I).—t.

The construction of the new prison at Mount Crawford, Wellington, sliows every prospect of completion within the coming year. An alteration has been made in the plans, which will effect a considerable saving on the original estimate. Good progress has been made with the demolition and excavation of the Wellington Terrace Prison site for education purposes. Several alterations have been made at the brickworks at Trentham, but these works have not proved a financial success for some years, and it is proposed to concentrate on the draining and development of the farm. Extensions have been made at Point Halswell Borstal Institution, and it is hoped in the near future to erect accommodation to enable industrial work to be embarked upon. Constructional work has proceeded at Paparua, the administrative block being nearly completed. A curtailment of the original plans has been made owing to the heavy expenditure already incurred at institutional buildings there. Satisfactory progress has been made in connection with the drainage and .reclamation work at the Borstal Institution farm at Invercargill. A bath-house has been constructed for use by the inmates. Police-stations. New police-stations were erected at Kawhia, Morrinsville, Otira, Rimu, and Island Bay (Wellington) ; additions were made at Bull's (motor-shed), Christchurch (quarters), Feilding (office), Nightcaps (quarters), Nuhaka (stable), Taneatua (office and lock-up), Te Araroa (stable), Wanganui East (office), Ohakune (office), Rahotu (stable), and Raetihi (office). Houses and land for use as police-stations were purchased at Point Chevalier (Auckland), Anderson's Bay (Dunedin), and Havelock North ; and sites for police-stations were acquired at St. Heliers Bay (Auckland), Te Ivaraka, CastleclifE, and Wataroa. Provision is being made on this year's estimates for the erection of new stations at places where they are urgently required to replace existing buildings which are beyond repair, or rented premises which are unsuitable. Post and Telegraph Buildings. The ever-present need for increased accommodation for the conduct of the Department's business at different places throughout the country serves to reveal in a most unmistakable manner the healthy and steady growth of the Dominion. The difficulties which are at times encountered in providing additional accommodation in existing buildings show all too clearly how little the designers of the original buildings anticipated the growth that would take place in the business of the Department. The rapidity of growth could not possibly have been foreseen. Needless to say, it is the present policy, when preparing plans for new buildings, to make provision for future additions which, when necessary, can be made with much less trouble than is now the case. The Christchurch Post-Office building may be cited as one which, owing to the expansion of the city, required extensive alterations, especially in that portion of the building in which the public transacts its business. With the additional accommodation now provided the Christchurch Post-office building should meet requirements for a number of years. Not only in the heart of Christchurch City was an improvement effected, but a fine post-office building was erected at New Brighton, the old building being altered to serve as a residence for the Postmaster. The growing marine suburb of Eastbourne, Wellington, also was provided with a new edifice in keeping with the requirements of the district. New buildings at Paeroa and Marton are in course of erection. The extensive alterations to the Chief Post-office building, Gisborne, referred to in the last year's report, are now completed. The increase of business at Darfield and Hawarden necessitated the erection of post-offices at those places. Formerly the work was handled at the railwaystations. It was found necessary to build garages at Cambridge, Gore, Kaikohe, Otautau, Taupo, and Waimate, and to increase the garage accommodation at Wanganui. At Kaikohe a workshop was erected in conjunction with the garage,

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