D.—l

X

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings during the last financial year amounted to £596,562, made up as follows : — £ New buildings (Class XXIII, Public Works Fund) 417,000 Sites for Government Stores, &c, Wellington .... 15,000 Maintenance-works (Class V, Consolidated Fund) .... 65,387 Maintenance-works, schools (Class XV, Consolidated Fund) .... .... .... .... .... 99,175 Total .... £596,562 For the current year the following appropriations are proposed: — £ New buildings (Public Works Fund) .... .... 427,050 Maintenance-works (Consolidated Fund).... .... 70,350 Maintenance-works, schools (Consolidated Fund) .... 102,150 Total .... £599,550 General. The new Parliament Buildings again absorbed the largest item of expenditure under this heading, but the work has been delayed owing to difficulty in obtaining suitable marble. This difficulty has now been overcome, and as the marble will soon be in Wellington, it is hoped that the work will then be carried on with more expedition than has hitherto been possible. The new Departmental Buildings at Gisborne were completed and occupied during the year. One substantial addition was made to the Government Printing Office, and another one is in progress. The proposed vote for the current year includes items for the Parliament Buildings and Printing Office additions. JUDICIAL. Courthouses. —During the past year buildings were erected at Wyndham and Motueka, and additions were made to the Lawrence Courthouse, and the extensions to the Wellington Supreme Court were completed. Gaols. —The principal expenditure last year was in connection with buildings at Waikeria, Invercargill, Auckland, Templeton, and Picton. The erection of a prison at Waikeria will be continued. Police-stations. —New stations were erected at Ahaura, Charleston, Coalgate, Kaitangata, Martinborough, Ngaruawahia, Northcote, Patutahi, Raurimu, Tokomaru Bay, and Whangamomona. Properties were also purchased at Mount Eden, Hamilton, and Mount Roskill, and police residences were built at Dunedin, and Opotiki. New police headquarters and police-stations in Wellington are in progress. POST AND TELEGRAPH. The expenditure on buildings for Post and Telegraph purposes last year amounted to £72,861, being £60,838 for new buildings and £12,023 for maintenance of existing ones. MENTAL HOSPITALS. The erection of one unit at Tokanui to accommodate forty patients was completed early in the year, and a second unit of approximately the same size is now well in hand. Male and female auxiliary buildings at Avondale were completed under contract. Day rooms were added at Porirua, and a receivingward at the same place is approaching completion. A similar ward is beingadded to Sunnyside, and a cottage for men is being built at Seacliff. The current year's estimates include substantial votes for continuing the works at each of the principal institutions mentioned.