D.—l

56

The other more important miscellaneous works that have been in hand during the year are Extension of training-wall at Collingwood; erection of wharf for coasters at Havelock, and for boats at Picton; removal of signal-station, Westport; erection of jetty to powder-hulk at Dunedin; and the manufacture of 165 sets of points and crossings, and other articles of railway plant, at the different centres. BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings in the Middle Island during the past financial year is as follows :— £ s. d. Judicial ... , ... ... ... ... 5,878 7 8 Postal and Telegraph ... ... ... ... 455 14 7 Customs ... ... ... ... ... 1,659 1 0 Lunatic asylums ... ... .... ... 41,322 8 2 Miscellaneous repairs, alterations, &c. ... ... ... . 11,634 17 4 Total ... ... ... ... £60,950 8 9 Much of this expenditure has been on minor alterations, additions, and repairs, which do not call for special remark. The principal new buildings in progress during the year are as follow: Lunatic asylums at Sunnyside and Seacliff; courthouses at Deep Creek, Ophir, Waikaia, and Eiverton; post office at Port Nelson ; post and telegraph office, Arrowtown ; public offices at Picton; gaolers' houses at Nelson, Lawrence, and St. Bathan's; hospital at Lyttelton Gaol. The works at Sunnyside Asylum for the year consist chiefly of new dormitories in male division, airing-court, and drainage, all of which are completed or well in hand. The main drain along the Lincoln Eoad, a heavy piece of work, is being carried out by the Drainage Board at the joint expense of the Board and the Government. Designs have been prepared for the central or administrative block of the Sunnyside Asylum; but tenders have not yet been called for the work. A considerable amount of work has been done at the Seacliff Asylum during the year. The central and two adjoining blocks were finished and taken over by the Medical Superintendent in November, and the remainder of the building a few days since. The underground drainage is all but complete, and the surface drainage and levelling of the ground round the building are well in hand. The connections having been finished, the water was turned into the reservoir in May, but several leaks appeared in the ground in which it is excavated. As they only appeared one after another, they took a long time to staunch; consequently the full advantage of the supply was not obtained till December. A road has been formed and metalled from the railway-station to the asylum, a distance of 30 chains; it was finished and hantied over to the Medical Superintendent in February. Three detached cottages for attendants have been built on the asylum grounds, and a large laundry has been commenced. Plans have been prepared and tenders called for a residence for the Medical Superintendent; and designs are in preparation for gasworks. The other new buildings above enumerated were of the ordinary type; they do not present any peculiarity that requires to be noticed. SUEVEYS. General. —In addition to the surveys for authorized sections and land plans which have been dealt with under their respective heads, several surveys have been made for unauthorized lines of railway and other purposes. East and West Coast Railway. —ln accordance with the resolution come to last session, preliminary surveys, but more in detail than usual, are being made of the various routes that have been proposed for the East and West Coast Eailway, as follow:— 1. Cannibal Gorge Eoute : From the Eed Post on the Amuri Plains, via the Waiau Valley, Lewis Saddle, and Cannibal Gorge, to Eeefton. This survey is being done by the officers of the department. 2. Hurunui Eoute: From Waikari via the Hurunui Saddle to Bruce's Paddock in the Teremakau Valley. This survey is being made by contract by Messrs. Dobson and Son, of Christchurch. 3. Arthur's Pass Eoute: From Springfield via the Waimakariri and Arthur's Pass to Bruce's Paddock, in the Teremakau Valley. This survey is being done by contract by Mr. Napier Bell, of Christchurch. 4. Lake Lyndon Eoute: This is merely a deviation of the Arthur's Pass line from the Whitechffs branch via the Eakaia and Acheron Valley, Lake Lyndon, and Craigieburn to the Cass, where it joins Mr. Bell's line. This survey is being made by contract by Mr. W. H. Scott, of Oamaru. 5. Section from Bruce's Paddock via Lake Brunner to Brunnerton: This is common to both the Arthur's Pass and Hurunui lines. The survey is being made by the officers of the department. These surveys were nearly all retarded by bad weather during the summer months; but they are now progressing favourably, and will be finished in time for the Assembly. Kelso-Gore Railway. —A further preliminary survey is in progress, with the view of combining the two lines previously surveyed. The proposal is to follow the inland line from Kelso to near the Waikaka Township, and thence to join the direct line to Gore by the Little Waikaka Valley. The route is quite practicable, but very circuitous. •*•_ New Zealand Defences. —Surveys have been made for the Defence Department of battery sites at Lyttelton, Otago Heads, Dunedin, and Bluff; and assistance has been given to Major Cautley in preparing his designs." Various. —Surveys have been made of the Otago Bar and the head of the New Eiver estuary for the Marine Department, and of the coast and offing at Shag Point for the Mines Department.