His health was not good and after sick leave in 1889 he resigned in 1890. A few years later he went to Australia and until his death in 1925 was engaged in writing, being the author of a life of Sir George Grey and of The Pastoral Age in Australia.

The Library Committee advertised the vacancy and recommended the appointment of the Hon. J. W. Fortescue, then Governor's Secretary. The choice did not seem popular and there was some argument in the House whether or not it was legal to appoint an officer when the salary had not been voted. As a result the application was withdrawn. Though this may have been a bad thing for the Library, it was a good one for other reasons. Today Sir John Fortescue is known as the author of the monumental History of the British Army as well as other books, and for having been the Royal Librarian at Windsor.

The Committee then appointed Mr H. L. James, b.a., Acting Librarian. Mr James had joined the staff in 1889 and continued as a member until 1923. He was a born librarian, hampered by devotion to detail and the desire to do the almost impossible. Generally whatever he did was sound and has stood the test of time. For 10 years until January 1901 he was in charge. Though two attempts were made to appoint him Librarian, and one (in 1891) to appoint the Serjeant-at-Arms, Colonel De Quincey, Librarian, it was not until 1900, when the new building was almost completed, that the necessity for further staff made some additional appointments necessary and a Chief Librarian was appointed.

Mr James' main monument is the Library Catalogue. The first catalogue had been printed in 1862 in London, and it lists a good working collection for Parliament. Other editions appeared in 1872, 1875, 1880, and 1884, each having one or more supplements.

However useful they were from the members' point of view, they were not the best examples of the cataloguer's art. In 1890 the Committee authorised a new edition and the supervision was entrusted to Mr James, the work of compilation being done by Mr B. E. Stocker, m.a. The manuscript was completed in May 1894, but the cost of printing was so great that the length of the entries had to be cut again and again. The first volume was issued in 1895 and the second in 1897.

Unfortunately the catalogue does not give the Dewey Class number for the books. This system was adopted in April 1898 and has provided a more systematic arrangement of the books.

The staff, which consisted of a single full-time member in 1866, had in 1886 grown to three full-time assistants with two extra assistants during the session. By 1899 the staff was five assistants and a mailman. The latter was employed because for many years the Library also served as post office. Stamps were sold, and an extra assistant was employed for fetching and posting mails. The Library Committee frequently suggested that the day had arrived for the Library staff to be relieved of these duties but it was not until 1923 that the post office moved to its present location. About 1910, however, a mailman was provided by the post office, though he still worked under the charge of the Chief Librarian.

As the day when the Library would move to its new home drew nearer the question of staff became more important, particularly the question of a Chief Librarian. It was thought impracticable to have Mr James appointed, and during the session of 1899 the matter was seriously considered. A subcommittee recommended that a Chief Librarian (at a salary of £400) be selected in England and that certain other additions be made. The question of an English appointment was vigorously debated until finally in September 1900 selection in New Zealand was recommended. The position was advertised in the New Zealand Gazette and Mr Charles Wilson, former journalist, and M.H.R. for Wellington Suburbs for two years, was appointed. Mr Wilson, who was a member of the Library Committee, had not sought re-election in 1899.

As Mr Wilson did not take up his new duties until February 1901, the task of making arrangements for moving into the new building fell to Mr James. Though the building was completed in 1899, it was at first too damp to hold books, and later the shelving was not ready for the stock. Mr James, however, went steadily ahead with classification while a barrage of correspondence aimed at hastening the day for entry into the new home was maintained.

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY