D.—l

XIV

From these figures it will be observed that at the end of last financial £ year the unexpended balance of the Public Works Fund, plus existing and proposed authorities for raising further moneys, amounted to . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,442,474 While the balance at the same date in respect to some of the more important public works which form no portion of the Public Works Fund proper, plus legislative authority to raise additional loans, amounted to .. .. .. .. .. .. 11,029,305 Or a total of .. .. .. ..£20,471,779 It is gratifying to me to know that the administration of the Public Works Department still retains the confidence of the Legislature, as evidenced by the establishment of these credits and the placing of them at my disposal for the development of the Dominion under a progressive policy of railway, road, hydroelectric, and irrigation construction. Railways Improvement Authorization Act, 1914. The expenditure under the Railways Improvement Authorization Act, 1914, amounted to £53,636 for grade easements ; duplication of line, Horotiu to Frankton Junction ; a new station and station-yards, goods-sheds, and terminal facilities at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Lyttelton ; and signal, interlocking, and safety appliances. Additions to Open Lines. The expenditure out of the Public Works Fund under the head " Additions to Open Lines " amounted to £751,928, in the provision of additional rolling-stock, tarpaulins, Westinghouse brakes, steam-heating, electric headlights for locomotives, workshops machinery, improvements and additions to station buildings, extensions of sidings, bridge-work and subways, cranes, weighbridges, additions to workshops, tablet, telegraph and telephone facilities, additional dwellings, signals and interlocking appliances, and purchase of land. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. General. Parliament Buildings, Wellington. —The first portion of the new Parliament Building has now been completed, and a description of the design and erection is given by the Government Architect in his annual report, Appendix C. Departmental Buildings. —The Departmental Buildings, Wellington, have been efficiently maintained. External painting is well in hand, as also are internal renovations, including extensive alterations to the sanitary conveniences. Courthouses. A new Courthouse was erected at Morrinsviile. Renovations and additions have been carried out at the following : Whangarei, Bull's, Kaitaia, New Plymouth, Kaikohe, Wanganui, Hikurangi, Hunterville, Auckland Supreme Court, Auckland Magistrates' Court, Taumarunui, Te Kuiti, Hamilton, Napier, Huntly, Hastings, Paeroa, Gisborne, Pukekohe, Wellington, Onehunga, Martinborough, Te Awamutu, Feilding, Taihape, Upper Hutt, Patea, Masterton, Opunake, Christchurch Supreme Court, Manaia, Wyndham, Stratford, Winton, and Balclutha. Prisons. The Department's building operations were again restricted to the completion of urgently required institutional and farm buildings and warders' cottages. The work of modernizing the metal-crushing plant at the Auckland Prison is now well advanced, and the completed installation will very soon be brought into full use. In addition to general improvements to the Waikeria Reformatory Farm property, inmates from the latter institution have been employed extensively on the Tokanui Mental Hospital Reserve clearing and preparing virgin land for cultivation. The