LIBRARIES. 13 
Messrs. Briggs & Co.’s design was thereupon adopted, and the work 
of erection proceeded with. 
On October 13th, the Lord Mayor (the Rt. Hon. W. H. 
Williams), on behalf of the Library, Museums and Arts Committee, 
presented to Miss Mary L. Hornby a silver casket containing a 
vellum scroll upon which was written the resolution of thanks the 
City Council had unanimously voted for her numerous and valuable 
donations to the Public Library of books in Braille type for the use 
of blind readers. 
I take this opportunity to draw attention to the cramped 
conditions under which the varied work of this department is at 
present carried on. Apart from the question of storage of books 
which will have to be considered by the Committee in the near 
future, the provision of improved accommodation for administration 
calls for immediate attention. There is no office accommodation in 
the building, yet the amount of clerical work and bookkeeping 
entailed by the administration of the Reference Library and eleven 
Lending Libraries, the Free Lectures, and the letting of the Picton 
and Small Lecture Halls, is very great. At present most of this 
work is done in a room that should be reserved for the use of 
Readers who apply to refer to the rare and valuable books it is 
undesirable to issue in the General Reading Rooms. 
LECTURES. 
The Free Lectures provided for the public in various parts of the 
City numbered 165 for adults, and 20 for children. The attendances 
amounted to 81,160. The reduction in attendances compared with 
previous years was principally caused by the General Elections 
occurring in the midst of the sessions. 
GEO. T. SHAW, 
Curer LiprariAn. 
