D.—l

XX

At, Nelson electric light was installed in the Provincial Buildings and the departmental building (formerly the Post-office.). At Dunedin alterations at the old police-station were completed to accommodate overnment Departments, and alterations and renovations were carried out at the Id Post-office building for a similar purpose. At Alexandra a store building was erected. At Wingatui additional land was acquired and a new explosives-magazine was erected. A large number of fittings and furnishings required for various departmental offices were made in the Wellington Workshops, while the ordinary maintenance and upkeep of Government buildings generally engaged the attention of a considerable staff throughout the year. Courthouses. A new Courthouse was erected at Matamata, while extensive additions were completed at Wanganui and Palmerston North. Electric light was installed at Wanganui and Nelson, and renovations and repairs undertaken at Cambridge, Coromandel, Mercer, Otorohanga, Paeroa, Taupo, Opotiki, New Plymouth, Waitara, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera, Opunake, Manaia, Waverley, Ohakune, Marton, Patea, Hunterville, Raetihi, Dannevirke, Woodville, Takaka, Greymouth, Westport, Timaru, Fairlie, Temuka, Kaiapoi, Cromwell, Naseby, and Oamaru. Prison Works. The varied programme of constructional and other works is being continued with satisfactory results by the use of the available prison labour. The metal-crushing plant at the Auckland Prison has been kept working at its full capacity to satisfy the requirements of the Public Works Department and local bodies. An additional cottage has been erected by prison labour on the Prison Reserve near Mount Eden, and is now in occupation. There are altogether fifteen cottages at Mount Eden which have been erected by prison labour, and it is proposed to erect two additional cottages during the current year. All the available land for departmental cottages will then be occupied. Inmates of the Waikeria Reformatory have been fully occupied in improving the farm and roads in addition to the developing of an area of virgin land on the Tokanui Estate for the Mental Hospitals Department. At the Hautu Prison Camp, near Tokaanu, prisoners have been employed exclusively in breaking up and bringing into cultivation large tracts of Crown lands. It is proposed to push forward this work more vigorously in the future, and with that view a new camp is being established at Rangipo, close to the junction of the Waiouru and WaimarinoTokaanu Roads. Sawn timber is being produced in large quantities at the Wait<une Prison sawmill, near Erua. It is proposed to install, as early as possible, a planingmachine, which will enable the Department to supply dressed timber required by Government Departments. Prisoners from the Waikune Camp are employed in re-forming and metalling the main arterial roacl between Raurimu and Ohakune. The Waimarino-Tokaanu Road is also being maintained by prison labour from the Waikune Camp. The construction of the new prison near Mount Crawford, Wellington, is proceeding, and it is proposed to erect during the current year two suitable cottages for married officers who are to be employed there. The brickmaking plant at the Wi Tako Prison, Trentham, has been further improved, and two portable brick - presses manufactured. The erection of an administration block at the Paparua Prison is proceeding satisfactorily. General improvements to the Borstal Institution farm, Invercargill, have been carried out. The low-lying portions of the farm area are being raised by depositing mud and silt taken from the Waihopai River by means of a suction-dredge. The new rifle range on the reclaimed area at Otatara has been completed. Police-stations. There was considerable activity in the erection of police buildings during the last financial year, new buildings being erected at the following places : Rawene, Mercer, Rahotu, Foxton, Port Nelson, Leeston, and St. Albans; new lock-ups were erected at Kerepeehi and Henderson.