p.—l

VII

No general departmental buildings of any magnitude have been commenced during the year. Additions to the Government Printing Office were completed, and there was some expenditure upon the conversion of the old Post-office building-, Auckland, and Dunedin Police-station into offices for various Departments. Post ano Telegraph. Expenditure on new buildings, and additions and alterations to existing buildings, has been kept down as much as possible. During the year post-offices were erected at Aria, lleretaunga, Horotiu, Piopio, Tauherenikau Military Camp, Te Karaka, and Turua, a Postmaster's residence at Rakaia, and an. automatic exchange at Roslyn. Additions were made to the office buildings at Ferry Road, Kaitaia, Taumarunui, Te Kuiti, and Te Puke. In addition to the appropriations previously authorized but not expended, it is proposed to make provision for new post-office buildings at Lumsden, Tiraumea, Wharepoa, and Whatatutu, additions at PaJmerston North, and a lineman's cottage at Whakatane. Judicial. Courthouses- —No new buildings were erected during the past year, and only necessary maintenance works were carried out. Police-stations.- --The new headquarters station at Wellington was completed, and is now occupied by the Police Head Office staff and officers formerly located in Lambton Quay Station, which has been converted for use by other Departments. Additions to the Auckland Central Station were completed, and the election of new stations at Oanm.ru and Wairoa put in hand. A site for a, new station at Lower I lutt was purchased. Prisons. At Auckland Prison internal exercise-yards have been completed, a workshop built, and the excavation, of building-stone and road-metal carried on as usual. At Waikeria the erection of an administrative division has been carried on vigorously, dairy building and cottages erected. The formation of the new road from Waimarino to Roto-Aira has been carried forward as well as the inclement weather experienced in the locality would permit. The erection of the new prison at Paparua is advancing steadily despite the difficulty of obtaining building-material. A temporary cell-block has been erected to accommodate the prisoner employed on the permanent work. A varied programme of works bias been carried out at Invercargill, including boundary and internal walls, the manufacture of concrete poles, erection of dairy buildings, and development of reclamation-work in the estuary. Prison labour is utilized for all the works mentioned, and stone or concrete blocks produced by the prisons are largely utilized for the building-works. MENTA L 11 OS PIT ALS. At Auckland additions have been carried out in the hospital block, and the kitchen has been removed. At Pbrirua the new receiving-home and hospital, a separate building at some distance from the main institution, is completed, has been furnished and is now in occupation. The pipes are being laid to convey the septic-tank- effluent of the institution into the harbour. The Mitchell property, a farm of 110 acres, adjoining the Hospital Estate, has been purchased, with buildings, which have been adapted lor staff accommodation. At Sunnyside the receiving-home and hospital, distinct from the main institution, is practically completed. An. automatic fire-alarm system is now installed. At Tokanui a fourth unit has been completed, and a fifth is under construction. A freezing plant has been installed. At Seacliff additional accommodation for quiet patients is under construction, and additions have been made to the epileptic ward at Waitati. Hospitals. Owing to the great increase in the cost of building-works nothing was undertaken during the year beyond minor necessary works and the acquisition of sites.