D.-^-1

XIII

Customhouses. The only expenditure under this head was in connection with the completion of the new Customhouse at Wellington. The new vote now proposed provides for some fittings for the same building, and for a proposed new Customhouse at Nelson. Mental Hospitals. The expenditure on buildings of this class was rather less than during the previous year. The principal outlay took place in connection with the Auckland Mental Hospital, the institutions at Porirua, Sunnyside, and Seacliff coming next in order. For the current year a substantial amount of work is contemplated at Auckland, Porirua, Sunnyside, and Seacliff, with less important additions at Wellington, Nelson, Richmond, and Waitati. In addition to this, provision has to be made for considerable alterations and additions to the " Camp," Dunedin, which has been acquired for the accommodation of special cases, also for reception-houses proposed to be established in connection with the institutions at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Schools. Last year's expenditure totalled £145,050, of which £75,827 was debited to revenue, and £69,223 to the Public Works Fund. Of the works carried out directly under the control of the Government, the principal structures in hand during the year were the Boys' Training barm, Weraroa, Levin, and the new School for Deaf Mutes, Sumner, also the erection of Native school buildings at Oparure, Tautoro, Paparore, Rangiawhia, Kaiwhata, and additions to the similar buildings at Nuhaka, Whakarewarewa, Kaikohe, and Raukokore. Buildings are now in course of erection at Tokikuku and Mokai, and a teacher's residence at Matata. For the current year, in addition to the vote under the Consolidated Fund, an appropriation of £100,000 is asked for out of the Public Works Fund to provide for school buildings generally, also buildings for Native and industrial schools, reformatories, and school for deaf mutes, &c, also grants for providing for technical and training schools, and for buildings for the Auckland and Otago Universities, Victoria, Canterbury, and Nelson Colleges, and for the Whangarei, Dannevirke, Palmerston North, and Southland High Schools. Other Buildings. Hospitals. —Under the head of General Hospitals an expenditure of £4,736 took place, the principal portion of which was on the new building at Greymouth, smaller sums being spent in connection with the hospitals at Hamilton and Reefton and the Old Men's Home at Nelson. The estimates provide for a total authorisation of £22,245 for the current year, on account of which a vote of £15,000 is proposed. The chief items are in connection with the hospitals at the following places : Manganui, Hokianga, Rawene, Northern Wairoa, Waihi, Te Aroha, Hamilton, Stratford, Palmerston North, Masterton, Greytown, Blenheim, Westport, Greymouth, Kumara, and Hokitika, the St. Helen's Hospitals at Auckland and Christchurch, and the Old People's Homes at Napier and Timaru. Agricultural.— -Not much was done under this head last year, the expenditure having amounted to £2,404 only, and being principally in connection with the chemical laboratory at Wallaceville and the experimental farm at Arataki. For the current year a vote of £4,500 is proposed, which provides for further work at Wallaceville, also buildings at Auckland, Ruakura, Hamilton, Waipiro Bay, Palmerston North, Wellington, Seddon, Hokitika, Balclutha, and the Bluff. Public Health. —Under this head £6,106 was expended, the principal items being the subsidies to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards on account of the annexes for consumptives at Wellington and Nelson and for the infectiousdiseases hospital at Palmerston North. An expenditure of between £500 and £600 also took place in connection with the Cambridge Sanatorium.