D.—1.

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erected at Eketahuna. A two-celled lock-up has been erected at Paikakariki, and two rooms have been added to the police-station at Carterton. Postal.- —A contract was entered into on the 28th January, 1887, for a post and telegraph office at Herbertville. The work is proceeding satisfactorily. The inner court of the Post Office building, Wellington, has been roofed in with glass, to accommodate the machinery for the electric light. Government Printing Office.- —A contract for the Government Printing Office was entered into on the 11th December, 1886, and work began on the 17th January, 1887. Since then fair progress has been made. The building, which is of brick, covers an area of 15,800 square feet, and is three stories high. The bricks for the printing office are supplied from Mount Cook Prison. Nelson. Hospital and Lunatic Asylum.- —A new washhouse and laundry and a concrete reservoir have been built at the lunatic asylum, and a new system of drainage for both institutions is in progress. Westland. Prison and Police Buildings.— -The new prison at Greymouth was completed on the Bth August, 1886. Additions have been made to the police-station at Greymouth, and new stations have been provided at Brunnerton and Denniston. Cantebbuey. Sunnyside Asylum. —A contract for the main portion of the central block was entered into on the Ist November, 1886. It includes dining-hall, kitchen, and offices, with corridors connecting the male and female divisions of the building. The work so far has been pushed on with great vigour. All the walls of the ground floor portion are ready for the roof, and those for the two-storied portion are ready for the upper floor joists. The underground tank and artesian well are complete, and the corridor roofs and ceiling joists are in hand. In addition to the central block a number of improvements have been carried out or are in progress at Sunnyside. A fiushing-tank for the main Lincoln Boad sewer has been built; and a fence erected along the road near the male division. Six single rooms and a bay window have been built to the female division, and alterations made to the north house. A coal and wood shed has been erected at the laundry, and water laid on. A pumping engine and boiler for the permanent water supply are being made at Addington. Courthouse and Prison Buildings. — A Courthouse has been erected at Geraldine. The lock-up at Eakaia has been removed to a more suitable site, and a stable erected. Otago. Governor s Residence. —A small temporary addition was made to Bishop's Court when occupied by His Excellency during his stay in Dunedin. Seacliff Asylum. —So far as can be judged, the settlement in a portion of the building which rests on bad ground has now ceased. The remedies applied seem to be effectual. They consist in draining the ground and increasing the width of the footings for the 25ft. over which the subsidence extended. A small piece of ground adjoining the railway-station has been bought as a site for gasworks, and a contract is in preparation for the works. Courthouse and Police Buildings. —The Courthouse at Wyndham has been altered and added to, and police stations have been erected at Wyndham and Pembroke. Additions and alterations have also been made to the police quarters at Invercargill. Post and Telegraph. —A new post and telegraph office has been erected at Ophir, and additions made to the buildings at Palmerston and Gore. A house for the Postmaster has been built at Lawrence. Maintenance of Public Buildings. In addition to new works above referred to, and others of a less important character, the public buildings through the colony have been repaired and maintained during the year as usual. In some cases, such as Government House and Mount View Asylum, the work was of considerable extent, the whole of the buildings having been repaired, painted, and renovated. DEFENCE WOEKS. General. The defence works of the colony have been designed by the military officers, but the surveys and works have hitherto been carried out by the Public Works Department, under the general supervision of the military officers. From this date, however, it is intended that the whole business will be in the hands of the Defence Department. As the greater portion of the work is done, it is believed that the regular defence forces can complete the balance. It is exactly two years since the fortifications were begun. Auckland. Fort Resolution. —This is one of the first forts built hurriedly in 1885. Beyond fitting up the magazine and laying on gas and water, little work has been done during the year. Takapuna Head. —The gun-pits in this battery are finished, and the racers set ready for the gun carriages and guns. All the passages leading from the guns to the magazine and artillery-store are completed. The seaward positions for the Nordenfeldt gun are built, and the cylindrical stands erected. The excavations for the barracks have been made, and the foundations put in, and materials prepared for the building. The ditches round the fort are well advanced. Practically, all