taken in that direction. The Arboretum Committee was approached 

 for the purpose of securing the tenancy of the room near the Rosehill 

 Street entrance to the Arboretum, known as the Refreshment Room. 

 They met this Committee very liberally in the matter, and possession 

 was obtained at Michaelmas. The room has been put into repair, and 

 thoroughly cleaned, and on October 31st it was opened as a Reading 

 Room, in which capacity alone it is proposed to use it for some six 

 months to come. A representative number of Papers and Magazines, 

 daily, weekly, and monthly are supplied, and will no doubt be much 

 appreciated. The question of a Library is merely one of finance. 

 There is plenty of room for the accommodation of as many books as 

 the neighbourhood would require, when a suitable time comes for 

 providing them. At present, however, the Committee feel that pro- 

 viding the requisite sum for starting such a Library is a task which 

 with their present income they could scarcely undertake, although once 

 started, they would find little difficulty in maintaining it. In similar 

 cases, in other towns, books have often been obtained by local effort, or 

 as a gift from some public spirited citizen, and this Committee would 

 gladly hear of such a result following the provision of the premises 

 here. 



A portion of the new Catalogue of the Library has been 

 accomplished during the past year. The Scientific books were con- 

 sidered the most important to be dealt with first, as being most in 

 arrear, presenting the most formidable task, and being generally of the 

 most importance. The work was a difficult one, but it has been success- 

 fully coped with, and the Lending portion was issued some months ago, 

 forming a volume of 150 closely printed pages. The Reference portion 

 will be nearly as large, and both it and the Children's Catalogue are 

 now going through the press. Other portions of the Catalogue will be 

 dealt with directly these are finished. This has added much to the 

 Librarian's duties during the year, and the Committee have been 

 obliged to obtain for him additional temporary clerical help. 



The Building is in a good state of repair. The Electric Light in- 

 stallation has proved a complete success. There have been no serious 

 complaints to make as to the supply, and although, as was expected, it 

 is more expensive than gas, the light is better, the air is purer, and 

 there is little or no deterioration in the painting of the walls and 

 ceilings. For the first time since 1881, there is a balance on the 

 wrong side of the account of about £104. This has been occasioned 



