D.—l

VII

DEVELOPMENT OF MINING. The value of the mineral-output for the year was £2,978,436, being a decrease of £396,087 when compared with the output during the previous year. In addition to the mineral-output 1,331,003 tons of stone was obtained from quarries subject to inspection under the Stone-quarries Act. The expenditure under the heading of " Development of Mining " during last year was £4,592. A vote of £1,450 is proposed to be taken this year. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total amount voted and expended on construction of public buildings during the last financial year amounted to — New Buildings (Class XVIII,! Public Voted. Expended. Works Fund) .. .. .. £364,000 £251,431 For the current year the following appropriation is proposed : — New Buildings .. .. .. £310,000 General. Under this heading the new Parliament Buildings still accounts for the heaviest item of expenditure. Considering the unfavourable labour conditions ruling at present, fair progress has been made with the work during the past year. Substantial additions to the Government Printing Office have been completed. Judicial. Courthouses. —During the past year no new buildings were erected, but an addition was made to the Courthouse at Napier. Prisons. —An extension to the south wing of the Auckland Prison has been completed and occupied. The new north wing of the Invercargill Prison has been completed, and is now ready for occupation. Subdivisional walls at .Auckland and. the main walls at Invercargill have been proceeded with, and progress has been made in the erection of the first wing of the Paparua Prison buildings at Templeton. During the current year the major works being carried on are the buildings at Templeton, the provision of a kitchen block, offices, and subdivisional walls at Invercargill, and of an administration block and dairy buildings at Waikeria. Police-stations. —New buildings were erected at Waipukurau and Caversham, and a site for a police-station was purchased at Devonport. Good progress has been made with the erection of the new headquarters station at Wellington, which is now nearing completion. Additions to the Auckland Central Station to provide much-needed office and lock-up accommodation are also in course of construction. Post and Telegraph. Owing to the war conditions, expenditure on new buildings and additions and alterations to existing buildings has been kept down as much as possible. During the year small post-offices were erected at Kaitieke, Ruatorea, Mokau, and Waituna West ; and automatic exchanges built at St. Albans and South Dunedin. Additions were made to the office buildings at Te Awamutu, Hanmer Springs, Waitara, Whakatane, and Wanganui. In addition to the appropriations previously authorizedpbut not expended, it is proposed to make provision for a new post-office buildingjat Henderson, a lineman's cottage at Kahukura, a motor-garage at Napier, store buildings at Wellington, and alterations and additions at Ferry Road, Christchurch. Mental Hospitals. At Porirua the block of buildings designed for receiving and hospital wards is nearly completed, and in its " hospital " character, with ease of administration and observation, marks a decided advance. A nurses' home is part of this building. A survey has been made and materials have been collected for piping the; septictank effluent into the harbour.