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extensive repairs and renovations were effected, including tho painting and papering of a number of the rooms, repairs to roof, furniture, &c. Anew kitchen range has also been erected. Parliamentary Buildings. —The pile foundations under the library and western end of the buildings, being rotten, were removed and renewed, the ground under the buildings being excavated to enable this work to be done, and a continuous brick and cement foundation was built under the outside walls, with provision for ventilation. These works were done before the session of Parliament of 1892. The sitting accommodation in the Ladies' Gallery has been largely increased, and some alterations have been made to the Speaker's and Hansard Galleries, and to the Public Gallery. The seats in the Legislative Council Chamber have been altered and upholstered afresh. The fence along Hill Street was taken down, and replaced with a new one. Departmental Buildings. —The principal work done during the year was an alteration made on the ground floor, to give additional accommodation for the Land- and Income-tax Department. A number of partitions were removed, and replaced by iron pillars, and a large amount of additional room provided. A number of rooms in the building have been re-kalsomined and renovated, and the maintenance of the buildings has been generally attended to. Mount Cook Prison. —No new works were put in hand during the year, but the work of completing the interior of the portion of the prison already built has been carried on slowly by prison labour, and is nearly finished. Preparations are in hand to have a kitchen provided, and the necessary drainage done. Mount Cook Barracks. —A thorough examination of the sanitary arrangements in connection with Mount Cook Barracks was made, and a new system of drainage was designed, and is being carried out. The sleeping and living rooms of the men have also been thoroughly cleaned down and repainted. Museum House. —This house has been repaired and repapered, and painted inside and outside. Telephone Exchange. —A contract was let for additions to the Telephone Exchange in brick, and the work has been finished. These additions have more than doubled the size of the original building. 'Painting Supreme Court and Police Station Buildings, Wellington. —This work, which consists of painting the outside of the Courthouse and Police Station buildings with four coats of paint and sanding (equal in work to five coats), is being done on the co-operative principle, the Government finding the material. It was begun on 3rd March last, and is now about finished, and the work has been well done. The total cost (including cost of materials) has amounted to £509, or at the rate of about Is. 4d. per square yard, which, for five-coat work, is very reasonable. About eleven men have been engaged on the work, and their net average earnings amounted to from 9s. 4d. to 10s. lOd. per day. Soames Island Quarantine Station. —Some repairs are in progress, consisting of re-roofing a portion of the buildings with iron, erecting a lean-to at the kitchen, &c. A survey has been made, in view of a proposed new jetty being erected and the blowing-up of rocks that obstruct the approach. Broomhedge Street Drain. —A drain to catch the storm-water from Mount View Asylum is being constructed in Broomhedge Street to connect with the main sewer in Adelaide Eoad. General Maintenance. —Various repairs and general maintenance have been attended to in connection with the General Post Office, Museum, Ministerial residences, Supreme Court, and other buildings. The usual annual contracts for furniture and fittings, chimney and window-cleaning, rubbish removal, and coal-supply, were duly advertised and entered into. Porirua temporary Asylum. —Considerable repairs to the water-supply were made, the drain having been washed away during the storm of 10th March last. Porirua Asylum (new building).' —The contract for the erection, of the building has been completed, and the works necessary to render it habitable are in progress, and are being pushed on— viz., the water-works, steam heating and cooking apparatus, drainage, painting, electric lighting, &c, and a survey of the land required for a farm and reservoir has been made. It is expected that the building may be ready for occupation by about October next. Marlborough-Nelson District. Lunatic Asylum, Nelson. —An inside fire-service has been provided, and a number of repairs, including the rebuilding or strengthening of most of the chimneys (which were injured by the earthquake of 12th February last) were effected. The boat-landing at Nelson was repaired; and repairs and renovations have been carried out (including repairs to chimneys damaged by the earthquake) at the following buildings—viz.: The Gaol, Government Offices, and Police Station, Nelson; at the Courthouse, Police Station, and Gaol, Picton; the Government Offices, Blenheim; and the Police Station, Havelock. Westland District. Eepairs, minor additions, and painting, &c, have been done to the following buildings by petty contract—viz.: Sergeant's quarters, and Post and Telegraph Offices, Hokitika; Post and Telegraph Offices, Westport; Clerk of Court's residence, Bailiff's residence, and Manager of Water-races' residence and office, Kumara; Constable's quarters, Eoss; Police quarters, Stafford; and Police Station, Brunnerton. New Police Station at Greymouth.— -The timber and other materials required for this building were obtained by tender, and the erection was put in hand by co-operative contract. The work has made satisfactory progress, and is nearly completed. Customhouse and Police Sergeant's Quarters, Westport. —This is a contract for the removal of the old wooden building and the erection of a new brick one. It was let on the 12th April, 1893, and is now in progress; amount of contract, £975 os. sd.
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