimens received by donation, by exchange, on deposit, and collected by officers of the Museum staff. Alexander Ttjrnbull Library. The year has been one of considerable interest and event, and the total record makes a notable showing. Cataloguing.■ —The number of volumes classified, catalogued, numbered, and arranged on the shelves is now 46,000. A complete list was also made of all art material in the library, both in books and otherwise, for it forms a much-consulted section. Binding, &c. —Over 600 volumes were sent for binding during the year. In addition, special pamphlet covers have been made and pamphlets inserted therein. This has meant a saving in cost (about 75 per cent.), and obviates the necessity for booklets leaving the premises. Early English Books. —Some preliminary work was begun on early English books in the library, identification being made by reference to the " Short Title Catalogue of English Books before 1640." These are all (about 200 in number) listed now, and many points of bibliographical and literary interest gleaned in the process. These are all rare and esteemed volumes, and will be duly recorded in the formal cataloguing. It appears that the library has copies of books of which very few copies are recorded. Additions. —About 1,400 volumes were added during the year, including about 800 donated. An attempt was made to fill some of the more considerable gaps resulting from the recent years of reduced expenditure, and it is gratifying to be able to supply readers' requests instead of having to refer them elsewhere. Especially is this so where the library is strong in earlier material. A number of notable donations has been received, some of which call for especial mention. Firstly, the scholarly private library of the late A. R. Atkinson, of Wellington, was bequeathed to the four Wellington libraries, and about 700 volumes fell to our portion. The groups selected were English poetry, sets of classic authors, and works on religion. The fullest appreciation is due to the memory of this public-spirited scholar, and, incidentally, thanks to his daughter, Miss J. Atkinson, for her kindly co-operation during the removal of the books. Next in importance is the admirable collection of New Zealand stamps presented by Mr. George Miller, late of Wellington. This most intensively representative set covers the period 1914-35 within certain fields. It is carefully annotated, skilfully mounted, and gathered into four volumes. It is valued at between £75 and £100. An item of the greatest interest from the literary aspect was the gift of an oil painting by the late Samuel Butler (author of " Erewhon ", &c.). This was presented by Mr. W. D. Ferguson, grandson of William Sefton Moorhouse, to whom Butler gave the work. It depicts a girl's head, and is a picture of some skill and expression. A rare Maori artifact to be received was a handsome patu paraoa, or whalebone mere, the gift of Mrs. O. W. Fowler, of Hamilton, a descendant of W. Mein Smith, Surveyor-General of the New Zealand Company —the surveyor who laid out and drew the plan of the City of Wellington. The library has benefited before through the liberality of this family. Dr. F. A. Bett, of Nelson, who last year presented the valuable collection of first issues of New Zealand Queen's head all on their covers to the library, again demonstrated his interest by sending a copy of Combe's J River Thames " with coloured aquatints by Boydell. The plates are in first-class condition, and are a valuable addition to both the art group and the English descriptive material. This volume in a recent catalogue, is priced at £40. It might be noted that, in accordance with a wish of Dr. Bett, two expert members of the Wellington Philatelic Society have been critically examining the full face stamps with a view to their certain identification and cataloguing. The collection is valued at about £1,000. Of antarctic interest is a manuscript journal kept by H. McNeish, of Shackleton's expedition. McNeish was left behind when the leader set out on his epic journey to South Georgia, and the journal provides a consecutive account of the events up to the departure of Shackleton. This manuscript was the gift of Mr. H. T. M. Fathers, of Wellington. Especially notable are the following donations : a complete bound set of the Public Service Journal to date, from Mr. F. W. Millar, General Secretary of the Public Service Association ; a copy of Culpepper's Herbal, with coloured engravings (1815), from Mrs. L. D. Hurst, Wellington ; a large sumptuously-illustrated catalogue of illuminated manuscripts by the Burlington Society,' from Miss E. Harcourt; a German work reviewing, upon the Bicentenary of Luther, the influence of his work, 1728, from Miss A. Dasent, Karori; and from Sir Truby King, the Atlas National des Departements de France, a finely engraved pictorial series of maps. From Mrs. and the late Mr. T. R. Moore, of Palmerston North, came a collection of miscellaneous literature, biography, and a number of valuable New Zealand books.

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