XI

1).—1

new Parliament House on the late Government House site, necessitating the erection of new Parliament Buildings, and also a new residence for His Excellency the Governor. Last year's expenditure amounted to £20,379, and for the current year a vote of £35,000 is proposed. The principal expenditure last year took place in connection with the additions to the old Parliament Buildings, which were in progress at the time of the fire, but which have since been suspended, and the additions to the Departmental Buildings at Auckland and Wellington. Smaller sums were expended on the completion of the Departmental Buildings at Napier, the erection of a new Public Works Store at Christchurch, the completion of the Observatory and of the additions to one of the Ministerial residences at Wellington, the gardener's cottage at the Government House at Auckland, the alterations to the old Post Office buildings at Nelson, and the acquisition of additional land in connection with the proposed Departmental Building at New Plymouth. The works provided for in the vote proposed for the current year are the completion of the extensive additions to the Departmental Buildings at Auckland; some very necessary additions to the Government Printing Office ; new Departmental Buildings at Hamilton, Te Kuiti, New Plymouth, Masterton, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Invercargill; new fireproof offices for the Stamps Department, and also offices for the Geological and Health Departments, in Wellington; the reclamation of the sites for the Post and Telegraph, Marine, Public Works, and Agricultural Departments' Stores in Wellington; the provision of fire-alarms at the principal Government Buildings in the four chief centres of population ; and for making a commencement with the new Dominion Museum. Judicial. Courthouses. — The expenditure on Courthouse buildings amounted to £5,788, the principal amounts being in respect of the new buildings at Raglan, Kawhia, Tolago Bay, Eltham, Hawkshury, and Kaitangata, and additions at Timaru and Black's. On the current year's estimates provision is made for new Courthouses at Auckland, Cambridge, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, Opotiki, Waipiro Bay, Waitara, Feilding, Masterton, Lower Hutt, Petone, Ross, Cheviot, Fairlie, and Otautau; and additions at Whangarei, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, and Christchurch. Gaols. —The principal expenditure under this head was on the new prison buildings at Auckland and Invercargill, and smaller sums on the similar buildings, or on dwellings for the staff, at Napisr and Wellington. For the current year votes are provided for further work at Auckland and Invercargill, for a new building at Gisborne, for additions at Wellington, for dwellings at Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Hokitika, Dunedin, and Invercargill, and for drainage-works at New Plymouth and Lyttelton. Police-stations. —The chief items of expenditure were in connection with the following : New stations at Whangarei, Newmarket, Ellerslie, Karangahake, Raglan, Kihikihi, Taupo, Carterton, Petone, Collingwood, Kumara, Christchurch, Methven, St. Andrew's, Waimate, Hampden, and Owaka ; new quarters at Nelson and Christchurch; additions at Auckland, Papakura, Waitotara, Kimbolton, Wellington, Timaru, Dunedin, Roslyn, and Invercargill; and the purchase of additional land at the Thames. The estimates now submitted provide for new buildings at Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Eden Terrace (Auckland), Parnell, Hamilton, Morrinsville, New Plymouth, Shannon, Pongaroa, Masterton, Newtown (Wellington), Richmond, Motueka, Takaka, Granity, Blackball, Dunollie, Cheviot, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, Sydenham, Addington, Lincoln, Rakaia, Chatham Islands, Ranfurly, and Clinton; and for additions at Whangarei, Thames, Hastings, Wellington (Manners Street), and Sheffield. Post and Telegraph. A large number of Post and Telegraph buildings have been in hand during the year, the expenditure thereon having amounted to £37,723. The principal items were as under: New offices at Waipu, Devonport, Cambridge, New Plymouth, Taihape, Waikanae, Makuri, Masterton (Telephone Exchange), Johnsonville,