(Mr. B. H. Woodward) and the librarian (Mr. J. S. Battye), waited upon the
Premier and asked that the buildings be enlarged in order to meet the ever-
increasing demands that were made upon them.

Sir James Lee Steere said that at the end of the present year there would
be no room for any more books in the present library. The want of room was
also being felt in the Art Gallery and Museum. There were pictures and
sculptures to the value of £5,000 now in the building and many of the
paintings were so “skied” that they could not be seen. Space was now
required for 50 mammals, 300 birds, 600 eggs, and large varieties of
reptiles and other things under order from England. The committee
suggested that a new library be built. The structure need be merely a
shell, and could at a later stage be faced in an ornamental manner. The
building at present used for a library could be used for museum purposes,
and a new gallery could be built for art (pictures and sculptures).

Mr. Hackett said that by June, 1901, the committee expected to have 43,000
books in the library, and there was only accommodation for 40,000. Any
space given to books must be taken away from that allocated to readers. At
present all the reading space was taken up, and if they divided the
library between two floors it was just as bad for the books as it was for
the readers. The committee had many art subjects which they really could
not properly exhibit.

The Premier, in reply, said he would see what he could do to meet the
wishes of the deputation when considering the estimates in the coming
financial year. He did not know how much money would be available, but he
hoped to have wiped off the deficit, and to have a little over for public
works and buildings. He promised to give the matter careful consideration,
and do what he could.

Mr. Hackett : If you spread it over two years we will be satisfied.

The deputation then withdrew.