Page image

D.—l

posed. This vote provides for making a commencement with the proposed additions to the Parliament Buildings, which will afford increased accommodation which is at present badly required. The complete scheme involves the sweeping-away of the old library wing, which is the oldest portion of the existing structure, and is in a somewhat advanced state of decay. The new erection to take its place and to provide the additional accommodation required will be a modern structure, and will, of course, be built in brick. The vote also provides for the additions to the Departmental Buildings at Napier (now in progress), and for proposed new offices at New Plymouth for the Deeds Registration, Agricultural, and Roads Departments, for making a commencement with the new offices and laboratory for the Geological and Health Departments in Wellington, and the new offices at Hokitika for the Lands and other Departments. It also provides for making a start with the additions to the Departmental Buildings at Auckland, which have been in contemplation for some time and are now much required, and for a number of other minor works. Judicial. Courthouses. —The principal expenditure last year took place in connection with the new Courthouses at Huntly, Tauranga, Dannevirke, and Campbelltown, and the additions at Stratford. Provision is made' on the estimates now submitted for new buildings at Hamilton, Raglan, Kawhia, Waitara, Eltham, Taihape, Masterton, Hawksbury, Kaitangata, and Otautau, for the purchase of a site at Te Kuiti, and for additions at Dargaville, Waihi, Feilding, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Black's, Alexandra, &c. Gaols.- —The expenditure under this head was not at all heavy. It took place principally in connection with the new gaol at Mount Eden (Auckland) and the additions at Wellington. The vote proposed for the current year provides for carrying on the work at Auckland, for new gaols at Gisborne and Invercargill, for substantial additions at Wellington, and for Warders' cottages at Auckland., Napier, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Invercargill. Police-stations. —The principal items in connection with last year's expenditure on police-stations were for the new buildings art Newton, Waiuku, and Christchurch, alterations at Auckland, and additions at Palmerston North and Timaru. The current year's vote provides for completing the work at Christchurch, and for new stations at Helensville, Birkenhead, Newmarket, Avondale, Karangahake, Raglan, Kihikihi, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tolaga Bay, Masterton, Carterton, Collingwood, Kumara, Kaiapoi, Bingsland, Addington, Methven, Waimate, Hampden, and Gore, also new quarters at Wanganui and Nelson, sites at Petone and Newtown, a site and cells at Whangarei, and additions, at Auckland, Waihi, Rotorua, Tauranga, Waipiro, Wellington, Timaru, and Dunedin. Post and Telegraph. A large number of buildings for the Postal Department were in hand during the year. The principal expenditure took place in connection with the new offices at Parnell, Whakarewarewa, Tauranga, Waipiro Bay, New Plymouth, Pungarehu, Waitotara, Bull's, Palmerston North, Otaki, Hutt, Nelson, Collingwood, Millerton, Greymouth, Mornington, Winton, Otautau, and Half-moon Bay, with the additions at Napier, Waipawa, Dannevirke, Pahiatua, Greytown, and Christchurch, alterations at Wellington, and the purchase of properties at Devonport and Linwood. The current year's vote provides for new offices at Whangarei, Waipu, Newmarket, Cambridge, Whakatane, Tuparoa, Tokomaru Bay, Aramoho, Taihape, Kimbolton, Apiti, Rongotea, Manakau, Waikanae, Makuri, Featberston, Johnsonville, Karamea, Brunnerton, Geraldine, Waikouaiti, and Roslyn, for additions at Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Rangiora, North Dunedin, Gore, Invercargill, and Bluff, for alterations at Gisborne, Wanganui, Feilding, and Blenheim, for new quarters at Te Awamutu, Martinborough, Havelock, and Arrowtown, for additional land and water-supply at Wakapuaka, and for a wharf at Auckland for the Pacific Cable steamer.

XII