3

H.—24

The number of vouchers for printing and advertising examined during the year in the accountant's office was 3,322; the deductions made therefrom, £109 65.; and the total amount passed for payment, £8,546 13s. Id. Stbbbotype Branch. The number of stereotype plates cast last year was 1,352; of electrotypes, 1,299 ; and 411b. of leads of various sizes were cast for office use. The number of rubber stamps manufactured for Government departments was 158. The railway-ticket printing executed by this branch during the year was as follows : Railway tickets, 2,085,658; season tickets, 11,227; flag-station tickets, 340,800; luggage tickets, 63,500; parcels tickets, 40,200; weighbridge tickets, 17,000. Stationery Office. The prices of papers and stationery have had a slightly downward tendency since my last report; and, by the judicious selection of special lines from different manufacturers, the best value has been obtained for the outlay, and the purchases on the whole have, I consider, never been more favourable. The rise in freights led to my ordering somewhat in advance of requirements, in order to take advantage of the lower rates offering by sailing vessels; and, though the arrival of the goods cannot be calculated upon with certainty, I have experienced no inconvenience by the change, and have thereby succeeded in lessening the expenditure by a considerable amount. The total cost of the stationery and binding material purchased last year was as follows: — £ s. a. Goods purchased in England ... ... ... ... 8 v 207 6 1 Goods purchased in foreign countries ... ... ... 326 Goods purchased in the colony ... ... ... ... 1,246 15 5 9,457 4 0 The freight on goods purchased out of the colony was £713 7s. 9d., and on goods purchased and shipped within the colony £99 35.; making a total of £812 10s. 9d. The number of requisitions received and complied with during the year ending the 31st December last was 10,673, or at the rate of 35 per day. The number of separate items in the requisitions was 43,685. The quantity of waste paper shipped was 48 tons, representing in value £122, which was sold to the local paper-mills. I have, &c, Geo. Didsbuet, Government Printer and Stores Manager. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.