D.—l

XV

Inmates of this institution were employed clearing and bringing into cultivation a block of land on the Tokanui Mental Hospital Reserve. Roadmaking and sawmilling have been pushed on at the Waikune Camp, Erua, and considerable quantities of timber have been supplied for public works during the year. The new Hoffman brick-kiln at Wi Tako Prison, Trentham, has been completed, and bricks in large quantities are now being turned out. The construction of the second cell-range and kitchen block at Paparua has progressed satisfactorily, the kitchen block being now in occupation and the cell-range well advanced. The new kitchen block at the Borstal Institution is now approaching completion, and two additional cottages have been built for married officers. . Police-stations. Expenditure was restricted practically to the completion of works for which contracts had already been entered, into, the purchase of a few properties in cases where there were no other means of obtaining accommodation, and essential maintenance. New police-stations were erected at Bull's and Waikari, and a sergeant's residence at Mount Cook (Wellington) ; the new police-station at Dannevirke and. sergeant's residence at Palmerston North were completed,; additions and improvements were made at Seddon Police-station ; and the police buildings at Karangahake were removed and re-erected at Matamata. Alterations and improvements were made to the properties which had been purchased during the previous year at Green Island, St. Kilda, Port Chalmers, Woodhaugh, and Ravensbourne. Houses for use as police-stations were purchased at Whataupoko, Takapau, North Invercargill, Tuatapere, and Winton. New police buildings are required at a number of places where the existing buildings, many of which were erected over forty years ago, havQ become almost unfit for habitation, and also where the Department has at present to rent unsuitable properties at high rentals. Provision for the erection.of police-stations at such places is being made on the current year's estimates, with a view to the works being proceeded with as soon as financial circumstances permit. Post and Telegraph Buildings. Plans are in course of preparation for a number of post-office buildings, the erection of which will be proceeded with when finances permit. During the year departmental buildings were erected, or the erection completed, at Alexandra, Amberley (line foreman's residence), Aria, Chatham Islands (Superintendent's residence), Devonport (automatic telephone-exchange building), Fitzroy, Carston, Henderson, Hororata, Lumsden, Manurewa, Matawai, Nightcaps, Onehunga (automatic telephone exchange), Papanu , Paraparaumu, Ranfurly, Rangiotu, Rockviile, Tapawera, Taupiri, Te Kopuru, Waiotemarama, Whakahoro. Alterations rendered necessary by growth of business were carried out at Chatham Islands (radio-station), Dunedin, Hawera, Morrinsville, and Timaru. The old post-office building at Port Nelson was removed to Stoke, where it was refitted for use as a post-office. Small buildings were purchased at Cave, May field, and Mokauiti, and adapted for use as post-offices ; also at Glen Orua, where the old building had become unsuitable for use as a post-office. Mental Hospitals. Additions in brick to auxiliary No. 2 female ward at the Auckland Mental Hospital, to accommodate eighty patients, were completed. Minor repair and maintenance works have been carried out at the Avondale Mental Hospital, and a new roof put on part of the Wolff Home. The Tokanui Mental Hospital male admission block, with pressed bricks and rough-cast walls, was completed, giving accommodation for approximately twenty patients. At Nelson a new reception block in brick was recently completed.