produce of the colony. Australia has not passed any law of the kind, so the few books that appear in the colony have, as a rule, to be purchased by the Museum as soon as their existence is known.
The literature of the Crown Colonies has during the last few years been collected and sent to the Museum, in accordance with a series of ordinances. The total output is extremely small, there being some colonies each year that seem to publish nothing whatever. From Cyprus two copies are received, one of which is sent on to the Bodleian. The learned frequenters of that library are said to be quite unable to translate the corrupt Greek in which these publications are written. The subjoined table will show how the legislation in the Colonies on this subject has progressed : —
Colony | Date of Act or Ordinance providing for Despatch of New Publications to London. |
Ceylon | 1885 |
Straits Settlements | 1886 |
Cyprus | 1887 |
Jamaica | " |
Newfoundland | " |
Sierra Leone | " |
Cape Colony | 1888 |
Hong-Kong | " |
Malta | " |
River Gambia | " |
Trinidad | " |
Mauritius | 1893 |
Canada | 1895 |
Perak | " |
Natal | 1896 |