H.—lf

6

Sib, — Education Office, Dunedin, 7th August, 1878. In reply to your circular of the Ist instant, I have to state that the distribution of the vote for public libraries has not yet taken place. "When the Education Board agreed to take charge of the amount voted by the Government, a resolution was passed to the effect that the system of subsidizing public libraries which has been in operation in Otago for so many years should still bo continued. The system referred to is as follows : —Library Committees are invited by advertisement to forward to tho Education Office a list of the books they think suitable, and which they are desirous of obtaining for the use of their libraries. Upon receipt of these lists, an order is made out and forwarded to tho Board's agents in Britain. The order is intrusted to a firm of booksellers in Edinburgh, who supply the books at publishers' prices. On receipt of the invoices from Britain, catalogues are printed and sent out to every Library Committee. Committees are allowed to select books to double the value of the sum deposited by them, the Board supplementing their contributions at the rate of pound for pound. The selection of books by Committees is not restricted to the supply procured by the Board. Committees may purchase books from any of the booksellers, the Board supplementing the amount paid at the rate of pound for pound. The bookseller's receipts are taken as evidence of the amount paid. No profit is charged by the Board on any of the books, and they are supplied to the Committees at cost price. The books are all uniformly and strongly bound in half calf. As the books recently ordered from Britain have not yet arrived, I am unable at present to give a detailed statement of the distribution of the sum of £1,444 6s. granted by the G-overnment for public libraries. I shall not be able to do so until after the arrival of the books, and the claims of the various Committees have been met. I have, &c, P. G. Petde, The Secretary, Education Department, "Wellington. Secretary, Education Board.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH EDUCATION BOARDS RELATIVE TO MR. KELLY'S QUESTION: " Whether any portion of tho grant of £5,000 for public libraries has been given to libraries within boroughs, not being free libraries within the meaning of "The Public Libraries Subsidies Act, 1877." — {Mr. Kelly.) (Circular.) Wellington, 24th August, 1878. Please report, for information of Parliament, whether any portion of the recent grant for public libraries has been given to libraries within boroughs not being free libraries within the meaning of the Subsidies Act — see particularly, section 7. If so, please give particulars as to names and amounts paid, and explanation. The Secretary, Education Board. John Hislop.

Eiccarton ... St. Alban's ... St. Alban's Mechanics' Institute Saltwater Creek Southbridge... Southbrook... Springston ... Taitapu Templeton ... Temuka "Waimate Wainui Wakanui Waltham Waterton ... Weeden West Melton Winchester... Woodend ... Taldhurst ... £ s. d. 7 13 2 3 14 5 5 0 0 2 13 5 31 19 9 4 9 0 9 5 3 4 10 10 4 16 2 29 12 9 37 10 11 4 15 5 7 13 2 12 6 7 7 9 7 0 7 1 4 5 6 7 14 11 10 10 10 8 2 1 £ s. d. Advertising, " Timaru Herald " "Press" "Times" „ " South Canterbury Times " „ "New Zealand Sun" „ " Ashburton Mail" „ " Waimate Star " „ "Akaroa Mail" ... „ " Temuka Leader " ,, " Eangiora Standard " Printing, Tombs & Co. Eeceipt Stamps, 5s. 6d.; and Petty Cash, 7s. 6d. ... 0 8 9 0 8 8 0 8 0 0 7 6 0 7 0 0 10 6 0 10 0 0 12 0 0 12 0 0 6 1 1 13 6 0 13 0 £1,068 17 0