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year. Three additional cottages for officers —one built of concrete blocks —have also been erected, while further accommodation has been provided for two married officers by the removal and subdivision of the former single officers' quarters. A reinfoi-ced-concrete building, comprising milking-shed, dairy, engine-room, and separator-room, has been commenced to enable us to commence dairying in the coming season. At Waikeria, as at Auckland, the whole of the work is being carried out exclusively by prison officers and prison labour with the most satisfactory results. At Kaingaroa we have erected a cottage for the accommodation of the officer in charge. The material was provided by the Forestry Department in payment for huts and buildings taken over from the Prisons Department on the closing of the Waipa Prison camp. At Wellington building-work has been largely confined to the making of alterations at the Terrace Prison to provide a small infirmary in the female division for use in connection with the treatment of women detainees under the Prisoners Detention Act. This is the first provision of the kind that lias been made in our New Zealand prisons. The absence of even an infirmary cell in all. the female prisons of the Dominion is a reproach we are trying to remove as far as possible with the limited means at our disposal. At the Addington Prison for females a much-needed improvement has been made by the erection of a building containing washhouse, laundry, bathrooms, &c, in a convenient position adjoining the main structure. Here again considerable saving in expenditure was effected by carrying out the work ourselves under the general supervision of the Public Works Engineer. At Paparua (Templeton) progress has been made in the erection of the first wing of the new prison. The buildings required are of a somewhat e.xtensive character, and under existing conditions it cannot be expected that any additional accommodation will be available for another eighteen months or more. The north-wing extension of the InvercargiU Prison has been completed, but considerable delay has occurred in connection with drainage and other matters, with the result that the new building is not yet in use. Provision has been made on the top floor for a large drill-hall and gymnasium, Board-room, and other rooms. When the necessary equipment has been obtained there should be ample scope in this wing for the special work you have decided to carry on in connection with the education and training of the youthful class of offenders that are sent to this institution. Progress has also been made during the year in the erection of the main wall of the prison. Other Works. Stone-dressing, quarrying, &c, and the erection of an extensive wall on the Grammar School boundary have employed the bulk of the labour at the Mount Eden Prison. A small number of prisoners have also been employed at making and repairing boots for prison officers and prisoners. The estimated labour value of the work of erecting the Grammar School wall amounted to £624. Tree-planting has been carried on as usual at the afforestation camps. Sufficient progress has been made on the roadworks between Waimarino and Tokaanu to enable motor traffic to be carried on to a limited extent between the two places. One of the principal bridges on the route, that over the Whakapapanui Stream, has been completed, including extensive approaches of dressed stone. The bulk of the timber for this and other bridges has been obtained from the bush and squared or pit-sawn by prison labour, thus considerably reducing the charges for material. Before the tourist season sets in it is intended to repair the sections of the old road between the end of our formation and the junction with the Waiouru Road that have suffered damage during the long period since its construction, and so enable motors to travel regularly over the whole length of the road without discomfort to the passengers or danger to the cars. The question of constructing wdrat is known as the deviation or short-cut to Tokaanu will require to be considered during the coming summer. Some progress has been made in metalling the new road towards Waimarino, but owing to the lack of adequate transport facilities the work has proceeded at a somewhat slow rate. The Public Works Engineer estimates that the value of the work carried out by prison labour on Roto Aira Road for the twelve months ended 31st March last is approximately £2,785, exclusive of the cost of material. This road will eventually become one of the arterial roads of the Dominion, and it will therefore be seen that its construction by prison labour is resulting in a considerable saving to the taxpayers of the Dominion. At Waikeria a great deal of farming and development-work has be'en carried on during the year, thus considerably increasing the value of the property compared with last year's figures. No reliable estimate of the labour value of this work can be given. The construction of access and other roads has been prosecuted vigorously, the value of this work alone being estimated by the Public Works Engineer at £1,536. Much useful work has been carried out by prison labour at Point Halswell, Wellington. Considerable progress has been made with the excavations. Concrete receiving and supply reservoirs have been built, and the necessary pipes laid in connection with the water-supply system, including the erection of hydrants and other provision for fire-prevention ; a substantial brick cottage has been completed for the use of the officer in charge, an electric-lighting line with all the necessary poles, &c, has been erected connecting up with the Miramar Borough lines, and repairs have been made to the Defence Department wharves, &c The total labourvalue' of the work carried out during the year is estimated by the Public Works Department at £1,659. The plantations on the peninsula have been attended to, and other necessary work has also been carried out in addition to the special items enumerated above. Brickmaking has been continued at the Mount Cook branch prison during the year. At Paparua Prison (Templeton) a considerable volume of work is in evidence in connection with farming and development, but owing to the dry season results have been, somewhat dis-