D.—l

VIII

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total amount voted, and expended on construction of public buildings during the last financial year amounted to — Voted. Expended. New buildings (Class XVIII, Public Works £ £ Fund) .. .. .. .. 429,325 335,774 For the current year the following appropriation is proposed :■ — £ New buildings (Public Works Fund) ' .. 364,000 General . The new Parliament Buildings still accounts for the heaviest item of expenditure under this heading. The contract-time expired in December last, and although the building is still far from completion, the principal cause of delay—the difficulty experienced in obtaining suitable blocks of marble'—is being overcome, and there seems no reason to anticipate any further interference with the steady progress of the work. The four-story brick structure for Police Headquarters in Wellington is well advanced, and substantial additions to the Government Printing Office in the same city are approaching completion. Judicial. Courthouses.—- During the past year buildings were erected at Waipu and Chatham Islands, and additions made to the existing Courthouse at Lawrence. Prisons. —Extensions of buildings at Auckland and Invercargill have been carried to completion. An important section of the new establishment at Waikeria has been finished, and. equipped., and a start has been, made with projected prison buildings at Paparua, near Christchurch. The proposed works for the current year include an administration block at Waikeria and a new building at Wellington. Police-stations. —New buildings Were erected at Darficld, Geraldine, Hamilton, Kaponga, Marton, and Wellington (Taranaki Street), and sites for police-stations were acquired at Houhora, Tuakau, and Eastbourne. A contract was let for a new central police-station, at Wellington, and the erection of the building is now in progress. Post and Telegraph. During the year post-offices were erected at Patumahoe, Mamaku, Ohingaiti, Methven, Arrowtown, and Glenorchy, and an automatic telephone exchange built at Hamilton. Substantial additions are being made to the office building at Palmcrston North. In addition to the appropriations previously authorized but not expended, it is proposed to make provision for new buildings at Aria, Danncvirke, Heretaunga, Ranfurly, Turua, and Waitoa ; for a Postmaster's separate residence at Rakaia ; also for alterations and additions at Hanmer Springs, Invercargill, Kaitaia, Te Awamutu, and Wanganui. Mental Hospitals. At Tokanui a third unit (for fifty patients) has just been completed and electric light installed throughout. Reception houses and hospitals at Porirua and Sunnyside were delayed for a time owing to a shortage of artisans, but are now progressing satisfactorily. The Nurses' Home at Sunnyside is finished and ready for occupation