H,— 22.

Exchanges. —In cases where more than one copy of a book is held in the Library a policy of exchange has been pursued. By this means copies of current New Zealand publications have been secured without any financial outlay. Etchings. —Through the kind offices of Mr. J. M. A. Ilott, of Wellington, and with the skilled assistance of Mr. S. P. Andrew, of Wellington, it was made possible to forward copies of the Rembrandt etchings in the Library to Mr. Harold J. Wright, a London expert, for examination. A detailed report in respect of each etching has now come to hand from Mr. Wright, who estimates that one of the etchings is worth £300 and the others of lesser amounts. The voluntary assistance of Messrs. Ilott and Andrew and the complimentary report from Mr. Wright are much appreciated. Readers and Students. —Forty-three new readers' permits were issued, and students have been working regularly in the library through the year, day and evening. The principal subjects studied were New Zealand politics, aspects of Maori life and history, provincial and district histories, and biographies of various New Zealand statesmen, &c. The classics and English literature, including drama and poetry, have also been much used. Visitors. —There were about six hundred and sixty visitors, as compared with about seven hundred in the preceding year. Correspondence. —Many inquiries have been received regarding books and pictures and their values, historical subjects, &c. Inward and outward communications number about 1,500. Accommodation. —The present building has almost reached its capacity for shelving, and the students and readers have increased to such numbers that two rooms have had to be arranged for them. The need for the provision of further accommodation has accordingly become acute. Dominion Museum. Maori Ethnology. —The repainting of the designs on the rafters for the Turanga house has now been completed. There is little more to be done to the house until the actual building in position in the new Museum takes place. The top strakes for the war canoe " Teremoe " have been completed and fitted. To finish the equipment of this canoe there remains to be carved the thwarts, while the decking, battens, and various ornaments have still to be added. The work of arranging the Maori exhibits for the new Museum is proceeding. The Director examined an ancient Maori oven on Mount Egmont which is of especial interest as indicating that the last eruption of the mountain was comparatively recent. Foreign Ethnology.—The exhibits from several of the Pacific Islands have been arranged in the showcase provided for the purpose of working out details for the new Museum. Birds. —The work of remounting the old collection has been carried on. The few additions made during the year have been mounted for exhibition. Insects. —The rearrangement of the New Zealand Lepidoptera is nearing completion. Some collecting was carried out in the Tararuas and the specimens mounted and added to the collection, which is now fairly representative of all orders of New Zealand insects. Herbarium. —A rearrangement involving an amalgamation of all the collections constituting the herbarium is being carried out. Collecting was done in the Tararuas on both Mount Holdsworth and Mount Hector by different members of the staff. International Exchange Service. —Thirty-four cases of publications from the Smithsonian Institute and a few publications from European exchange services have been distributed to various recipients throughout the. Dominion. Work for Publication. —A reference book on New Zealand birds by the Director was published in August last. Mr. Elsdon Best has completed the manuscript for a bulletin on Maori forest lore, the illustrations for which are now being prepared by the Museum artist. A paper on the plant genus Goriaria has been completed by the Director, and one on Coprosma is being prepared. Several papers on New Zealand fishes and some notes on Maori artifacts have been published by Mr. Phillipps. Office of Reoistrar-Genebal. Legislation.—The recent amending Act modified the requirements of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1924, in respect of the registration of births of illegitimate children, and also provided a modus operandi for the registration of deaths of members of the New Zealand Naval Forces occurring outside New Zealand. Registrations. —The following business was transacted during the year 1930 : Birth registrations (including correcting entries), 28,361 ; adoptions registered, 413 ; legitimations, 345 ; births registered under section 24, 102; death registrations (including correcting entries), 12,267; marriage notices, 11,191 ; marriages (including 2,314 by registrars), 11,138 ; dissolutions of marriage registered, 597 ; Maori birth registrations, 2,002 ; Maori death registrations, 907 ; Maori marriages under Native Land Act, 345 ; dentists registered, 13 ; searches and certificates (Head Office), 39,333. . '.; x

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