22 T. P. ANDERSON STUART. 



of these were incomplete, many indeed quite fragmen- 

 tary. The special objects of the catalogue were to show 

 the scientific writer what journals were open to him for 

 reference, where they were to be found, and how far they 

 were complete in any one library. To the librarian it 

 showed what sets were to be completed by exchange or 

 purchase, what sets might be discontinued owing to being 

 not very often wanted and beiug already sufficiently repre- 

 sented in other libraries, and, money thus being set free, 

 what other journals might be purchased. This catalogue 

 has been found to be of the utmost value, and its idea has 

 been adopted elsewhere. But it has long been unobtainable, 

 and a second edition has been undertaken by a committee 

 representing the various libraries. 



Co-ordination of Laboratories.— Some two or three years 

 ago I proposed to Mr. Barling, at that time of the 

 Public Service Board, that the Board should try to bring 

 tinder some scheme of co-operation the rather numerous 

 scientific institutions supported by the State. I pointed 

 out that they were each somewhat isolated from each 

 other, being here and there about the city, more or less, 

 according to the administrative department under which 

 they are placed. And there is no doubt that much of what 

 I urged is true. If they were nearer together, perhaps, 

 but not necessarily, under one roof, a central library of 

 reference would be a great help to work, and mutual infor- 

 mation, advice and support would be more easily obtain- 

 able. We are all isolated enough by geographical conditions 

 beyond our control ; there is no necessity for accentuating 

 the isolation by topographical conditions which are entirely 

 within our control. My idea was that as far as possible 

 the different laboratories, etc., should come under the 

 hegemony of the University, and that as many of them as 

 possible should be brought together and formed into some 



