D.—1.

43

BUILDINGS. Auckland. Public Offices. —A contract for this building has been prepared by Messrs. Mahoney and Sons, architects, Auckland, and tenders are now under consideration. The building, which is to be erected at the corner of Customhouse and Albert Streets, provides accommodation for all the principal departments, except Post, Telegraph, and Justice. Lunatic Asylum. —Extensive additions are in progress and proposed at this institution. A contract was entered into on the 9th December, 1886, for a female wing and airing-court, kitchen, offices, boiler-house, and bath-houses, with other adjuncts. The works are progressing favourably. The female wing is up to the base course, and the kitchen block to the first floor. Improved cooking and drying apparatus have been ordered from England for the kitchen and laundry. Mount Eden Prison. —This building, in course of erection by convict-labour, has made good progress during the past year. The walls of the block now in hand are up to the first floor, and the floor, which is of concrete on iron joists, is in progress. These works are carried on under favourable circumstances, and in a very systematic manner. The stone is found close by, and all the masonwork is carried on within the gaol-walls. Police-buildings. —A new police-station has been erected at Ngaruawahia, and additions of two rooms made to the station at Mercury Bay. Lock-ups have been built at Whangarei and Kihikihi, and a constable's cottage at Eotorua. Postal and Judicial. —A post and telegraph office has been erected at "Whangarei, and a postoffice and Courthouse combined at Mercury Bay. Additions have also been made to the post and telegraph station at Opotiki. Native Schools. —The Public Works Department has supervised the erection of Native schools at Kopua, Tapapa, Maotu, Te Matai, and Euakokore. Taeanaki, Manawatu, and Hawke's Bay. Public Offices. —A water-service has been laid on to the public offices at New Plymouth, and the drainage improved. Prisons. —The new prison built by contract at Wanganui was completed on the 12th October, 1886. It contains twenty-two cells, with the necessary kitchen, offices, and accommodation for warders, male and female. A drain has been laid from the gaol to the town-sewer on Taupo Quay, and water and gas laid on. A gaoler's residence of six rooms has been erected near the gaol; it was finished on the 7th February, 1887. The front offices and rooms at New Plymouth Gaol are finished, and the central area roofed over. This work is being done principally by convict-labour. Courthouses and Police-buildings. —At Manaia old military barracks have been converted into a Courthouse and police-station. A Courthouse has been erected at Wairoa, and a lock-up, with offices at Ormond. An old blockhouse at Pungarehu has been converted into a police-station, a lock-up with two cells being added. The drains from the Wanganui Courthouse have been connected with the town drainage, and the Courthouse and other public buildings at Woodville have been fenced in. Postal. —The Woodville Post and Telegraph Office, in progress at the end of last year, was completed on the 11th April, 1886. A post and telegraph office has been erected at Waipawa; it was completed on the 9th December, 1886. Wellington. Government House. —A new approach has-been made to Government House, and a number of improvements made in the grounds. Parliament Buildings. —A few minor additions and improvements have been made during the past year at the Parliament Buildings. Mount Cook Prison. —This building, which is being erected principally by convict labour, has made good progress during the past year. In addition to casuais from the Terrace Gaol, about seventy convicts are regularly employed on the works. The brickwork of the south wing is up 35ft. above the basement, and the second story is in progress. 564,000 bricks, making 1,600 cubic yards of walling, have been placed during the year. The other materials used are—cement, 370 casks; lime, 1,500 bushels; sand, 470 cubic yards; timber, 55 G.B.M. ; and iron, 31,0001b. In addition to the quantity used in the building, 982,000 bricks have been disposed of in other works. In all, 1,533,300 bricks have been made by the convicts during the year. Hospital and Lunatic Asylums. —A contract for additions to the Wellington Hospital was entered into on the 24th inst. It consists of a children's ward and accessories, covering a space of 3,000 square feet. A contract, to connect the hospital, asylum, and soapworks drains with the Adelaide Eoad sewer, was entered into on 27th May, 1886. The works were completed on the 31st August. Several alterations and additions have been made to the Mount View Asylum : they consist mainly of a small dormitory and attendants' room. A contract was entered into on the 11th October, 1886, for the small asylum on the farm at Porirua. It is a one-story building, covering a ground-space of about 7,000 square feet, and containing twenty-four apartments of various kinds. The building was finished on the 11th March, 1887, within contract time. 'Courthouse. —Alterations have been made in the Wellington Courthouse, to accommodate the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, and increase the office-room at the Eesident Magistrate's Court. Police-buildings. —A two-celled lock-up and a two-roomed office for a constable have been