D.—l.

Nelson, Karamea, Greymouth, Waikouaiti, and Roslyn; new quarters at Te Awamutu, Martinborough, Havelock, Arrowtown, and Clinton ; purchase of properties at Mount Roskill (Auckland), West Lynn, Terrace End (Palmerston North), Shannon, and Te Aro (Wellington) ; additions at Rotorua, Whakatane, Napier, Blenheim, Christchurch, and North Dunedin, and the providing of a new wharf for the cable-repairing steamer at Auckland. The works provided for this year are new offices at Kaitaia, Whangarei, Maungaturoto, Matakohe, Warkworth, Kaipara Flats, Helensville, Birkenhead, Mount Eden, Auckland (Upper Symonds and Wellesley Streets), Mount Roskill, Mount Albert, Ellerslie, Epsom, Howick, Newmarket, Clevedon, Pukekohe, Huntly, Frankton. Te Kuiti, Waihi, Morrinsville, Ngaruawahia, Taumarunui, Matata, Taneatua, Port Awanui, Patutahi, Hangaroa, Nuhaka, Wairoa, Hastings, Ongaonga, Rahotu, Toko, Manaia, Aramoho, Ohakune, Utiku, Kimbolton, Apiti, Ashhurst, Foxton, Weraroa, Featherston, Upper Hutt, Wellington (Te Aro and Courtenay Place), Kilbirnie, Richmond, Burnett's Face, Westport, Murchison, Blackball, W T allsend, Kekerangu, Christchurch (Tuam Street), Woolston, Sydenham, Addington, Little River, Rakaia, Geraldine, Fairlie, Dunedin (George Street), St. Kilda, Green Island, St. Bathan's, Balclutha, Kaitangata, Balfour, Wyndham, and Piverton; new quarters at Whitianga, Waipiro Bay, Kaikoura, and Ophir; new sites at Kingsland and Karori ; additions at Tolago Bay, Stratford, Levin, Manakau, Eketahuna, Wellington (Telephone Exchange), Dunedin (Parcels Office), Invercargill, and Bluff; improvements at Palmerston North; water-supply and drainage at Wakapuaka ; and for making a commencement with the important new Chief Post-offices at Wellington and Auckland. Mental Hospitals. The operations under this head were not very extensive, the expenditure having amounted to £7,987 only. The exercise-park at Auckland was completed, and some small detached buildings erected ; minor additions and alterations were made at Porirua, Christchurch, and Seacliff, and at the latter institution the fire-alarm service has been overhauled and improved. The proposed vote for the current year provides for laundry machinery and for a house for the Medical Superintendent at Auckland, also for the purchase of land and erection of building for the Wolffe Bequest Reception Home ; for a Reception Home, and for a new dairy, a boiler-house, boiler-chimney shaft, and machinery at Christchurch ; for completion of dormitory annexe, and for various alterations and additions at Seacliff; for additions to the auxiliary building at Waitati; for the purchase of land adjoining the Mental Hospital at Nelson, now held under lease; and for asphalting airing-courts and construction of septic tank at Porirua. Provision is also made for the erection of rooms in connection with the general hospitals in order that patients may be taken there to be examined instead of at police-cells. Schools. The amount expended on school buildings during the year was £181,265, of which £81,068 was charged to revenue, and £100,197 to the Public Works Fund. The greater portion of this money was paid to Education Boards and other controlling authorities as grants for the erection of school buildings and teachers' residences, technical schools, training-colleges, secondary schools, and university colleges. The principal works carried out directly under the control of the Government were the Native-school buildings at Tuhara, Mataora Bay, Wharekawa; and Waikare (Bay of Islands) ; additions at Poroporo, Te Matai, Tautoro, and Whangaruru ; and a new residence at the last-named place. For the current year, in addition to the vote under the Consolidated Fund, an appropriation of £100,000 is asked for out of the Public Works Fund to provide for school buildings generally, and for buildings for universities, technical schools, colleges, &c, as in previous years. Other Buildings. Hospitals. —Under the heading of " Hospitals and Charitable Institutions " there was an expenditure of £15,576 for new buildings and improvements. The new hospitals at Masterton and Westport were opened during the year.

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