XIII

D.—l

Porirua. At Ohrist'churoh and Porirua the water-supply has been improved, and at the latter place sewage filter-beds have been constructed. At Seacliff, Waitati, Christchurch, and Nelson further means have been provided to cope with an outbreak of fire, the ventilation at Christchurch has been improved, and the sanitary arrangements are receiving attention. At the Camp (Dunedin) sufficient has been done to make the building habitable as a mental hospital. The proposed vote for the current year provides for improvements in the laundry and for a Medical Superintendent's house at Auckland; for an addition to the annexe at Porirua; for a new engine-room, boiler, and workshop, also new bathrooms and other improvements, at Christchurch; for a dormitory annexe and other additions at Seacliff; for an extension of the farm buildings at Waitati ; and for necessary additions at the Camp building. It also provides for going on with the Wolffe Bequest Home at Auckland, and for additions to the Home for Defectives at Eichmond. Schools. The total expenditure on school buildings during last year was ,£195,835, of which £86,376 was debited to revenue, and £109,459 to the Public Works Fund. The principal works carried out directly under the control of the Government were the erection of additional buildings at the Boys' Training Farm, Weraroa, and the completion of the main building and south wing of the new School for Deaf-mutes, Sumner, also the erection of Native-school buildings at Tokikuku (Eawhitiroa) near Raglan, additions to the existing schools at Waima, Hauaroa (Taumarunui), Oruanui, and Waitahanui, and a residence at Matata. There are now in course of erection new schools at Mataora Bay (Ohinemuri County) and Wharekawa (Thames County), a new residence at Whangaruru, and additions at Te Matai and Poroporo. 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, home for defectives, the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, and the School for Deaf-mutes, also grants for providing technical schools and training colleges, and for buildings for the Victoria College, and for ten secondary schools. Othee Buildings. Hospitals. —Under the head of General Hospitals there was an expenditure of £10,259 for new buildings and improvements. During the year the Mangonui and Stratford Hospitals were finished, and are now open. The new Hospital at Masterton is nearly finished, as are also the new wards at Palmerston and Greymouth. The new Westport Hospital will be opened shortly. The vote for the current year is to a large extent a revote of the unexpended balances on last year's appropriations, but provides also for further additions at Rawene, Coromandel, and Hokitika, also for the St. Helens Hospital at Wellington, and the purchase of a property for a similar hospital at Dunedin, and for a small new hospital for emergency cases at Te Aroha; also for wards for special cases at each of the four centres. Agriculture. —The work done under this head last year was small. The expenditure was principally in connection with the buildings at the Pathological Laboratory at Wallaceville, and a residence at Hamilton for the Inspector of Stock. A fruit-fumigating shed at Wellington, an office at Balclutha, and a dairy-produce-grading store at the Bluff were also erected. For the current year a vote of £3,000 is proposed to provide additional buildings at the experimental farms at Ruakura, Arataki, and Weraroa ; accommodation for cadets at Ruakura; also some further buildings at Wallaceville. Provision is also made for residences for the Inspectors of Stock at Te Kuiti, Te Puia, Gisborne, Waipukurau, and Seddon, and for offices at Gisborne, Wairoa, New Plymouth, and Palmerston North, and additions to the office in Auckland.