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purposes were concerned, but the number of men since then has been too small to warrant the continuance of vegetable-culture on anything like the lines first adopted. The remaining farming operations also paid their way, though much of the work done was of a nature not to be immediately profitable, seeing that it ('(insisted of breaking up rough native-grass pastures and taking off a crop of oats, with the intention of afterwards laving down the paddocks in permanent pasture with English grasses. The result for the year of the farming operations sheiwed a net profit of £130. This farming-work was conducted by the Director of Veterinary Services, in conjunction with the Supply Officer. Expert advice was rendered by the .Horticultural Division of the Department of Agriculture, and it is desired to specially acknowledge this, which proved of very great practical value, and was of material assistance in connection with the work of vegetable-culture. Future Establishmext. After the return of the Veterinary Staff which has been engaged in active service with the Expeditionary Force it is proposed to work out the peace establishment for this branch of the service, and in due course recommendations regarding this will be submitted. WORKS BRANCH: HISTORY FROM INCEPTION. As this matter is highly technical and of general interest it seems advisable to publish verbatim the report by the Director, Colonel E. H. Hiley, who without pay undertook the direction of works. Prior to the outbreak of war there was no organization in the Defence Department for handling construction-works other than through the Public Works Department, nor do I now suggest a permanent Works Section. There is no reason why, for construction-work and larger repairs or alterations, the co-operation of the, Public Works and Defence Departments should not again be reverted to. History of Branch of the Director of Works from Inception to handing over to Ordnance Branch in January, 1919. It is now proposed to detail the steps which led up to the formation of the Works Branch, with a reference to the work performed by that branch in the, Expeditionary Force training-camps at Trentham and Featherston from its inception in July, 1916, to the handing-over to the Ordnance Branch in the months of December, 1918, and January, 1919. Early Stages of Trentham Camp Construction. On the 19th October, 1914, the camp-site at Trentham was for the first time occupied by troops of the Expeditionary Force. At that time there were a few building's in existence (enumerated below), the property of the Dominion Rifle Association, which were taken into use for administrative purposes by the Defence Department, the troops being quartered under canvas. The buildings referred to are as follows : Mess-kitchen and concert-hall, Range Warden's hut, Heaelquarters building, store for rifle-range equipment, post-office building. The ground to the west of the above-mentioned buildings was unstumped and rough. An existing main road was formed from the entrance to the 1,000-yards firing-point on Defence property, but was practically unmetalled. New Temporary Accessories. On the occupation of the camp in October, 1914, by the Expeditionary Force troops the following temporary accessories were provided by the Defence Department, the work being carried out under the supervision of the Camp Commandant : Four cookhouses, eight wash-ups and ablutions, two shower-baths, two latrines, armoury, Army Service Corps store. A proportion of the material used in the construction of the above-mentioned buildings was from discarded deck structures, &c, removed from transports, but the bulk was new material which had to be purchased. Old water-pipe of varying diameters was removed from Matamau Camp and laid from a reservoir constructed by camp labour to the cookhouses, ablutions, and latrines, &c. The drainage effluents were, disposed of by means of field trenches carried to soak-pits. Provision of Hutments. At the commencement of July, 1915, it was decided to construct hutments at Trentham Camp, and in this connection the Government Architect prepared a design for two sample huts, one for officers and one for men. This design was adopted for Trentham Camp, and the construction of the two hutments was put in hand by the Public Works Department, who continued the. construction work on eleven other hutments, two cookhouses, and certain minor accessories already approved. Appointment of Colonel Hiley as Director of Works. On the 22nd -Jul)-, 1915, owing to the absence of reading, means of disposing of storm-water and consequent accumulations of mud, and the inadequate foul drainage-system, the position in regard to. Trentham Camp became so serious that it was found necessary, for medical reasons, to temporarily evacuate the camp. The Defence Department, as a consequence, decided to take over the direction of the various works and the preparation of the designs for the necessary buildings, drainage, water-supply, and accessories required at the Expeditionary Force training-camps at Trentham and Featherston. With this purpose in view Colonel E. H. Hiley, Director of Railway Transport and General Manager of the New Zealand Government Railways, was appointed Director