H.—32.

Tiik Space Question. Long before the projected new Pai Lament Buildings are erected the space problem, if 1 may use the term, will come up for and demand serious consideration. I understand that provision is made in the specification for the Library in a portion of the new buildings for the accommodation of 100,000 volumes. I would point out, however, thai the number of volumes already in the Library is about 80,000, and that a yearly accretion of not less—probably much more as years go by—of 3,000 volumes may be counted upon. Allowing for such an annual increase, the provision for future accommodation for 100,000 volumes would appear to be most lamentably inadequate. Already the lack of sufficient space is a matter which calls for very careful attention. 1 have been obliged to transfer to the basement over 1,000 volumes from the stack-room building in order to make room for the steadily increasing overflow from the classes in the main leading room, the sociology-room, the staff-room. It had been my intention to transfer to the basement the whole of the present contents of what is known as the American room. No. 2 stack-room, but owing to the enforced delay in getting additional shelving erected in the basement, the work of transference could not include this particular. An additional obstacle to carrying out my general plan of rearrangement was the pressure of work entailed by the abnormal amount of work thrown upon the staff by the unusually wide extension of tin recess-privilege system to which I have alluded above. Space must be found for what I may call the "live books" —that is, volumes commonly, almost daily, consulted by members; and to cope with this requirement a regular and systematic scheme of transference must be carried out. Before next session I hope to have the whole of tinAmerican official section transferred to the basement —that is. if the necessary additional shelving be put in hand and erected early enough in the year to allow of the transference being effected. To do this, however, and to carry out in its entirety a well-planned scheme of rearrangement, a period of.at least four to six weeks should be set, apart during which the staff should not be called upon to have to attend to the demands of the recess-privilege holders. The Staff. The staff remains the same as last year. A few weeks before the session I was obliged to obtain the assistance of a young man to assist in transferring books, dusting, Ac. To the probable necessity of increasing the strength of the staff I have alluded under the heading of " Recess Privileges." The work since last session, which has been very onerous and exacting, has been zealously performed by the members of the regular staff, with whose efforts I have to here express complete satisfaction. Miscellaneous. The radiators do their work very well, but would be greatly improved by little open cisterns of water being placed along the top of them. At present the complaint, is frequently expressed that the radiators make the air toe dry. and that headache is often the result. The water would, I believe, remove this trouble. The Library has been presented by the Governmenl witli three most interesting miniature portraits, one of Colonel Grey, Sir George Grey's father; one of Sir George Grey's mother; and one of Sir George himself when quite a young man. These are being suitably refrained, and will be placed in a lined case now being made for their reception. I have to tender my thanks to the members of the Recess Library Committee, and particularly to the Chairman, W. Eraser, Esq., M.P., who has, as in former years, been untiring in personal interest in and attention to the general control of the Library; and to Mr. Mackay, the Government Printer, and his staff. I desire also to place on record my satisfaction with the way in which our London agents. Messrs. Sotheran and Co., execute the orders sent to them. Library Accounts. In an appendix will be found tic- Library balance-sheet for the year ended the 31st March, 1911, with a copy of the Auditor's certificate 1 have, (fee, Charles Wilson, Chief Librarian.

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