H.—2

2

Stereotype Branch. The number o£ stereotype plates cast last year was 1,783; of electrotypes, 3,493; and 911b. of leads of various sizes were cast for office use. The number of rubber stamps manufactured for Government departments was 2,147. The above figures all show a considerable advance on those for the previous year. Among the electrotypes are included six plates of Samoan postage-stamps, and four of Tongan, each plate containing 120 stamps; also two plates of New Zealand postage-stamps, each containing 240 stamps, and two plates of post-cards. The railway-ticket printing executed by this branch during the year shows a steady increase. The numbers were: Railway tickets, 2,805,616; season tickets, 13,202; flagstation tickets, 353,400; luggage tickets, 67,300; parcels tickets, 35,500; weighbridge tickets, 19,800. The printing of the railway tickets required 13,432 separate alterations, being an average of one alteration to every 208 tickets. Stationery Store. The number of requisitions received and complied with during the nine months ending the 31st December last was 10,427, or at the rate of 44 per day. The number of separate items in the requisitions was 49,749. The receipts from the sale of official publications amounted to 361,272 6s. 7d. The quantity of waste paper shipped was 40 tons, representing in value £100, which is ail disposed of to local paper-mills at ,£2 10s. per ton. Now that supplies can be obtained promptly and expeditiously from England by direct steamers, the stocks of all kinds of printing-papers and stationery have been considerably reduced. Instead of ordering annually as previously, orders are now made up about every alternate month. The reduction in stock lessens the risk in the event of an outbreak of fire on the premises, and, as no insurances are effected on either building or stock, this is an important consideration. Arrangements have been made with Messrs. J. Bayley and Co., of Dunedin, for the supply of parchment required for the Stationery Store. This firm, lam assured, have surmounted the initial difficulties attendant upon the starting of a new industry, and have undertaken to supply all my requirements during the coming year. The number of rolls purchased last year was 178, representing in value £667 10s. With the exception of a small quantity of special air-dried paper, the whole of the brown paper issued from store has been obtained from the local mills. The quality of this production has greatly improved of late. An attempt has been made to introduce locally-manufactured writing-ink, but, I regret to say, without much success. The corrosive properties of the ink soon render the pens unserviceable. The quality must be improved before the departments generally can be induced to use it. Local manufacturers supply all twine required, and the oil used for machinery, &c. Honey, now being obtainable at a reasonable figure, is used extensively for roller-making instead of treacle. Among the articles manufactured on the establishment may be mentioned brass galleys, brass blocks for electric lights, the brasses for brass-bound books, brass spike-files, &c. Lyttelton Gaol. The work executed at the Lyttelton Gaol Printing Office during the year is valued at £708 7s. The number of separate jobs ordered was 440, of which 1,229,559 copies were printed. I have, &c, George Didsbury, Government Printer and Stores Manager. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.