D.—l

XIII

Wyndham, and Chatham Islands ; and for additions at Whangarei, Hikurangi, Wellington, and Lawrence. Gaols. —The principal expenditure last year took place in connection with the buildings at Auckland, Waikeria, and Invercargill, but none of the amounts were very large. Appropriations are provided this year for new buildings at Auckland, Waikeria, Wellington, Picton, Templeton, and Invercargill; for additions at Addington ; and sundry minor works. Police-stations. —New buildings were erected at Warkworth, Papakura, Huntly, Otorohanga, Tokaanu, Gisborne, Porangahau, Masterton, Cobden, Ashburton, Tapanui, and Mataura; additions at Taihape; and a suitable property was purchased at Takapuna. For the current year votes are provided for new stations at Freeman's Bay, Tuakau, Hamilton, Ohura, Putaruru, Waikare, Wairoa, Waipukurau, Hawera, Inglewood, Kaponga, Marton, Martinborough, Eiccarton, Geraldine, Hokitika, Port Chalmers, Eoslyn, St. Clair, St. Kilda, Woodhaugh, Portobello, Queenstown, and Stewart Island. In addition to the above, votes are renewed (and in some cases increased in amount) for stations at Herekino, Houhora, Patutahi, Auckland, Epsom, Ponsonby, Devonport, Northcote, Ngaruawahia, Hamilton, Raurimu, Opotiki, Tokomaru Bay, Motu, Whangamomona, Wanganui, Wellington, Brooklyn, Eastbourne, Island Bay, Karori, Wellington (Mount Cook), Wellington (Taranaki Street), Charleston, Ahaura, Stafford, Fendalton, Darfield, Coalgate, Clyde, Middlemarch, Waitati, Dunedin (King Street), Caversham, Mornington, North-east Valley, Kaitangata, Gladstone, and Invercargill North. Votes are also provided for the purchase of properties at Mount Eden Eoad (Auckland), Mount Eoskill, and Nightcaps ; and for additions at Dunedin, and minor works at other places. Post and Telegbaph. The expenditure on buildings for Post and Telegraph purposes has been heavy for some years past, and last year was no exception to the rule. The disbursements under the Public Works Fund amounted to =£78,815, and under the Consolidated Fund to £17,260, or a total for the year of £96,075. The buildings responsible for the principal items of this expenditure were the new General Post Offices at Auckland and Wellington and the Postal Department's new bulk store. Considerable expenditure, however, took place at the following offices—viz., Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Opotiki, Papakura, Eotorua, Tirau, Waiuku, Ohaupo, Tuakau, Tokaanu, Waipukurau, Halcombe, Eoxburgh, and North-east Valley. Lesser amounts were spent on the undermentioned offices : Dargaville, Ponsonby, Awakino, Taihape, Pongaroa, Petone, Brooklyn, Wakapuaka, Fairlie, Lumsden, Invercargill (store), and numerous others. The vote now proposed (£115,000) provides for quite a large number of buildings, of which the following are the more important: Dargaville, Auckland (Wellesley Street), Gisborne (additions), Napier, Christchurch (alterations and additions), and Dunedin. New buildings are also provided for at Hikurangi, Ponsonby (telephone exchange), Mount Eden, Northcote, Eemuera, Stratford, Eoss, St. Albans, Alexandra, and Milton; and last year's votes are renewed and in some cases are considerably increased for the following: Mount Albert, Takapuna, Papatoetoe, Eaglan, Hamilton, Eaurimu, Owhango, Patea, Eaetihi, Kimbolton, Palmerston North, Havelock North, Ormondville, Masterton (exchange), Island Bay, Nelson (Port), Blenheim, Eeefton, Seddon, Papanui, Oxford, Ak&roa, Methven, Timaru, South Dunedin, Anderson's Bay, Mataura, Edendale, Orepuki, and Eiversdale. There are also numerous other items of smaller magnitude. Mental Hospitals. The erection of one substantial auxiliary building at Auckland is just completed, and a second similar building is now well in hand. At Tokanui electric-lighting plant is being installed, and a mess-room provided. Minor