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Departmental Buildings, Auckland.— ln the Customs long-room two rooms have been partitioned off for the accommodation of the Official Assignee. The pan-closets became so insanitary in their condition that it was necessary to replace them by some of a more modern type. A fireprevention service has been provided, and sundry small repairs attended to. New Prison, Mount Eden. —The walls and floors of the two north towers of the male wing being ready, the roof was put on under contract, and the whole wing is now being fitted up for occupation. Nearly all the stone has been prepared for the walls of the female or west wing, and, as the building of the walls is in progress, this portion should soon be sufficiently advanced for the roof to be undertaken. Avondale Lunatic Asylum, Auckland.—While the control of public buildings was under his charge Mr. Bell prepared plans for the remodelling of the drainage of this institution. In accordance with the design for this new system, work was commenced in November, the services of the patients being utilised as much as possible. The drains have been laid outside the building ; the alterations to baths and closets, ventilation of the latter, surface-water drains, and other connections and alterations have been executed. The alteration of the drainage at the auxiliary asylum and the two cottages is in progress. Sanatorium, Botorua. —It was arranged for the drainage and fire-prevention services to be done by the contractor as part of his contract for the sanatorium, and the whole work was satisfactorily completed in December. Post- and Telegraph-offices. —At Auckland some repairs have been effected in addition to considerable alterations and repairs done by the Postal Department. The mail-room at the Thames office was altered. At Mercury Bay the buildings have been repaired and painted. The fumi-gating-hulk " Clara Hargreaves " was sold by public tender. Courthouses and Police-stations. —The lath-and-plaster ceilings in two of the offices in the Supreme Court buildings, Auckland, are being replaced with wooden ones._ The Police Inspector's quarters at Tanranga have been enlarged; and minor repairs and alterations were carried out at the Eesident Magistrate's Court, Auckland ; the Central Police Court, Auckland; the police-stations, Auckland and Ponsonby; and the lock-up, Mercer. Various. —The roof of the Government Buildings at Tauranga has been repaired and the buildings painted. The Customhouse at Eussell was reroofed with corrugated iron, and some small repairs were executed at the same time. Taeanaki-Palmebston-Napiee Disteict. Police-station, Stratford. — A new police-station is now being erected under contract at Stratford. Post-offices.— Additions and alterations are being made to the office at Marton. The drainage at Palmerston North has been connected with the main sewer, and a chimney rebuilt at Woodville. Courthouses.— The Courthouses at Napier and Wanganui have been repaired and painted, and gas laid on to that at Palmerston North. Wellington Distbict. Government House, Wellington.— Beyond the formation of a new tennis-ground, and some alterations in the garden, no wwk of importance was done during the year. Parliamentary Buildings. —The drainage-works and sanitary improvemsnts are now in progress, and will-be completed in time for the session. In the kitchen the cooking-range has been repaired, and the hot-water apparatus entirely rearranged. Mount Cook Prison. —The ordinary convict labour was largely employed in excavating the site, which is nearly finished. Owing to the scarcity of skilled labour in the prison but little progress has been made, and unless more carpenters, plumbers, &c, are soon available it will be a considerable time before the building can be occupied. Porirua Asylum.—On the 3rd ultimo a tender for £17,383 10s. was accepted forthe new •asylum at Porirua. About half the excavation of the site has been done, and a brickmaking plant erected. The construction and fencing of the approach road was carried out under a separate contract. Surveys have been made of additional land required, water-supply, drainage, and approachroads. Stamp-printing Office. —The contract for the new stamp-printing office, a brick building near the Government Printing Office, was satisfactorily completed in September. The new machinery recently imported was then erected, and the machinery transferred from the old office, all being done with but little interruption to the work of stamp-printing. Departmental Buildings, Wellington. —Several rooms have been cleaned and renovated, linoleum laid in others, water laid on from the main to flush out gullies all round the building, and minor repairs executed. Post and Telegraph Offices.—ln the General Post Office iron shutters were fitted to the strongroom windows under the tower. The fire-prevention service has been improved by the substitution of a large rising main for two small ones. The sanitary improvements at the south end of the building were finished in August. For the mail-room a partially sound-proof enclosure for the telephone has been constructed, and sound-proof stamping-tables are being provided. The repairing and painting of the Masterton office was finished last month. Police-stations.— A hot-water apparatus has been fixed in the Lambton Quay Police-station, and the drains to the main sewer relaid. At Manners Street the lock-up was completed early in the year. A stable has been erected for the use of the constable at the Lower liutt. Lunatic Asylums. —At Mount View sundry repairs were executed to the grates, cooking-range, and steam-pipes, and the ventilation of the female dormitory improved. The water-supply reservoir at the Porirua Farm-building has been roofed over.