§ MR. HOGANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having reference to the donations of Colonial literature recorded at page 26 of the last Annual Report of the Keeper of Printed Books in the British Museum, he is aware that the large and valuable collection of Colonial publications in the Library of the Museum is much in need of classification; and whether, with a view to facilitating the work of the large and increasing number of readers engaged in the study of Colonial subjects, he will suggest to the governing authorities the advisability of compiling a complete sectional catalogue of the books, periodicals, and publications relating to the British Colonies and Dependencies?
§ MR. HANBURYI understand that Colonial books and periodicals are treated exactly like home publications, and that Colonial official documents are systematically arranged, and can be produced on application to the superintendent of the reading-room, even if they have not actually been entered in the catalogue. The compilation of a complete sectional catalogue as suggested would at present seriously interrupt still more pressing work, but the proposal will be considered along with others as soon as the printing of the general catalogue is completed, which will probably be in three years' time. ["Hear, hear!"]