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buildings. The Government's efforts to meet the insistent demand for better school accommodation are therefore limited not by its financial resources, but by the difficulties experienced in obtaining supplies of timber, cement, hardware, and other building-material, and in securing workmen to erect the buildings. Embarrassing delays are thus caused in the erection of many school buildings, the need for which is most urgent in the interests of all concerned. The Government is endeavouring to relieve the position as much as possible by giving preference to the most urgent works in the matter of supplies of material, and by postponing the making of grants for those buildings which, though necessary, are not absolutely essential. Workers' Dwellings. The expenditure under this heading from the Ist April, 1919, to the passing of the Housing Act in November was £26,673, made up as follows : Acquisition of land, £15,566 ; purchase of dwellings already erected, £7,304 ; erection of dwellings, £3,803. Since the Housing Act came into force all expenditure has been charged against the Housing Account. Lighthouses. The erection of the automatic fog-signal on Tiritiri Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, is now practically completed. The necessary apparatus for the lights on Ninepins Rocks, on Gable-end Foreland, and in Mercury Island passage have been ordered, and are expected to arrive in the Dominion shortly. Quotations are being obtained for a lighting outfit to be installed at Rarotonga, in the Cook Group. It is proposed to place this light about 100 ft. above sea-level, on a suitable platform to be attached to the wireless mast. It will be of 2,000 candle-power, and have a range, geographically, of sixteen miles. HARBOUR-WORKS. Improvement to the navigation of Taheke River, Hokianga ; erection of land-ing-stage at Waitakaruru ; the improvement of navigation between Awaroa Landing and Waikato River ; widening channel and blasting rocks at Tamahere Narrows, Waikato River ; and the erection of wharves at Raglan and Te Akau have been undertaken. Owing to the high cost of and difficulty of procuring material, very little has been done in the matter of harbour-works, but the activities of the Department will be resumed immediately it is obtainable. The buoys and beacons in the harbours under the control of the Department have been regularly overhauled, cleaned, and painted, and new moorings have been put down where necessary. TOURIST AND HttALTH RESORTS. Material is being assembled at Waikaremoana Hostel for alterations, renovations, and drainage. The fencing of the Te Puia Hot Springs Reserve is in hand. Copeland Track has been repaired, and a new hut at Clarke is in course of erection. Provision is made this year for a number of new works at the various resorts. IMMIGRATION. It has been decided to extend the " nominated passages " system to enable any permanent resident of the Dominion to nominate persons residing in the United Kingdom. This can be done irrespective of questions of relationship or occupation, provided that an undertaking is given that employment will be awaiting the nominees on arrival, and that adequate provision will be made for their maintenance after arrival. A considerable number of immigrants are awaiting opportunities to secure berthing-accommodation to enable them to proceed to the Dominion. In future suitable domestic servants will be granted free third-class passages, together with an allowance of £2 for expenses. It is hoped that this may be the means of securing a much larger number of suitable girls for the Dominion. The Imperial Government has commenced its free immigration scheme for ex-service men —viz., officers and men of the Royal Navy, the British Army, or the Royal Air Force (excluding Dominion and Colonial Forces) who have served in the present war and who wish to settle within the Empire overseas. These ex-service men, with their dependants, will receive free third-class passages, provided