D.—l

XXIII

The machinery for the mixing of poison, and the buildings in which the work is performed, not being satisfactory from the point of view of the health of the workers in the depots, structural alterations to the buildings are contemplated, and also the purchase of new machinery. Provision is also being made for the erection of a residence and stable at Lumsden. to replace buildings recently destroyed by fire ; for the erection of residential and office accommodation at Roxburgh ; for necessary farm-buildings at Puwera ; for a portable glasshouse for seed-testing work at the Biological Laboratory ; proportion of the cost of erection of a new fumigator- at Auckland; and the installation of electricity at the Central Development Farm at Weraroa, in order that advantage may be taken of the power from Mangahao. Hospitals and other Institutions. The principal works desired to be put in hand during this year are the erection of a new women's hospital for neurological cases at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer ; the conversion of existing buildings into the Nurses' Home ; and the renewal of a pipe-line which gives the institute its water-supply. Various additions and alterations are contemplated at King George V Hospital, Rotorua, and at the Otaki and Pukeora Consumptive Sanatoria ; whilst it is proposed to make additions at various St. Helens Hospitals. Additional accommodation is also required at the Leper Hospital, Quail Island. Educational. For primary education a considerable number of new schools have been erected, and a large number of existing schools have been added to. A fine high-school building, to cost £40,000, is in course of erection at Invercargill. Portion of the cost is being found by the Southland Education Board, but the plans were drawn and the building is being erected by Public Works Department, in accordance with the new arrangements whereby the Government will in future erect its own educational buildings. The demand for increased secondary accommodation has been very pressing, and, in addition to buildings that are being enlarged, new schools are in course of erection or about to be erected at Dargaville, Whangarei, Tauranga, Hastings, Napier, Lower Hutt, Wellington, Christchurch, and Invercargill. A large University building is being erected at Auckland, and grants were approved for the erection of new medical and dental buildings at Dunedin. LIGHTHOUSES. A temporary wireless radio beacon was erected at Cape Maria van Diemen, to worlc in conjunction with the direction-finding equipment aboard the s.s. " Tutanekai." The tests carried out proved entirely satisfactory. Apparatus for the conversion of light at Tiritiri from a watched light to an automate ight has been received. An. automatic flashing light has been established, on Ohena Is and. A small automatic acetylene flashing light was installed at Kaipara South Head Beacon. The light at Somes Island was converted from a watched oil-burning to an unwatched automatic acetone-acetylene light, and handed over to the control of the Wellington Harbour Board. Two oil-engine hauling-winches were installed at Stephen Island. Apparatus for the conversion of the light at x4.nglem Point to an automatic flashing type has been obtained and installed. HARBOUR-WORKS. A crane-landing and approach bridge at the Flowerpot Rock at Bruce Bay has been completed. Wharves were erected at the following places : Whangarei, One Tree Point; Kaipara, wharf at Bradley's Landing ; Naumai; and New Brighton, Miranda district. Repairs were carried out to the wharf at Whakapirau ; improvements in the Mokau and Manawatu Rivers were carried out. A harbour for fishingboats was constructed at Kaikoura, and the construction of a wharf at Collingwood was commenced. TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. The principal expenditure last year was in connection with works at Rotorua, which consisted of the replacement of wooden with cast-iron water-mains, and the purchase of a Diesel engine standby plant for electrical purposes.