D.—l

XIII

Agricultural. The work of erection by contract of an up-to-date rabbit-poison-mixing depot at Frankton Junction is well advanced. Repairs and improvements were effected to various residences throughout the Dominion. A poison-mixing depot is required at. Dunedin, and field drainage at Ruakura, and it is proposed to proceed with these works during the ensuing year. An adequate water-supply for Moumahaki Experimental Farm, a model milking-shed at Weraroa, and repairs to the fruitfumigating depot at Auckland will also be proceeded wi h. With a view to encouraging wheat-growing the Department has purchased and intends to install a small model flour-mill for the purpose of testing the flour-producing qualities of different varieties of locally grown wheat. Mental Hospitals. General repairs and renovations have been effected at Auckland, and a commencement made with a large addition to Park House. At Tokanui the fifth unit has been completed, and the admission blocks for both male and female patients are being proceeded with. A new drainage system has been installed at Porirua, which entailed a considerable amount of work, and included the construction of a tunnel 350 ft. long to carry the pipes. This tunnel had to be lined with bricks, and, owing to the flaky nature of the ground, work had to be proceeded with slowly and great care exercised in removing the tunnel-timbers. A contract was let for a new reception block at Nelson. At Sunnyside and Seacliff urgent repairs have been effected, and at the former institution the electric cooking facilities have been extended. A private residence at Hornby, situated on 50 acres of suitably planted land, has been purchased for selected patients who are able and willing to pay more than the usual maintenance charges. The construction of an additional unit to accommodate fifty patients at Waitati has been commenced. Hospital and Charitable Institutions. Extensive building operations have been carried out at Motuihi Island Quarantine Station, Auckland, including the erec ion of six large hutments, one bulk store, Nurses' Home, Convalescent Hospital, Observation Hospital, and cookhouse with accommodation for stores. In addition, alterations have been made to the main Hospital, as well as to the barracks and the caretaker's old cottage. A drainage system has been installed, and a new wharf is in course of construction. At Somes Island, A\ T ellington, a brick and concrete reservoir was constructed, a tram-line connecting the buildings with the wharf was laid, and alterations effected to the old buildings, besides the erection of additional huts. New buildings for St. Helens Hospitals at Auckland and Christchurch are urgently needed. For the former (estimated to cost £28,000) plans have been finally decided upon, and an endeavour will be made to put the work in hand at an. early date. The new building at Christchurch is estimated to cost £40,000, of which not more than an estimated amount of £10,000 will be expended during the present financial year. An expenditure of £2,700 is required to cover the cost of fitting up as a St. Helens Hospital, Wanganui, the property donated to the State for that purpose. About £22,500 is required to complete the new quarantine-station buildings and other improvements at Auckland and Wellington. This sum should provide accommodation to meet all emergencies. Education. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund on education buildings during the financial year was £195,500, an increase of £79,844 over that for the previous year. The commitments for new buildings at the end of the year amounted to £560,051, but had increased to about £850,000 at the end of July. As explained last year, it is proposed to charge only £250,000 of the expenditure for the current year to the Public Works Fund, and to provide whatever further funds are required for education buildings in accordance with the Education Purposes Loans Act, 1919. This Act provides for loans aggregating £3,500,000 during the current and the next three years for education buildings and sites, a sum that should under ordinary conditions be ample for all reasonable requirements. The Education Boards, Secondary School Boards, and other controlling authorities are, however, finding it increasingly difficult to arrange by contract or otherwise for the erection of