D.—l

59

Otago Disteict. Post-offices. —A contract for extensive alterations to the Dunedin Post-office has been completed, also various other works have been done by petty contract or day labour in the same building. Petty contracts for alterations, additions, improvements, and renovations, have been carried out at Fortrose, Waikaka, Palmerston South, Balclutha, Queenstown, Alexandra, and Invercargill. A contract has been let for the erection in stone of a Postmaster's residence at Clyde. Police-stations. —Petty contracts have been finished for renovating Oamaru Police-station, additions to South Dunedin Station, alterations to North Dunedin Station, and for painting and renovating Queenstown Station. A new stable is being built at Invercargill Police-station. Courthouses. —Eepairs have been done at the Oamaru Courthouse, renovations at Milton, and repairs and renovations at Lawrence Courthouses. A room has been fitted up in the Dunedin Law Courts for the use of the Arbitration Court. All the woodwork in these buildings is being oiled by petty contract. Gaols. —Eenovations to the Oamaru Gaol have been done by petty contract. Eepairs to the Invercargill Gaol have been done by local tradesmen and partly by prison-labour. Some minor works were carried out at the Customhouse, Dunedin ; Industrial School, Caversham ; and the Government Life Insurance Buildings, Dunedin. A residence has been built for an electrician at Seacliff. Some works have been done with the intention of strengthening the foundations of the north wing. A number of water-tanks have been supplied to Natives on Stewart Island. In addition to the works enumerated for the various provincial districts of the colony, many minor works of improvement or maintenance have been carried out in each district. UTILISATION OF WATEE-POWEE. A considerable amount of preliminary survey work in connection with the utilisation of waterpower has been done during the year, and some information has been collected otherwise. Surveys have been made at Wairua Falls, Okere Eapids, and further down the Kaituna Eiver ; also at Huka Falls and Aratiatia Eapids on the Waikato. Accurate levels have been obtained from the outlet of Lake Taupo to the bottom of the Aratiatia Eapids. Surveys have been made and data obtained relative to the utilisation of Lake Waikaremoana and the Te Eeinga Falls; also preliminary observations have been made to get data regarding the Eangitikei, Waiohine, Tauherenikau, Otaki, Hutt, and some smaller streams. Surveys for water-race lines, water-conduit tunnels, dam-sites, &c, have been made for a proposal to utilise Lake Coleridge. A number of trial lines for water-races from Lake Tekapo have been run, and preliminary observations and examinations made as to Lake Heron, Waimakariri, Eangitata, Opihi Eivers, Lakes Pukaki and Ohau, and Waitaki Eiver. Surveys have been made relative to the Hawea-Wanaka scheme to determine length of conduit, magnitude of dam, &c. Surveys were made to determine height of fall obtainable at the Kawarau Eapids at the outlet of Lake Wakatipu. Data have been got relative to Lakes Te Anau, Manapouri, and Monowai; Waiau Eiver, the Hauroko-Poteriteri scheme, the Taieri and Manuherikia Eivers, and the Teviot and other streams. Some very valuable and interesting results have been got regarding the quantity of water flowing from the largest of the lakes —Taupo, Waikaremoana, Brunner, Coleridge, Tekapo, Pukaki, Ohau, Hawea, Wanaka, Wakatipu, Te Anau, Manapouri, Monowai, and Hauroto. The flow from the lakes in the North Island is large, but is much exceeded by that of the lakes in the South Island. A special departmental report will be submitted, embodying all the reliable information collected to date. Mr. L. M. Hancock, of San Francisco, California, visited a number of the proposed locations for water-power schemes during October, November, and the early part of December of last year. His report has been received. He was accompanied by officers of the Department during his tour. MAEINE. A contract for the manufacture of a cast-iron tower for Cape Campbell Lighthouse has been finished. Part of the ironwork has been landed at the site. Plans for a wharf at Whitianga, Mercury Bay, have been supplied to the local authorities. Tenders were called for the removal of rocks in the channel, Onehunga Harbour. Only one was received, but it was too high and nothing further was done. An examination and report was made on the proposal to put a ferry over the Thames at Turua. A survey of a site for a wharf for the cable-steamer " Iris " has been made in Auckland harbour, between the Victoria Wharf and Calliope Dock. Some repairs were done to the Motuihi Wharf. An examination of and report on the Waikato Heads wharf have been made. New beacons have been erected at Kaipara Heads, also at Havelock. A contract has been let for removal and re-erection of pilot-station at Manawatu Heads. A survey has been made and plans prepared for a new wharf at Somes Island. The lighthouse on Kahurangi Point has been finished, also all necessary buildings and other works. The light was exhibited for the first time on the 30th November, 1903. The tower is of cast iron founded on a concrete cylinder. A lighthouse has been completed at Jack's Point, near Timaru, with all necessary buildings. This, also, is a cast-iron tower founded on concrete. The light was exhibited for the first time on Ist July last year. A considerable amount of work was done in connection with plans submitted for approval by local bodies, and much other work.