D.—l

44

Dunedin. —A residence was purchased for the accommodation of the Superintendent. Dunedin South. —Paths were asphalted, electric light installed. Hampden. —Hot- and cold-water system was provided, and buildings repainted both inside and out. Lawrence. —Small additions were made to the constable's residence, and a hot- and cold-water system installed. Mornington. —A residence was purchased and renovated. Oamaru. —The new station was completed. Palmerston. —New kitchen-range was installed, and three bedrooms, kitchen, and scullery renovated. Otautau, Gore, Invercargill, and Bluff Stations were repaired and renovated, and a number of others were maintained. Post-offices. Aratapu. —General repairs to doors, windows, grates, chimneys, fences, &»., were effected. Awanui. —Repairs were completed ; one new bedroom erected ; the building painted outside. Broadwood. —The building purchased was converted info a post-office, and two new bedrooms were added. A road was formed to the office. Dargaville. —Several repairs were effected at this office, and the Postmaster's residence was painted and renovated. Hikurangi. —Small repairs were carried out and three rooms were papered. Kawakawa. —General repairs and renovations. The whole of the, living-quarters were painted and papered. Kawakawa. —Old post-office repaired and renovated. Kawakawa. -Lineman's residence painted and papered inside and out. Kaikohe. —General repairs to drainage and sanitary arrangements. A new water service was also installed. Mangonui. —Small repairs were effected. Three rooms were painted and papered. Onerahi. —General repairs. Ohaeawai. —Renovations and repairs to the office were effected during the year. The renovating of the living-quarters is now in hand. The whole of the buildings were painted. Russell. —Several small repairs were carried out. Two rooms in the living-quarters were papered and painted. Rawene. —A new residence was erected during the year. Small repairs were also carried out al the office. Whangarei. —Several small repairs were carried out during the year. Extensive additions are now in hand. Waipu. —Small repairs were effected during the year, and two rooms were painted and papered. Whakapara. —Small repairs were carried out, and two rooms were papered and painted. Auckland Chief Post-ojfice. —Alterations have been carried out to the Money-order and Savingsbank Department, to provide additional accommodation for the public. This entailed moving back and alterations to screens, counter, &c. Extensive alterations have also been carried out to the stamprotunda in the main office. The work of recovering the main roof with Neuchatel asphalt is well in hand. Parcels Office, Auckland. -New accommodation has been provided for in Albert Street. The new building acquired for this purpose has been fitted up, including the erection of partitions ; building-strong-room in basement, 40 ft. by 16 ft. ; flooring over cart-docks ; forming platform and concrete roadway at the back of building; erecting tables, racks, &c.; also providing sanitary accommodation. Wellesley Street Post-office ami Telephone Exchange, Auckland.—This building, with a frontage of 50 ft. to Wellesley Street, 50 ft. to Coburg Place, and 114 ft. fO in. to Lome Street, containing three stories and basement, is built of brick, with reinforced-concrete floors carried on concrete encased steel columns and steel beams, and is of fireproof construction throughout. The Wellesley Street front and also a return feature to Lome Street is finished in white cement. The building is heated by hotwater radiators, and is lit throughout with electric lights. The basement, reached by five steps down from Lome Street, accommodates the battery and power rooms, heating-chamber, and storage. The ground floor, reached by nine steps up through mam entrance doors from Wellesley Street, contains the public vestibule, finished with tiled floor and tiled dado, where posting facilities are available. Swing doors lead from here into the public space, which is fitted up with sixteen desks and counter, executed in polished Tasmanian blaokwood, and also with two slot-telephone cabinets. Three steps up from Lome Street lead to the parcels counter and also to the private-letter-box lobby on the ground floor, where fO5 private letter-boxes are placed. The roof is covered with Neuchatel asphalt, 1 in. thick, while the underside of roof and also walls of the second floor are finished in hydrated lime plaster. The concrete foundations were built by the Department by day labour, and the erection of the building was let by contract on the 23rd February, 1918, and completed on the 4th March, .1920, at a total cost of £20,589. Ngaruawahia. —Additional accommodation in brick has been provided for the mail-room. New furniture and fittings have also been provided, and the whole of the office renovated. Walton.—A new post-office in wood has been erected, consisting of mail-room, public office, and telephone exchange for official purposes. A residence has also been erected. Furniture and fittings of the usual description have been provided and fixed. Cambridge Post-office. —A contract has been let and work is now in progress, comprising the removal of some of the internal walls, in order to give greater mail-room and counter accommodation. A new room has been built for the Postmaster. Henderson. —A wooden building has been erected for temporary use. General maintenance and minor renovations have been effected at the following offices : Manukau, Katikati, Matata, Taneatua, Tauranga, Mokai, Taupo, Te Puke, Waimana, and Rotorua. Tolaga Bay. —The contractor for this work lias been delayed owing to scarcity of timber. Wairoa. —Additions are in course of construction under contract. Te Araroa. —Additions are now in hand under contract.