D.—]

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APPENDIX C. ANNUAL REPORT ON BUILDINGS BY THE GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT. The Government Architect to the. Hon. Minister of Public Works. Sir,— Public Workn Department, Wellington, Ist April, 1920. I have the honour to submit the following report on the various building operations of the Department for the year ended 31st March, 1920. New Parliamentary Buildings. The work done during the year was mainly in the completion of the rooms facing Museum Street and the plastering of the corridors and rooms beneath the Lounge Lobby on the ground floor. The external marble work has made only slow progress, but the columns of the front loggia have been completed, and the siiperstructure carried up sufficiently to permit the flat concrete roof over same to be laid. The stonework on this portion and on the north end feature in Museum Street'front will soon be completed up to the top, as most of the stones required are worked read)* for setting. The plasterers are now engaged executing the preliminary coating of the rooms along the main front, and in three or four months it is believed the Speaker's, the Cabinet, and the Ministers' rooms will lie completed. There will then only remain the front centre entrance lobby and staircase to complete ; but aa much mason-work remains to be done at this portion it is uncertain when final completion will be reached. It is hoped, however, that after the session this part of the structure will receive special attention, and, as work will then be. concentrated on it, that steady progress will be made. Vice-Regal Residences. At both the Auckland and Wellington residences additional accommodation was provided preparatory to the visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The dismantling and repaperiug of nine rooms at Wellington is in hand. Departmental Buildings. Auckland. —General repairs and renovations have been effected. A new strong-room and office furniture have been supplied for the Native Department, and a strong-room, fitted with numerous drawers, tables, &c, provided for the Lands and Survey Department. Napier.--A motor-garage has been built, renovations effected, and various offices fitted and furnished. New Plymouth. —Renovations were carried out and office fittings supplied. Brick partitions were erected in the benzine-store, to isolate each Department's supply. Wanganui. —Fittings and furniture were provided for Repatriation Office, Boarding-out Office, and office of Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Sundry additions, repairs, and general maintenance were carried out at other offices. Wellington. —Asphalt paths around Government Buildings were repaired. The hydraulic lift was overhauled and repaired. The electric lift in the Customs Buildings was overhauled, the hot water heating-apparatus attended to, and the drainage improved. Ministerial residences were renovated, At Old Parliament Buildings the "Vigilant" automatic fire-alarm system was installed by the Department, alterations effected to the electric-light-supply main in the library and the top floor rewired. A number of the cellars beneath the New Parliament Buildings were lifted up for storage of records for the convenience of various Government Departments. Minor alterations and repairs were effected to many other offices, and a considerable quantity of furniture and fittings supplied. Nelson. —Two strong-rooms have been renovated, the existing fittings in several offices altered, floor-coverings supplied, and the general maintenance of buildings and fittings attended to. Christchurch. —Furniture and fittings have been supplied to all Departments as required. Removal of offices has been attended to, general renovations have been effected, as well as the thorough maintenance of all buildings and offices throughout the year. Dunedin and Invercargill. -General maintenance was effected and renovations carried out as required, as well as office furniture and fittings supplied to the various Government offices. The Government Buildings at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch. and Dunedin were tastefully decorated on the occasion of the visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Courthouses. Dargaville.- Thin office was painted, a new fence erected, and drainage repaired. Whangarei. —Several small repairs were effected as were found necessary. Auckland Magistrate's Court.— All exterior wood and iron work- has been cleaned and painted, and. the. yard and paths tarred and sanded. Te Aroha.—A strong-room and outbuildings have been erected, drain hi id. and buildings generally renovated. Rotorua. — Small repairs were effected. Waipiro Bay.—A contract has been accepted for painting, renovations, and repairs. Gisborne. —Heating-apparatus has been installed, and painting is in hand. Napier and Hastings. —Electricllight has been installed in both buildings, and repairs effeoted. to the latter. Hawera.— Exterior painting has been completed.